Acting secretary gibson recently stated that he was deeply disappointed not only in the substantiation of allegations raised by the whistle blowers but also in the failures within the department to take whistle blowers complaints seriously. Within vha, the problem of intimidation, retaliation may be magnified by what some consider a protective culture of the medical profession. It is often thought to be against the code to point out colleagues mistakes or where a nurse or a tendant is told it is appropriate to question a physician or surgeon. The natural tendency is to close ranks, to not die that problems exist or mirs stestakes were ma. So after we listen to the testimony before us this evening from the whistle blowers, the office of special counsel and the va will anything change after we hear what the whistle blowers have to say and how do we fix this culture and encourage all va employees to step forward to identify problems and work to address the problems. Changing a culture is
Report the truth. Not to insult the reporters. And also the congressmen and women. Tois important that we try focus on what is really important here. That is the veterans of this country. Thank you. As an employee, i have routinely suffered retaliations. Talks about the devastating effects on patient care. In sections four and five of my written testimony, and outline specific packages to suppress whistleblowing and also to retaliate against anyone that speaks up within its ranks even without whistleblowing. The v. A. , in my opinion, has routinely intimidated any employee that has brought forth information contrary to the Public Opinion the v. A. Wishes to project. After they receive my report, i was placed on administrative leave for one month. I was investigated for misconduct because i provided limited amounts of information in order to support my allegations of the suicide andds and the facilities appropriate response inappropriate response to them. Counseling stating i have viola
Anybody know the answer . I have met with this committee and staff the chairman. On a number of occasions to share what i know about va health. Im looking for a collaborative relationship. We have known each other for quite some time. Are you under the impression that this relationship has been strained for a while . The between congress and the v. A. . That is not our intent. That we work closely with you. Many of you talked to us about issues and we work to get you information as quickly as we can. We understand the constraints we work for two and a half weeks. To provide the committee with a response. I expected you would send a pile of stuff at any staffers would sort through and decide what needed to be done. Was that a naive assumption . I say that not leading or passive aggressively. I was not part of that process. Many have proved what we want to do. I cant help but feel something has not been given to me. The impression was there. I would have loved to see, over my dead body.
We want to get this done as quickly as possible. I think it would be appropriate to say that we would like to have everything done by the end of the day. In regard to the Conference Community signing off on the report. And the mechanism as to who goes first is not as critical. As other pieces. Thell step out and say house will probably go first, but that hasnt been decided. Is it isportant thing done as quickly as possible. That your view is that congress is dysfunctional, nothing getting done did i say that . You did. Going just from last week, it was a pretty tense moment at the end of last week. When you give us a sense of what it took to get here . It could be instructive. Congress is so divided right now. We have to work through these things. At the end of the day, what is important am i understood . Are you understood . This is the veterans of the United States. We have an obligation to do it. There has not been one time that senator sanders nor our staff have continued to commun
Eric brooks again. San francisco green party and also you might remember a few years ago 2006 and 7 my organization and we are still part of a coalition when when google and earth link were seeing tomorrow today or tomorrow the announcement that the fact that we kept them for actually charging us for wifi is leading to these corporations just giving it to us so thats something thats positive. And im hoping that in 2014 we finally do get scheduled on this item of building a public Broadband Internet network just like building the roads and highways we need in San Francisco im hoping in 2014 well finally get action items on that and doing studies on how we can roll that out. Great thank you very much. Anything else . So not seeing any member of the Public Commenting this item is closed and i believe that leads us to our next item which is item number 8 but before i do that i want to wish everyone a very happy holiday i hope you have a please ant and safe and joyful Holiday Season and bes