[House Hearing, 109 Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED: A CASE FOR A FEDERAL EMPLOYEES APPEALS COURT ======================================================================= HEARING before the SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE AND AGENCY ORGANIZATION of the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION __________ NOVEMBER 9, 2005 __________ Serial No. 109-115 __________ Printed for the use of the Committee on Government Reform Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/ index.html http://www.house.gov/reform ______ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 25-705 PDF WASHINGTON : 2006 _____________________________________________________________________________ For Sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001 COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM TOM DAVIS, Virginia, Chairman CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Connecticut HENRY A. WAXMAN, California DAN BURTON, Indiana TOM LANTOS, California ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida MAJOR R. OWENS, New York JOHN M. McHUGH, New York EDOLPHUS TOWNS, New York JOHN L. MICA, Florida PAUL E. KANJORSKI, Pennsylvania GIL GUTKNECHT, Minnesota CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York MARK E. SOUDER, Indiana ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland STEVEN C. LaTOURETTE, Ohio DENNIS J. KUCINICH, Ohio TODD RUSSELL PLATTS, Pennsylvania DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois CHRIS CANNON, Utah WM. LACY CLAY, Missouri JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr., Tennessee DIANE E. WATSON, California CANDICE S. MILLER, Michigan STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland DARRELL E. ISSA, California LINDA T. SANCHEZ, California JON C. PORTER, Nevada C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER, Maryland KENNY MARCHANT, Texas BRIAN HIGGINS, New York LYNN A. WESTMORELAND, Georgia ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of PATRICK T. McHENRY, North Carolina Columbia CHARLES W. DENT, Pennsylvania ------ VIRGINIA FOXX, North Carolina BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio (Independent) ------ ------ Melissa Wojciak, Staff Director David Marin, Deputy Staff Director/Communications Director Rob Borden, Parliamentarian Teresa Austin, Chief Clerk Phil Barnett, Minority Chief of Staff/Chief Counsel Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization JON C. PORTER, Nevada, Chairman JOHN L. MICA, Florida DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois TOM DAVIS, Virginia MAJOR R. OWENS, New York DARRELL E. ISSA, California ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of KENNY MARCHANT, Texas Columbia PATRICK T. McHENRY, North Carolina ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland ------ ------ CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland Ex Officio HENRY A. WAXMAN, California Ron Martinson, Staff Director Chris Barkley, Professional Staff Member Chad Christofferson, Legislative Assistant/Clerk Mark Stephenson, Minority Professional Staff Member C O N T E N T S ---------- Page Hearing held on November 9, 2005................................. 1 Statement of: Bransford, William L., general counsel, Senior Executives Association; Neil A.G. McPhie, chairman, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board; Dale Cabaniss, chairman, U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority; and Cari M. Dominguez, Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission............... 13 Bransford, William L..................................... 13 Cabaniss, Dale........................................... 30 Dominguez, Cari M........................................ 37 McPhie, Neil A.G......................................... 23 Letters, statements, etc., submitted for the record by: Bransford, William L., general counsel, Senior Executives Association, prepared statement of......................... 16 Cabaniss, Dale, chairman, U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority, prepared statement of........................... 33 Cummings, Hon. Elijah E., a Representative in Congress from the State of Maryland, prepared statement of............... 76 Davis, Hon. Danny K., a Representative in Congress from the State of Illinois: Prepared statement of.................................... 8 Prepared statements of Ms. Kelley and Mr. Gage........... 45 Dominguez, Cari M., Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, prepared statement of.......................... 39 McPhie, Neil A.G., chairman, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, prepared statement of............................... 25 Porter, Hon. Jon C., a Representative in Congress from the State of Nevada, prepared statement of..................... 4 JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED: A CASE FOR A FEDERAL EMPLOYEES APPEALS COURT ---------- WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2005 House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and Agency Organization, Committee on Government Reform, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:10 a.m., in room 2247, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Jon C. Porter (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Porter, Davis of Illinois, Norton, and Cummings. Staff present: Ronald Martinson, staff director; Chad Bungard, deputy staff director; Patrick Jennings, OPM detailee; Chad Christofferson, legislative assistant/clerk; Mark Stephenson, minority professional staff Member; and Teresa Coufal, minority assistant clerk. Mr. Porter. Good morning, everyone. I would like to bring the meeting to order. We do have a quorum present. We would like to welcome you all to ``Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: A Case for a Federal Employees Appeals Court.'' I would like to thank everyone for being here today, and I know that it took some change in schedule, so for those that had those challenges, I appreciate especially your ability to be here today. Since the founding of this Nation, the bedrock principle of judicial philosophy has been ``equal justice under the law.'' We hold this principle so dear that we have carved it into stone in front of the Supreme Court. This principle should be no less true of the Federal employee redress system as in our courts. But does the government deliver this result through its employee appeals system? At present, jurisdiction for handling Federal employee appeals is spread amongst the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the U.S. Federal Courts and the Office of Special Counsel. Critics have argued that spreading appeals through so many agencies has inhibited the process from being as fair as it could be. Although each agency head here today deserves credit for implementing key reforms to improve their respective agencies, the very structure of the system may present challenges too great to overcome without some fundamental reform. Proposal for reform are what we are here to discuss. Today, among others, we are going to be discussing a proposal to consolidate all employee appeal and adjudication functions under one roof, a one-stop shop for the appeals matters. Advocates of this proposal claim that consolidating all these agencies would decrease confusion for the employees, managers and agencies; increase the efficiency of the process; and most important, deliver a more fair result for all parties that are involved. Efficiency and fairness, though, are not always the words I hear when the current appeals system is explained. Back in 1978 the GAO had this to say about the day-to-day functioning of an average Federal workplace: ``Supervisors and managers instead tend to use an informal [disciplinary] system of working around, isolating, reassigning, sending to long-term training, or even promoting unsatisfactory employees.'' Interestingly, GAO made this comment in the same year that our current appeals system was created. It was believed at the time that splintering all the adjudicatory agencies apart would resolve the problems with the appeals system. Unfortunately, it seems as if little has changed. Federal offices are hearing the same complaints today as we heard back then. In 1996, for example, GAO again testified regarding the problems of the Federal employee redress system, and stated: ``Because of the complexity of the system and the variety of redress mechanisms it affords Federal employees, it is inefficient, expensive and time-consuming.'' The latest Human Capital Survey conducted by OPM reflected this sentiment yet again, revealing that employees are still frustrated by a system that doesn't deal justly with poor managers and poor employees. Under today's system, it is a challenge to determine which agency has jurisdiction over cases that involve a mix of discrimination, mismanagement or retaliation claims. So many cases fall under two or more venues that the time it takes to receive a decision is slowed to an unacceptable pace for all parties. If we are unable to obtain timely decisions for truly aggrieved employees, then justice delayed is justice denied. Likewise, jurisdictional confusion opens the door for a problem known as ``venue shopping.'' Under this scenario an employee with a complaint against his or her manager is permitted to ``shop around'' and file a complaint with multiple agencies. Feasibly, this person can simultaneously pursue a complaint against a manager at the EEOC, MSPB and Federal District Court. While the person in this example wouldn't be held accountable if the claim is frivolous, to the accused it can be a devastating experience. Because the system permits this kind of behavior, according to an American Bar Association publication, Federal employees are reportedly five times likelier than their private sector counterparts to issue a complaint against a manager. The sad reality is that the existence of more claims does not mean that we are better at uncovering discrimination and abuse. To the contrary, the EEOC recently reported that of the 4,748 claims made by Federal employees in 2004 that were fully adjudicated by EEOC, 96 percent were found to lack merit. Let me repeat that statistic: not 10, 20, or even 50 percent, but 96 percent of cases fully adjudicated by the EEOC--at a heavy cost to taxpayers, and a heavy cost to the employees that need the help of the system. This demonstrates serious problems and a staggering need for reform. Today's hearing will address this and a host of other reform ideas. In the end, it is essential that whatever system is in place, we ensure that it is fair for all people involved, employees and managers, and it is efficient in its use of our taxpayer dollars. I look forward to hearing first from our Senior Executive Association regarding its specific proposal for reforming this system. I also look forward to hearing from the other agencies that are here this morning and would be impacted by such a reform. But before I invite our witnesses to testify, let me underscore that this hearing, first of all, is a look at the issue. We are not expecting today to come up with a final answer, but I do expect to come up with a final answer in the not-too-distant future. I hope that everyone can take away from this hearing a point upon which we can all agree, and that is, for the sake of the employees, for the sake of the managers, for the sake of the agencies and the taxpayers, we can and must find a better way to deal with how we handle this issue. I welcome all the ideas from the panel here today, from my colleagues, from the member agencies, employee organizations, and other interested groups, to work together in a common partnership toward that good. We are privileged to have some of the most knowledgeable individuals in the field to be with us today. The bottom line is there are folks that have been discriminated against. There are folks that have problems with managers, very legitimate problems. There are employees that have problems with other employees. There are people that are having problems that are not gaining access to the system because it is tied up in our own bureaucracy. And as I tried to state earlier in my comments, I applaud the folks that are here today, for trying to do what you can with a system that we have given you to work with. But I would like for us to think out of the box. What can we do to help that employee or that individual that needs help the most, and to find a system that eliminates, as much as possible, frivolous lawsuits so that there can be justice for everyone involved. [The prepared statement of Hon. Jon C. Porter follows:] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.002 Mr. Porter. I would like to do some procedural matters, and I ask at this time that we have unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to submit written statements and questions for the record, that answers to written questions provided by the witnesses, also be included in the record. Without objection, it is so ordered. I ask unanimous consent that all exhibits, documents and other materials referred to by Members and the witnesses may be included in the hearing record, and all remarks by the Members be permitted to be revised and to extend them. Without objection, it is so ordered. And it is also the practice of the subcommittee to administer the oath to all witnesses, so if you could please all stand, I would like to administer the oath. [Witnesses sworn.] Mr. Porter. Let the record reflect that the witnesses have answered in the affirmative. Please be seated. My able-bodied counsel is asking me to share with you that you are lucky today because I am losing my voice. [Laughter.] So today is a good day to be here. I promise not to give you too hard of a time, but again, we appreciate you being here. I would like to turn to my colleague, Mr. Davis, for any opening comments. Mr. Davis of Illinois. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I don't think that with the kind of weather that you have out in Nevada that you will ever lose your voice. You just kind of slow it down when you get here. But thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Today's hearing is on proposals to streamline procedures for hearing Federal employees' allegations relating to personnel practices. The Senior Executive Association has presented the most detailed of such proposals. They propose creating a Federal employee appeals court, which would combine most adjudicatory functions currently preformed by the Office of Personnel Management, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Office of Special Counsel. Under this proposal, the decisions of this court would be final and not subject to appeal, except in the case of employment discrimination. It strikes me from a review of the testimony that this proposal is driven in large part by dissatisfaction with the length of time the current equal employment opportunity process takes. There does not seem to be much complaint with the process at the Merit Systems Protection Board, or the Federal Labor Relations Authority, with the exception of so-called ``mixed cases'' which involve both the MSPB and the EEOC. If that is indeed the case, it may be that a better approach would be to focus more narrowly on the current process for resolving discrimination complaints in the Federal workplace. While I always keep an open mind on suggestions for improving the operations of the Federal Government, I must say that the proposal from the Senior Executives Association raises some serious questions in my mind. We must tread very carefully in this to ensure that due process rights of Federal employees are not diminished in what is being presented as an administrative reorganization. To that end I am disappointed a bit that representatives of Federal employee unions were not permitted to testify today. The National Treasury Employees Union and the American Federation of Government Employees have submitted written testimony, which I ask be made a part of the record for this hearing. It is also my understanding that employee representatives will be permitted to testify in person at any future hearings we may have on this subject. Of course, as always, I look forward to this group of expert witnesses. And, again, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving us the opportunity to review this matter. [The prepared statement of Hon. Danny K. Davis follows:] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.003 Mr. Porter. Thank you, Mr. Davis. Congresswoman, any opening comments? Ms. Norton. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I thank you for tackling this issue. I think everybody ought to be forewarned that this is probably the most complicated issue in the Federal service, and I know because I was there at the birth. This I disclose as a matter of disclosure, because I was Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission when both reorganizations occurred, reorganization No. 1 and reorganization No. 2. That is what this one was. Reorganization No. 1, I am still very proud of. It was the transfer of the civil rights functions in the Labor Department to the EEOC, that is to say, the EPA and the Age Discrimination and Employment Agent Act, as well as, of course, certain of the Civil Service Commission functions. Reorganization Plan No. 2 created the--what do we call it-- the FLRA and the OPM, etc. Recognizing that four new agencies were being set up, the President's Reorganization Plan No. 1 called for the EEOC to be the chief coordinator. I must say that we played that role when I was at the EEOC. It completely atrophied after I left EEOC. I see no evidence that EEOC has played a coordinating role involving all of the agencies involved, even though it has reached out in many ways. It would have taken very aggressive action because the coordination would have meant you would coordinate among other agencies, the Justice Department, every agency that had anything to do with civil rights matters. We are more than 25 years later. Everybody is frustrated with the accumulated experience. I should stress that when you are dealing with four agencies and they have overlapping jurisdiction, and it is the first time that these agencies in fact are operational, there was an attempt in 1978 to make sure that everybody's jurisdiction remained intact. Actually, I am surprised that, with more than 25 years later, in looking at this again, because I believe that the experience does inform us of--and long ago informed us of where some changes might have been made. I am going to listen very intently, because I believe in government, I believe in the EEOC and the civil rights functions, and therefore, I believe that those who believe in them ought to be at the front of the line seeking to make changes. But I think that there ought to be a fair warning to those who want change, structural change, because this is the committee that created Department of Homeland Security. I still support that idea. I do not support the way the product has in fact operated. It is still trying to get itself to look like a Federal agency. I am a major cosponsor of a bill to take FEMA out of the Department of Homeland Security. I think it needs to be nimble, to not have its funds, for example, subject to being stolen in the name of security when you get hurricanes every year, and hopefully you don't get terrorist threats, anything like that. We have seen, with the structural reform that we have already done, the virtual destruction of collective bargaining, according to a Federal court which heard the matter. We have seen other court suits now going forward as we deal with what we did in DOD and DHS with pay. So I am not sure about you, Mr. Chairman, but if there is to be an appetite for structural reform, it seems to me that the presumption has to be overcome that we are ready and we have such a good proposal here tested and at least proven that we should move ahead on it. But I think that we ought to remember that September 11th led to the changes that we have made, and frankly, I believe the September 11th deserve a better response than the monster we created in Department of Homeland Security. Again, I still support the idea. I do not support what has been made of the idea, which means that coming to a committee with an idea ought to, if anything, arouse skepticism if there is no indication that the idea would work or would work better than what is there, and that is what it seems to me is the burden of those who want to change. The need for change, interestingly, is agreed across the board, and that is not always the case when it comes to the various groups that would be involved in a matter like this. What moves me always is the word ``streamline,'' because, see, those are magic words to me. I think that people get to hate government when it gets to be complicated. For myself, I will be remembered, if at all, not about substantive things I am proud of at the EEOC like the sexual harassment guidelines, or the affirmative action guidelines, but for eliminating the EEOC's backlog by introducing streamlined processes that focused on early settlement of individual cases at a time when ADR was not even a word. So I come prepared to hear about something that would streamline a process. But, Mr. Chairman, we have just participated in creating a super agency that has yet to show it can work, and the question I think for us is we want to create a super court. Maybe so, but the burden is on those who want to do it. I will want to know, is the problem in the appeals? Is that where we have to start? That is interesting. Often you have to start earlier than that to get a problem. Is the problem venue shopping? I couldn't be more in your corner. I can't go into court here in the District of Columbia and the Federal Court at the same time. That is a problem. But what does that have to do with appeals? That has to do with, forum shopping has to do with where you file in the first place. So I am a little confused about focusing on appeals, except that this notion of mixed cases comes into play. I don't even want to go into what mixed cases is. The witnesses will testify, but a very few cases have overlap between EEOC and others. If you want to change the system because of those cases, then we need to understand if it is worth creating a whole super agency because of those cases, whether we ought to concentrate on those cases or whether we want to ask ourselves even deeper, more radical questions. What is the source of the problem? Is the source of the problem when the case gets to appeal? Fine. Then you are telling me that the cases are fine as they start. I am glad to hear that because I was not aware of that. Very complicated issue. I think the way to go about it is the way the chairman is going about it, analytically. But I must say, Mr. Chairman, that unlike other matters before us, in order to get a hold of this issue, if you really want to deal with the super court notion, it does seem to me that you ought to prepare yourself--and I am sure you have, Mr. Chairman--for what amounts to a mental exercise. I mean if you want to exercise it, you know, to exercise your mind is like doing a crossword puzzle, first try to understand this and then try to understand what the proponents want to do. Then perhaps we can make a decision on whether this is the right way to go or whether there are alternatives. And I appreciate, Mr. Chairman, that you have looked at this problem. It is not a huge problem, but for Federal workers who spend a lot of time in the system, they deserve a lot better. Thank you very much. Mr. Porter. Congresswoman, we are glad you are a part of this committee because we are going to need your help on this issue very, very much. Mr. Cummings, any opening? Mr. Cummings. Yes, just very briefly, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you for holding this critically important hearing to evaluate the restructuring proposal for the Federal employee appeals process. For over two decades, Mr. Chairman, five distinct agencies have admirably worked to ensure that Federal employees have an appropriate forum to resolve their claims of unfair or unlawful treatment that occurs in the workplace. As it now stands, agency involvement of the Federal employee appeals system includes: the Merit Systems Protection Board, which hears individual appeals regarding agency adverse actions; the Office of Personnel Management, OPM, which is charged with administering the Federal personnel system; the Office of Special Counsel, OSC, which investigates and prosecutes specialized cases with a focus on protecting whistleblower; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC], enforces the right of equal employment opportunity by hearing cases concerning discrimination; and finally, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, which adjudicates disagreements between agencies and unions. Today's hearing presents us with the opportunity to discuss a proposal by the Senior Executives Association to streamline the Federal employee appeals system with the creation of a Federal Employee Appeals Court. Specifically the proposal calls for a single forum that would merge the appeals functions currently adjudicated by MSPB, OPM, OSC, EEOC and FLRA, into what would be considered a super agency. As the testimony of William Bransford articulates, the purpose of this new entity is to provide a simple and expeditious mechanism resulting in protection of the merit system by resolving employee concerns with relative speed, impartiality and in fairness, while preserving all employee appeals rights. In principle, I am sure that we can all agree that we best honor our public servants by having a Federal employee appeals system that provides a just, timely and thorough resolution of employee grievances. Further, I am sure that we can all agree that the current appeals system is not perfect, and could benefit from some efforts to improve its effectiveness and efficiency. I am expressly troubled by the lack of timeliness in the resolution of some mixed cases where there is a jurisdictional overlap between EEOC and MSPB, and the ability to continuously balance an appeal in such a case for additional review to another adjudicative forum. However, I am not 100 percent convinced that the SEA proposal for Federal Employee Appeals Court is the best course of action. At this point it seems that the five agencies at the center of the Federal employee appeals system are able to sufficiently fulfill their unique missions. The challenges that confront us seem largely concentrated to the extraordinary delays and disarray associated with mixed cases. With that said, the wholesale restructuring of the arbitration system seems unwarranted. John Gage of the AFL-CIO wisely stated in his testimony that in particular, there is no need to create a system which deprives Federal employees of their fundamental civil right to challenge discriminatory employment decisions, while permitting private sector and other public sector employees to file cases in Federal courts, State courts and before State administrative agencies as they can do now. Something seems awfully wrong with that picture. With that said, EEOC field restructuring plan that is typified by its calls for reduction of offices and staff, seems particularly unwise. No one wins if EEOC is incapable of enforcing discrimination laws, and if it is inadequately staffed to decrease backlogs and delays. Moreover, it seems appropriate that in focusing on specific challenges before us, that we look within the current system to determine how any perceived or actual inefficiencies associated with mixed cases can best be addressed. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back and look forward to the testimony. Mr. Porter. Thank you, Mr. Cummings. I would like to respond just to a couple things. For the employees, I will be meeting with them, as I had asked, sometime before the end of the year for their assistance, as we look at the pay-for- performance proposals that has been before us, and by design my intentions were to have this discussion--and I appreciate your comment, Mr. Davis, as to why they are not here--but my goal is to actually have a personal one-on-one meeting to talk about the pay-for-performance proposal and to talk about some of their challenges in having a proper hearing. So your point is well taken, and I appreciate you bringing it up so I can make it clear that is my intention, and look forward to their input. I thought today we should hear from the management team and some of the challenges that they have, but probably more importantly, this hearing is really being driven by the employees that are very frustrated and are looking for some help and assistance. So we are looking for ideas. I do not have an intention of creating a new bureaucracy. I believe that we have systems in place to provide input and proper litigation when necessary. But there may well be a more efficient approach for the employee, whether it be a clearinghouse or a one-stop beginning to point them to the right agency. So I would hope as our discussions unfold, that I would not send the message that I am hoping or even intending to create additional bureaucracy or a super court system. But I do think that with the talent that we have, with the management team and the employees, we can find a system internally to make it easier for those that have been wronged to find some relief as quickly as possible. So appreciate my colleagues and your input, and look forward to future discussion. So today, as in the past, know that our witnesses have 5 minutes each for their opening remarks, and after which the members of the committee will have a chance to ask questions. We only have one panel today, but I say today I am looking forward to additional hearings on this issue as we move forward. Today that panel will be comprised of Mr. William Bransford, general counsel for the Senior Executives Association; Neil McPhie, chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board; Mr. Dale Cabaniss, chairman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority; and Cari Dominguez, Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. And again, if I can say, Cari, I know it was a challenge and I appreciate you being here today. Mr. Bransford, thank you for appearing before the committee. I look forward to your testimony. Please proceed. STATEMENTS OF WILLIAM L. BRANSFORD, GENERAL COUNSEL, SENIOR EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION; NEIL A.G. McPHIE, CHAIRMAN, U.S. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD; DALE CABANISS, CHAIRMAN, U.S. FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY; AND CARI M. DOMINGUEZ, CHAIR, U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION STATEMENT OF WILLIAM L. BRANSFORD Mr. Bransford. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and members of the subcommittee. I am William Bransford, general counsel of the Senior Executives Association, the professional association that represents the interests of career senior civil servants. We appreciate the opportunity to testify about an initiative we believe will correct the broken state of the Federal employee appeals process and improve Civil Service management. We look forward to presenting the perspective of the career Federal executive. SEA proposes that jurisdiction for the appeals and complaints processes for Federal employees currently investigated and adjudicated by the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, labor arbitration, the Office of Special Counsel, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Federal sector EEO system, be moved to and consolidated into one independent Federal Employee Appeals Court. The court we propose would be an Article I court similar to the U.S. Tax Court, and would have complete jurisdiction over Federal employee workplace issues, with appeals to the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal circuit for EEO matters. Our proposal ensures that all substantive appeal and complaint rights, including jury trials and compensatory damages for EEO cases would be preserved, and the new court would include investigative and dispute resolution functions that would employ all Federal employees whose jobs might be affected by the consolidation. The current system serves as a barrier to Federal managers effectively managing workplace misconduct and poor performance. The simple threat of an EEO complaint by an unhappy subordinate, which can hang over a manager for 3, 4, 5 or even 6 years, gives pause to even the best manager before deciding to take action against a problem employee. Consider the EEOC's 2004 report, 601 days on average for agencies to issue a merit decision in an EEO complaint when no judge is involved. Even including cases withdrawn, settled or dismissed, average process time is 469 days. A case that goes to an EEO administrative judge lengthens these time limits considerably. This extensive process found only 321 cases of discrimination out of over 23,000 complaints closed last year, a rate of 1.3 percent. Even including cases that settle, nearly 80 percent of EEO complaints still have no merit. Of course, even one instance of discrimination is too many. We believe this new court would provide a reinvigorated system that can screen out frivolous complaints early and more effectively deal with discrimination. One reason the current EEO system is so clogged is that it investigates every complaint, no matter how obviously specious of unconnected to actual discrimination. This is because the agencies investigate themselves, so every complaint is thoroughly reviewed to avoid accusations of conflict of interest. An independent court could take these same complaints and dismiss those with no merit, while putting resources into investigating and adjudicating viable cases. The sheer waste is reason enough to seriously examine reform of the current system. And that is just EEO complaints. Consider labor arbitration for employees in bargaining units on adverse actions that can also be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board, and there is the Office of Special Counsel for Whistleblower Reprisal, and on and on. The multitude of possibilities, the complexity of the system, and the delay, hinder good management. First level supervisors are reluctant to act, and higher level management is unsure about the level of support to give the front line manger. There is also the risk of reprisal allegations if a management decision needs to be made affecting an employee who has filed an EEO complaint. Simpler, more effective reform will help managers feel more comfortable to deal with problem employees in good faith, and will also help more quickly expose poor managers. Equally important, those with legitimate complaints and grievances will see them attended to more expeditiously. In the meantime, and until this court is operational, Congress should provide for statutory assurances that make the manager more a part of the EEO process. We propose that agencies be required to advise management of the filing of a complaint, to provide managers with relevant documents and the right to representation during meetings and investigations, to be consulted before a case is settled, and to be reconsidered for lost awards, lowered performance ratings and other negative personnel actions that occurred because of an EEO complaint if the EEO complaint is eventually found to be without merit. As the Merit Systems Protection Board rapidly processes cases and focuses on the statutory standard of efficiency of the service and the merit system, we believe its practices and culture would provide an excellent framework for the new court. We hope that today's hearing will spark a debate about reform of the Federal employee appeals process, particularly the lengthy and bulky processing of EEO complaints. Tomorrow's Federal managers will face increased expectations and accountability as reform of the Federal Civil Service's performance management system takes place. These managers deserve a new appeals system that adequately protects employees and the merit system, but does so in an expeditious and understandable manner. I have heard comments this morning attacking our proposal. I hope we can focus more on the problem the Senior Executives Association, in recognition of a serious problem, has put forth a very serious proposal that we believe will correct the matter, but more than that, we hope the debate will lead to some reform that will make a meaningful difference. Thank you very much. [The prepared statement of Mr. Bransford follows:] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.006 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.007 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.008 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.009 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.010 Mr. Porter. Thank you very much, appreciate your testimony. Mr. McPhie. STATEMENT OF NEIL A. McPHIE Mr. McPhie. Thank you. Good morning, Chairman Porter, Ranking Member Davis, and members of the committee. My name is Neil McPhie. I am the chairman of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to testify about the proposal to establish a Federal Employee Appeals Court. My comments today summarize my written statement, and I respectfully ask that my written statement be included in the record. The Senior Executives Association advances two main reasons for consolidating the existing complaint, appeals and grievance process into a single system administered by a court. The first reason given is that the current system is complex and confusing, in that personnel actions can be challenged before multiple bodies that apply different law. The second reason given is that under the current system it takes too long to resolve challenges to personnel actions. I believe the second reason, delayed resolution of disputes, is the greater concern. I submit, however, that the proposal ought to be subjected to fuller study. As to the first reason to establishing a court, it appears that managers who view the current system as too complex and confusing are primarily responding to the multiplicities of our laws and regulations that govern the Federal employment relationship, and not the fact that there are multiple avenues available for challenging personnel actions. Without providing an exhaustive list I would point out that an employee could claim that a single personnel action was improper for any or all of the following reasons: it was not taken for the efficiency of the service; it was discriminatory; it was taken in retaliation for the employee's whistleblowing; it violated the corrective bargaining agreement; or it constituted an unfair labor practice. Under the current system each of the claims I have just described could be considered by a different body, or in some instances by an arbitrator. Nevertheless, all of the claims could still be made if those bodies were combined into a single entity. My point is that insofar as day-to-day management of the Federal work force is concerned, complexity may be an outgrowth of the numerous detailed rights that policymakers have conferred on civil servants. In general the perceived complexity of the current system does not seem to be directly caused by the availability of multiple avenues for review of personnel action. In this connection I note that the current system has safeguards intended to prevent inconsistent decisions. For example, by statute an employee who believes that a personnel action was taken against him because of his whistleblowing must make a binding election among three possible review mechanisms: a grievance, a direct appeal to the MSPB, or a complaint for corrective action before the Office of Special Counsel. A choice of any one of these avenues forecloses the other two. Without going into further examples, I would simply observe that the current system is not designed to reach inconsistent decisions. As to the second main concern, lengthy delays, I note that a typical non-mixed case--that is one that does not go to EEOC--moves through the administrative system fairly quickly. In fiscal year 2005 the MSPB's administrative judges issued decisions in an average of 92 days. In over 50 percent of the cases, the administrative judges' decisions became the final decision. Based on fiscal year 2005 figures, on average it takes no more than 122 days from the date of the personnel action to the AJ's final decision. Either party may seek review of the administrative judge's decision before the full MSPB, and the Board members are striving to decide cases on average within 120 days. In fiscal year 2005 the Board reduced its pending headquarters inventory by 38 percent, from 955 cases to 593. A smaller inventory obviously means that newly filed cases will be decided more quickly. The MSPB is firmly committed to reducing its processing time as new Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense appeals systems go into effect, although as I have stated in the past before you all, that MSPB will treat cases from all agencies equally. Assuming that the full MSPB can decide cases within an average of 120 days, in a typical case the total time from the date that personnel action is taken until a final judicially reviewable administrative action is rendered should be about 277 days, roughly 9 months. The mixed case process where there is an appeal from an action that is both within the Board's jurisdiction and that the employee believes was discriminatory, presents a significant timeliness challenge. If the employee chooses to pursue every step in the process within regulatory timeframes, then approximately 695 days, or nearly 2 years, will have passed before administrative review is complete. The proposal from the Senior Executives Association would significantly modify the procedures by which discrimination claims are decided. It comes as no surprise, when I would tell you that it is my hope that you as policymakers would exercise great caution when studying ways to modify procedures for certain discrimination claims. In conclusion, it is possible that streamlining benefits may be achieved by consolidating current dispute resolution bodies into a single Federal Appeals Court. I would suggest, however, that the efficiencies sought by the Senior Executives Association could possibly be gained by reforming the current system. An appropriate course, in my view, would be to form a task force of the stakeholders to study possible changes and work to resolve inefficiencies in the current system. Naturally, the MSPB will be pleased to assist any such task force with its work. Again, thank you very much for permitting me to come and make these remarks. [The prepared statement of Mr. McPhie follows:] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.011 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.012 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.013 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.014 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.015 Mr. Porter. Thank you, Mr. McPhie. Ms. Cabaniss. STATEMENT OF DALE CABANISS Ms. Cabaniss. Chairman Porter, Ranking Member Davis, and members of the subcommittee, my name is Dale Cabaniss. I have the honor of serving as the chairman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you this morning as you examine the idea of creating a one-stop shop for the resolution of Federal employee complaints, appeals and grievances. I appreciate your continuing interest in this topic and your efforts to evaluate ways to improve government operations, while retaining important due process rights for Federal employees. There are a lot of comments that have been raised that have merit. I agree with Chairman McPhie that it is important to have the stakeholders involved, and I would encourage that committee to further study the idea of a Federal Employee Appeals Court. As you know, in 1978 the Civil Service Reform Act was enacted to replace a then-existing patchwork system of Federal employment governance. Chapter 71 of the statute established the Federal Labor Relations Authority by consolidating three previously independent entities: the Federal Service's Impasses Panel, the Office of the General Counsel, and the Federal Labor Relations Authority, decisional component which was preceded by the Federal Labor Relations Council. Under our statute, our General Counsel, our Administrative Law Judges, the Authority and the Federal Service's Impasses Panel, retain their important statutory independence of their prosecutorial and adjudicative responsibilities, but we co-exist in terms of managing our administrative overhead. From this perspective, the FLRA does represent a one-stop shop as a single point of entry for certain cases falling within our jurisdiction. During my time at the FLRA it has been my experience that each of these previously separate components has been able to successfully retain its statutory independence without the need for excessive, duplicative administrative budget, human resource or technology personnel. As you are aware, the Federal Labor Relations Authority does not initiate cases. All proceedings before the FLRA originate from filings arising through the affirmative actions of Federal employees, Federal agencies, or Federal labor organizations. For example, an employee who believes he or she has suffered an alleged unfair labor practice may petition the FLRA General Counsel. Our General Counsel, through one of the seven regional offices nationwide, will investigate this claim. If the General Counsel ultimately issues a complaint, the case moves to the Office of Administrative Law Judges where it will either settle or be scheduled for a hearing. If a case moves to a hearing, it will either settle or the assigned judge will issue a decision. Upon issuance of an ALJ decision, the nonprevailing party may then appeal to the FLRA Authority decisional component for adjudication. The Authority will issue a decision, after which judicial review may be had in either the U.S. Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the aggrieved party resides, or the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Examining this process more closely, you will see that a ULP case can potentially route through three of our agency's four major case processing components, the OGC, the Office of the Administrative Law Judges, and the Authority. And each component engages in case processing activities that vary in complexity, time and procedures. To address potentially lengthy case processing and to improve the agency's overall responsiveness to its customers, during the past year we began collecting baseline performance and activity costing information, and revising our internal performance standards. Consistent with all executive departments and many other small agencies, we will soon implement agency-wide processing goals that are aligned directly with our executives' and managers' performance appraisals. Thus, regardless of which component a case is currently in, we will remain cognizant that there is a customer, whether agency or union, waiting not only for a fair decision but a timely result as well. One of the issues that has been identified with respect to the employees appeals process is the potential overlap of jurisdiction and the opportunity to raise issues in alternative forums. This is not a significant issue at the FLRA. For example, Section 7116 of our statute provides that issues which can properly be raised under an appeals procedure may not be raised as an unfair labor practice. This includes employment matters such as hiring, firing and the failure to promote. These matters are generally subjected to the jurisdiction of the MSPB. However, there are some instances in which different independent agencies could issue rulings involving the same employee complainant. For example, if a group of employees are terminated from Federal service, they may appeal that termination to the MSPB. Depending on the factual situation, at the same time, the union representing that bargaining unit may file an unfair labor practice charge with the FLRA alleging the agency failed to follow the collective bargaining agreement in effecting the employment action. The two cases are related, but because they raise different legal issues, there is the possibility of different rulings in different forums. In another example, where a factual situation involves multiple related actions by an agency, it would be possible to litigate the various parts separately if different legal issues can be identified. For example, a bargaining unit employee could be terminated from Federal service for insubordination resulting from his or her refusal to accept an overtime assignment. The bargaining unit employee could appeal the termination from Federal service to the MSPB, while also alleging an EEO violation for how he or she was treated during the investigation of the incident. At the same time, the union representing this particular bargaining unit could file an unfair labor practice charge alleging the employee was ordered to take the overtime assignment in reprisal for the employee's union activity. Because each piece of litigation raises a separate legal issue, each case will operate independently from each other. However, I should point out this is a rare occurrence. This is not something that you would see very often. In conclusion, while there is presently not a great deal of overlap in jurisdictions between the FLRA and the other agencies represented here today, I am sure we would all agree there is room for continued improvement administratively and operationally. Thank you again for the opportunity to appear this morning. I would be pleased to respond to any questions you may have or provide any additional information you seek. [The prepared statement of Ms. Cabaniss follows:] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.016 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.017 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.018 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.019 Mr. Porter. Thank you very much. Ms. Dominguez, appreciate you being here. STATEMENT OF CARI DOMINGUEZ Ms. Dominguez. Mr. Chairman, Congressman Davis, members of the subcommittee, thank you very much for inviting me to testify today on this very important topic. I am Cari Dominguez, Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. First and foremost I want to applaud and commend this committee for allowing us this opportunity to look into ways for improving the Federal employee appeals and complaint process. Designing a process that efficiently and effectively resolves workplace disputes is of paramount importance to the Federal Government and to taxpayers. The EEOC plays a very significant role in that process. While this hearing is focused on the multiple complaint and appeal processes that are available to Federal workers, our view is through the lens of the EEO process. That is the process that we deal with on a daily basis. Many of the concerns that have been expressed and raised by the Senior Executives Association are concerns that we share. We recognize that reform of the Federal EEO system is warranted. Indeed, the Federal EEO process has been perennially criticized as too slow, too cumbersome, too expensive, and subject to perceived or real conflicts of interest. Many of the critics of the system consider the current arrangement under which the same agency accused of discrimination investigating itself has a conflict of interest. The EEO process is also sometimes used to address workplace disputes that belong in another forum. Clearly, these issues raise the question as to whether agencies, employees and taxpayers are being well served. In my view, what is needed is a better model and a more flexible system. It is critical that sufficient resources be devoted to those cases where it is likely that discrimination has occurred. EEOC's private sector charge process serves to inform us. As you know, we were established as part of the Civil Rights Act and we have been conducting investigations filed by private sector employees in the past 40 years. Our private sector complaint processing system was at one point overburdened and very time intensive. At one point we had over 110,000 charges backlogged, and the average processing time to complete a charge was well over a year. Without any significant change, we estimated that it would take more than 16 months to even begin an investigation. In the mid 1990's the Commission adopted a system known as Priority Charge Handling Procedures, using a similar model to the triage system that is applied in the health care field, whereby the most compelling cases are handled first. We have found that this system has been far more efficient, responsive and fair, not to mention economical, than the previous approach, where all charges, regardless of merit, were afforded the same time and attention. The average processing time for charges filed with EEOC in the private sector is now less than half of what it was 10 years ago, and has averaged 165 days in the last 3 years. I believe that we need to draw from lessons learned in the Commission's private sector model to design a Federal sector system that is truly the best. One of the concerns frequently voiced is that the various processes for employee complaints and appeals are redundant and overlapping. There is a type of case that has been mentioned, where EEOC reviews decisions of the MSPB to ensure proper application of the employment discrimination laws. These are known as the mixed cases, and are frequently cited by those who raise the redundancy issue. Yet over the years, review of the MSPB decisions has constituted a very small number of appellate cases, in fact, only 1.1 percent of our 2005 receipts. Likewise, EEOC may review certain grievance decisions from the Federal Labor Relations Authority on issues of discrimination, but again, those cases make up very little of EEOC's appellate docket, two-tenths of appellate receipts in 2005. We believe that reform of the various complaint and appeal processes to include the Federal EEO process can be a very positive step. Although the concept of a one-stop process is worth exploring, we believe that it requires further study. We question whether the creation of an Article I Court, without any changes to the administrative agency process, would actually yield the results intended. The EEO workload alone for a new court could be significant. In fiscal year 2004, more than 19,000 EEO complaints were filed with agencies. By contrast, over the last 5 years, Federal employees have filed fewer than 1,300 lawsuits raising discrimination issues in Federal District Courts. This amounts to about a tenth of 1 percent. Further, the proposal under consideration would place all workplace disputes into a single judicial forum, one that has potential to become more legalistic, more expensive, more intimidating, and likely more time consuming than the existing processes. It may well have the effect of discouraging employees from seeking redress for any discrimination experienced, and that should not be the goal or result of any reform proposal. Ensuring a workplace free of discrimination is vital to our Nation's interest. Much progress has been made, but much more remains to be done. Improving on an approach that allows for the proficient resolution of workplace disputes is an objective that we all share and work diligently to meet. It is important that we and this subcommittee continue to look for ways that we can design a system that works better. We believe that reform, informed by what works well in the current administrative framework, is a good starting point, and provides the best platform for those efforts. Thank you very much for the opportunity to comment, and I will be happy to answer questions. [The prepared statement of Ms. Dominguez follows:] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.020 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.021 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.022 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.023 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.024 Mr. Porter. Thank you very much. Before we get into questions, I would like to heed the request of Mr. Davis that we include statements prepared by the National Treasury Employees Union and the American Federation of Government Employees to be submitted as part of the record. So without objection, so ordered. Thank you very much. [The information referred to follows:] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.025 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.026 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.027 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.028 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.029 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.030 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.031 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.032 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.033 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.034 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.035 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.036 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.037 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.038 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.039 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.040 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.041 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.042 Mr. Porter. I have a few questions for the EEOC. Where do you think the delays are occurring in the Federal sector, EEO processing, and what suggestions do you have to make it more fair and more efficient and effective? Ms. Dominguez. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Since joining the Commission, we have looked at this issue very carefully and deliberately, and I am convinced that the greatest delay occurs during the investigative process conducted by Federal agencies. There is a reluctance to look at the merits of the case and then apply some judgment, primarily because of fear that at some level in the process the case will be reversed. So I think there is a reluctance by Federal agencies to conduct anything less than a thorough and full investigation, even when the allegations do not warrant such a lengthy review. Mr. Porter. You mentioned that the system, 96 percent of the cases are fully adjudicated, and of course, at heavy costs to taxpayers because of purely the manpower and the time. And 96 percent are of course deemed to be without merit. Is that indicative that the system is working because 96 percent are without merit? Does that mean the system is working? Ms. Dominguez. We believe that what it tells us is that 96 percent of the issues in which we found no discriminatory findings may relate to other management issues or other kinds of issues that cannot be substantiated through our discrimination analysis. We have put a lot of other things in place. One of the things we have encouraged agencies to do--and I have been personally meeting with agency heads--has been to engage more in the precomplaint counseling process. This is the time right before someone files a complaint, to do more mediation, to do more counseling, to do more outreach and training. We believe those are the tools that Federal agencies should continue to strengthen. We still have a very high conversion rate between the precomplaint counseling stage and the actual filing of a complaint. Government-wide it is about a 45 percent conversion rate. We think we can drive that down and keep complaints from being filed if each agency continues to engage much more aggressively in dispute resolution administrative processes. However, I do think that once a formal complaint is filed, it is the old adage of, you know, there is a perception that the fox is guarding the hen house, and I believe that we need to remove that responsibility. It would be better for the agency. It would engender greater trust, and I think we could see dramatic improvement in the efficiency of the process. Mr. Porter. Thank you. I would like to remind my colleagues, if we can keep our questions to approximately 5 minutes, I am happy to do additional rounds if necessary. Mr. Davis, any questions? Mr. Davis of Illinois. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. McPhie, both you and Ms. Dominguez, what is it about the mixed cases that cause so much delay, and which makes it more difficult to process those in a more timely manner? Mr. McPhie. You want me to go first? Mr. Davis of Illinois. Yes. Mr. McPhie. The way the regulations are set up, a person has a right, if they are dissatisfied with an MSPB decision on discrimination, to seek review before the EEOC. And we get our agency decision very, very quickly. And it leaves our hands, it is at the EEOC. We have no control over the process, and then it would come back to us at some point in time in the distant future. It goes back and forth, and I have always wondered why, unlike other provisions described here this morning, people couldn't elect a remedy. Once they elect, they have to stay with that process. If they elected the Board remedy, for example, the case would be finished. Mr. Davis of Illinois. So the joint action is not so much the problem as the regs governing EEOC becomes more of a problem than any difficulty of the two agencies concurrently working together? Mr. McPhie. Oh, yes. EEOC is the expert, there is no question about that. And the Board, over 25 years, has developed a history that is quite good. EEOC has said that. But the process, I mean the regulation gives the person an unfettered right, if they don't like what they get from the Board, to take it over to the EEOC. Unless the regulations are changed, then you have to respect that right. Ms. Dominguez. I fully agree with that. I believe that there is access to review on the discrimination aspects of the claim by the Commission, and while as I mentioned, it makes up about 1 percent of all of the appellate reviews, there is that component. Mr. Davis of Illinois. Thank you very much. Mr. Bransford, I would hope that certainly my comments were not part of the notion of opposition to or attacking the proposal. I think I have a very open mind about this, and I am trying to arrive at what will get the best protection as expeditiously as possible, certainly for those employees who feel that somehow or another, they are just not getting a fair shake. I mean I get people who call me and who come by my office, and there are times when I think we are going to have to call a psychiatrist--[laughter]--or somebody to keep them from going berserk, in terms of what they express about the process and whether or not they are going to ever get fairness. You indicated that your most serious concern is the length of time that it takes to resolve discrimination complaints and mixed cases. We have heard some information relative to the mixed cases. What is there about the discrimination complaints that makes it so difficult? Mr. Bransford. There are, Congressman Davis, two things about them I think from a manager's perspective. First, the manager is not a part of the process. The EEO process in the agency works separately and it is supposed to do that. And I think to a certain extent when the agency is investigating itself, it should be free from management influence, but the manager doesn't feel like they are part of the process. And second, it goes on for so long, years. And the manager has to continue to work on a day-to-day basis with that employee who is unhappy with the manager, and very often that employee is a problem employee, is a poor performer or is engaging in workplace misconduct. The employee has filed an EEO complaint. The manager must then manage and make tough decisions and face a reprisal complaint because of an EEO complaint that has no end, all of this in a process where the manager is not a part. I think it creates difficulty for the manager. And then from the employee's perspective, because I have also been involved in these cases from the employee's perspective, when a case takes so long to resolve and there is a finding of discrimination, it is very difficult to give meaningful justice to an employee who has been wronged after 3 or 4 or 5 years. Mr. Davis of Illinois. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Porter. Congresswoman, do you have any questions at this point? Ms. Norton. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to say to you, Mr. Bransford, that I am very sympathetic with what you go through. I mean I had to live with this system. I had to live with a system where people found multiple charges at a time, frankly, when we were trying to bring the agency, which had been a scandal, back to life. And so I hope you won't take our questions as meaning we don't see the problem. I lived with it. It is a terrible problem, about having someone who just lingers, and understands the system well enough to find ways to linger. Could I ask you, did you, in designing this idea, speak with or consult with the unions who are apparently just, perhaps even more frustrated with the present system as you are? Mr. Bransford. I have not had discussions with unions about this specific proposal. I have had numerous discussions with union officials over the years about the basic problem. This proposal, I would point out, was first designed about 10 years ago, and studied at that point. We have since revised it and developed it and have continued to push for it, and I think within the last 3 years, particularly in what has happened with Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Personnel System. I think the debate becomes even more necessary because the focus has been on reforming MSPB appeal rights, and I think the problem is actually broader. Ms. Norton. The reason I asked the question---- Mr. Bransford. But I have not consulted with them on this proposal. Ms. Norton. The reason I ask the question, Mr. Bransford, is that where management and labor have the same basic criticism, one would think that is an opportunity for them to take at least a go-round at seeing if they could together come up with an answer even if they had basic differences. Someone-- I don't know if it was you, Mr. Chairman, or someone in their testimony--indicated that it would be advisable for there to be a task force of the stakeholders, as say, kind of a beginning point. Mr. Bransford, would you disagree with that as one way to proceed? Mr. Bransford. I think that is a very good way to proceed, and I think that task force of stakeholders should include the labor unions. Mr. Porter. Excuse me, Congresswoman, I am not sure who said it, but we will give you credit if you like. It is a good idea. [Laughter.] Ms. Norton. I mean it may have been in someone's testimony, Mr. Chairman. I got it from--oh, it was Mr. McPhie. And particularly since very often management and labor don't agree that there is even a problem, boy, that is a good head start it seems to me. I was a little puzzled by the very informative sheet that the SEA put out on the Federal Employee Court of Appeals. In talking about the need for reform, Mr. Bransford, you have a section here about the number of days it takes for various parts of the system to proceed, and you start with the 601 days for the agencies to decide a discrimination case, and you say, ``when no judge is involved.'' Mr. Bransford. That is right. Ms. Norton. So that means we haven't even gotten to the appeal process yet. Then you go on, 280 days for agencies just to complete investigations. Here, we are not to appeal yet. Mr. Bransford. That is right. Ms. Norton. We are still on the ground. Mr. Bransford. We are still in the agency. Ms. Norton. And even in the agency, in a real sense we really may be hopping--I mean there is something called bottom- up and top-down. Then you go on that the EEOC judge takes 463 days. Well, if you combine the number of days before you even get out of the agency, you have about twice as many days as it takes for the EEOC judge to be involved in the case. And of course, no appeals court touches that, I take it? Mr. Bransford. Well, it has not gone to Federal Court yet. At that point it can go--then after that, it can go to Federal Court. Ms. Norton. After that. So we are still left with the employee down there not knowing whether or not there is any cognizable claim even. I am wondering whether or not we want to nip the problem in the bud, as they say, because I go on again with your sheet, because you complain, I think quite rightly, that the process, this process, this process that doesn't get to appeal--so few cases get to appeal. You say the process rarely finds discrimination, meaning that managers are often unfairly labeled as discriminating officials. And then you go on to cite how few cases find discrimination. One of the reasons for that, Mr. Chairman, is that this is a free system. These are well-educated employees, and whatever message you send, they are going to receive. And by the way, if you send a message that there is an appeals court, a brand new nice appeals court, don't underestimate Federal employees, please. I am sure that will be just where everybody tries to get. I just want you to keep that in mind. But again, here we have very few cases. Now, Ms. Dominguez testified about ways that the EEOC is trying to reach out to help these agencies get through that process. I would like to know whether or not you think that given the resources that go into this system, even before any appeals judge get a hold of it, whether it wouldn't be wise for the committee to concentrate on carrying out the Federal mandate that is now law, that every agency has to have a viable ADR process, because I think that if anything, this means that whatever version of ADR we are using, is failing, and you, therefore, after it has failed, are trying to get hold of the few cases that make it to the appeals system with good reason, but leaving the process as it is where all of the delay really is. So I am asking you whether or not your employee, you who are the manager, wouldn't be better off if there were a way to settle this case or to negotiate the case early on, and then if it can't be negotiated, and the employee wants to go on up, that is another problem. But isn't our time better put into-- given what appeals are going to produce, isn't it better put into trying to get rid of frivolous cases, cases that might be easily settled, because you say right here, 20 percent of the cases settle but many result in small significant benefit for the complainant, meaning that the complainant is willing to take a small benefit. So I am asking you aren't we kind of putting the cart before the horse and wouldn't it be better for the committee to focus on trying to get these cases resolved early so that whatever appeals process we decide upon has very few cases in the first place. Mr. Bransford. The short answer is, yes, I believe that there should be more effort made to alternative dispute resolution and mediation. However, I don't think that would solve the problem. The Senior Executives Association supports requiring managers to actually participate in alternative dispute resolution. The EEO does--and it is one of the significant improvements of the last 4 or 5 years--require ADR programs in agency EEO systems, which I believe has actually resulted in a reduction of many complaints that could have gone forward. But the problem is---- Ms. Norton. That is one agency. We are dealing with five agencies, all of which were created because they have very distinct expertise. I mean the reason that in 1978 this happened in the first place was because the government found, the Congress found, that the specific missions of these agencies were so dissimilar, so dissimilar that they warranted actually setting up different agencies. That took a whole lot to do. Now, essentially you come back and you put them all together again, at least up at the top. There has to be a very good reason for doing that, Mr. Bransford. Mr. Bransford. And the basic reason for doing it is to recognize that it is all about the Federal employee complaint system that very often has overlapping concerns, overlapping issues. Under the current system if you go to the EEOC on an issue and you want to take it to Federal Court on discrimination, you have to go through the discrimination route. If you want to argue Federal Civil Service, you take it through the MSPB and the Federal Circuit. Ms. Norton. Would you be in favor of what we have in the Federal court system or in most court systems, you choose your forum? Mr. Bransford. You choose your forum, that is right, and-- -- Ms. Norton. I am sorry. Would you be in favor of that as one way to deal with this problem, so that you wouldn't then say, oh, I chose my forum, but here I am going to relitigate it in another forum. Mr. Bransford. But you would still have multiple ways of attacking a problem, and I think tighter rules on choosing your forum would be a positive reform, but I don't think it takes care of the compete problem because you still have a very lengthy delay in the EEO processing that is not being addressed. Ms. Norton. Mr. Chairman, I can stop here if you want to go to other people. But again, you keep going back to a delay in the EEO processing. Therefore I want to focus you on the EEO processing. If the delay is there, then the question for the committee is why don't we tackle where the biggest delay is? We may still find we have delays in the appeal process. That is on the table as far as I am concerned, but the notion of not tackling where the real delay is, that is where the employee is encountering problems. Where is your little sheet that I had? Your employee, and if you say that is who you are doing this for, your employee that you are so concerned about, and your manager, at 601 days for the agency. That is the agency where you are, Mr. Bransford. Mr. Bransford. That is correct. Ms. Norton. For the agency to decide a discrimination case. You still got it at that point, you, the agency. And then 280 days for the investigation. I am just perplexed, Mr. Chairman, why I would want to leap over to the appeals process without tackling this and finding ways to make this--to reduce this process, given the results you, yourself point out here. Most of these cases are going to wash out in the first place, so we are interested in the tiny, tiny number that don't wash out. Mr. Porter. Congresswoman, that is why we are here today, and I think your point is well taken. Mr. Bransford. Our proposal would actually start the process in the court on day 1, not day 601, and the investigation, the consideration of the complaint would be done by the independent Court of Appeals, the Federal Employee---- Ms. Norton. Then I have to have a followup question. Then what you are suggesting, Mr. Bransford, is we have a court where we transfer the complexity in the administrative process now to, of all places, what is always a more costly process, a court process. You do say in your sheet that the Court's jurisdiction would encompass duties the Office of Special Counsel, the General Counsel's Office of the FLRA. The court-- imagine this now--the court would have an investigatory arm. In America we are used to agencies investigating. Encompassing the duties of the OSC, the Office of Special Counsel and the General Counsel of the FLRA. This transfer of jurisdiction, it seems to me, doesn't do anything about the number of days, doesn't do anything about the delays. What it does do is pile them all up in one agency, and we know from experience that if you want to make a problem worse, create a big bureaucracy and say, now all of the problems are yours, all the delays are yours, all of the jurisdiction, including jurisdiction that a court has never had, which is jurisdiction over investigations, that is all yours. And somehow if we put all of that in a court, simply because it is under the same roof, everything is going to be done more quickly than it is done now. I don't know, Mr. Chairman, I remain to be convinced. Mr. Porter. Thank you, Congresswoman, appreciate it. Mr. Cummings. Mr. Cummings. I am just going to be very brief because I think Ms. Norton pretty much expressed my frustrations here. But I just want to just bring some of the--you know, Mr. Bransford, and I think it was Mr. McPhie, I understand you are trying to do something to help employees, and particularly employees that find themselves in a situation where they need a remedy for what they at least perceive to be a problem. I am just wondering, you know, I have read a statement from Colleen Kelley, the president of the National Treasury Employees Union, who seems to think that this is not the greatest idea. I guess when I am trying to help somebody, I would kind of like to know that the help that I am offering them is truly help and not something that they would deem is not helpful. So I am just wondering--and then I want to put alongside of that, when we did the Department of Homeland Security, we combined some 22, put together 22 agencies and created a super agency. When we look at what happened with Katrina, there is not one human being that cannot say that there was a failure on the part of a lot of folks, local, State and definitely Federal. So I am trying to figure out. She claims, that is, Ms. Kelley claims that this is a bureaucratic nightmare, and I think that is to some degree what Ms. Norton was kind of getting at. I just want to make sure--first of all, have you been in contact with any of the union folk? Mr. Bransford. I discussed the broad problem with the unions. I have not discussed with them or had a debate with them about this specific proposal, nor have I attempted to get their buy-in to it. Mr. Cummings. Not necessarily buy-in. I tell my staff, in dealing with people, one of the best things that you can do is consult with people, at least talk to them, because the person who could be your greatest advocate can become your worst enemy if they are not at least in some way included in the process. It seems to me that if I am trying to create something and redo something to help someone, it just seems to me--you don't have to have a buy-in, but at least consultation, because I am sure the unions catch a lot of the flack when these problems come up. I was just curious as to what your process was, that is all. Mr. Bransford. What our process was in developing this proposal? Mr. Cummings. Yes. Mr. Bransford. We talked to quite a few officials and ex- officials at the various agencies that do this, and we talked to many managers, and received feedback from them about their concern, and in addition to that, we talked to a lot of employee advocates about how these different agencies actually work. I have discussed with AFGE and NTEU and other labor unions the basic problem of the employee appeals system, including the efforts of the last 3 years to diminish the authority and use of the Merit Systems Protection Board, and I am well aware of their position on that. I am also well aware, Congressman Cummings, that the unions would probably be very much against my proposal because of its provision to eliminate labor arbitration. Nonetheless, we believe that it is the best avenue, it makes the most sense. The Merit Systems Protection Board was created to hear the very same cases that labor arbitrators also hear, and it makes no sense to have a Board that is accountable to Congress and to the courts, and labor arbitrators that are not nearly as accountable, and a perception of managers--and the employee advocates, I might also add--that in general arbitrators often unreasonably favor the employee in their decisions. It seems to me to be, when you look at it, an option that is unnecessary, especially considering the Board, but one that is very much cherished by the union, and it goes back a long way, and I would expect them to oppose our proposal on that basis alone. Mr. Cummings. Where would the court be centralized? I mean where would it be? Would it be regional? I mean would we have courts around the country? I take it that MSPB and the FLRA maintain some kind of regional agencies throughout, or umbrellas out there, and I am just wondering first of all, where do you propose this court being? Mr. Bransford. I think those details need to be worked out as the legislative process unfolds, but I would imagine like most Title I courts, it would be headquartered in Washington, but I would assume it would have offices throughout the country. The MSPB has I think five or seven regional offices. The FLRA has offices that deal with Federal employee issues, and the EEOC has quite a few offices. So I would think you would have to set up offices in every place where currently to Federal agencies deal with Federal employee complaint issues. Mr. Cummings. And offices meaning that they would also be places where matters could be adjudicated. Is that what you are saying? Mr. Bransford. Matters would be adjudicated. Hearing examiners and judges would be housed in those offices, and court staff to investigate and do dispute resolution. Mr. Cummings. Well, the jury is still out. Thank you. Mr. Porter. Thank you, Mr. Cummings. We are going to be voting on the House floor in about 10 minutes, and I am willing to have another round of questions if the committee would like. Congresswoman. Ms. Norton. Commissioner Dominguez, wouldn't some of this problem go away if the EEOC had the same kind of enforcement authority in the Federal sector that it has in the private sector? Ms. Dominguez. Congresswoman Norton, certainly it would improve. We are often frustrated because there is oftentimes a resistance to provide necessary data during the hearings process, and of course, the Commission doesn't have any kind of sanctioning powers to impose submission of that data. Let me just for the record--I know that SEA provided the data for 2004 in terms of hearings, but I am just very proud to report that in 2005 we have gone from 421 days to 249 days, so we are trying to squeeze out the efficiencies, but there is a point where you have to look at the foundation of the process, not necessarily what the current process is, but how are we organized. And that I think was really the key part here. Ms. Norton. I think first things first. We may have problems in the appeal process, but I am yet to understand why it would begin there rather than where all the delay is. Mr. Bransford, for as long as--and there has been Federal law and administrative process, it has been Federal process to keep people out of court. That is why you have all of these decisions, some of them counter-intuitive in this process, but have all these decisions saying exhaust your remedies, exhaust your remedies. Your proposal would actually make what are now administrative functions into judicial functions, functions literally of a court. Isn't that turning the whole notion of keeping people out of court on its head, and reversing what has been Federal policy for decades? Why would we want to do that? Mr. Bransford. Well, we would want to do it for two reasons. One is, by creating a Title I court like this, I think you are creating an organization that would have a tremendous degree of independence and integrity, sufficient, for the second reason, to remove these Federal employee cases from Federal District Court and actually putting them in this Title I court, where employees would have---- Ms. Norton. I am talking about the administrative function. Mr. Bransford [continuing]. One shot at it. We think by creating a specialized court that was focusing only on Federal employee issues, you could do this effectively without having an administrative process, and that administrative process that you are discussing is quasi-judicial already, the MSPB and the FLRA and the EEOC and the Office of Special Counsel, which we think this court---- Ms. Norton. Mr. Bransford, are you aware that in the processes right here, most employees don't get a lawyer. Once you say you are going into some kind of court, most--many cases are handled by people themselves, pro se, by non-lawyers, by union representatives who aren't lawyers, by friends who come in to help them. Now we are creating, under your proposal, an administrative court, a lot of complexity in it, complexity that is now in the administrative process. Wouldn't there be a need for a lawyer in this court process? Mr. Bransford. Well, there are also people who go to Federal District Court pro se. Ms. Norton. Very few. That is no answer to my question. Mr. Bransford. I would agree. I would agree with that, but---- Ms. Norton. The question here is, do you envision that people would be able to go into this process without a lawyer, or would feel that perhaps before an Article I court, they best have a lawyer? Mr. Bransford. I feel that this process could be set up specifically to handle pro se cases exactly like they are handled at the MSPB or the EEOC---- Ms. Norton. So here we have then a court doing what the administrative process does, only we call it a court and we send a signal that it should be treated like a court. There are a lot of mixed functions in here. One of the great debates of the administrative process when the NLRB was set up was about firewalls and fairness. One thing that having separate agencies does is to at least make it clear that notion of fairness isn't being violated because it is all mixed up in the same agency. I regard that as a problem that needs to be dealt with. You have the court handling advisory functions of independent agencies. You have things in this court that no court has ever had anything to do with, functions like issuance of guidance on labor relations issues. It doesn't sound to me like this is a court at all, but a combination agency and court, some kind of hybrid, that transfers a lot of complexity now in the administrative process upward. I do have a question for Ms. Cabaniss. Ms. Cabaniss, you are aware that we have before us not as a piece of formal legislation, but what has been outlined certainly in a form which could become legislative, a proposal called ``Working for America Act.'' So in viewing this proposal, I have had to look at it in light of that proposal because--and to ask you what would be left of the FLRA if on the one hand you get the Working for America Act, on the other hand you get this act? For example, under the proposed Working for America Act--I am looking here at the executive summary--the unions would lose certain rights that now apparently are before you, the right to attend formal discussions between management and employees. You handle I guess such grievances. Existing union right to attend formal discussions between management employees on any personnel matter. There is, you know, emergencies. An agency could declare emergency whenever it--excuse me--damn well pleased, and there goes consultation and a whole lot of things that by fiat don't come any longer if we were to pass this act, and the Working for America Act. And so this needs--you are very modest here--you kind of say, this needs a little study. I am asking you if we pass both of these things, the Working for America Act and this proposal, whether or not there is any need for an FLRA, or whether we shouldn't just streamline government all together, and eliminate the FLRA? Ms. Cabaniss. That is a very good question. I see the proposals as being distinct. The SEA proposal clearly looks as if it would take the place of the FLRA. The Working for America Act, as I understand it, would limit the scope of bargaining. It doesn't necessarily take away any of the responsibilities of the FLRA. It might change the type of cases that come before the FLRA, which certainly could have an impact on the number of cases, depending on what the ultimate scope of bargaining is, and how many times, you know, unions take to have those cases come before the FLRA. So it certainly would have an impact on our jurisdiction. Ms. Norton. But there wouldn't be much left of the FLRA if we had this proposal. Ms. Cabaniss. As I understand it, it looks like it would largely take the place of---- Ms. Norton. Just as well abolish the FLRA. Mr. Porter. Thank you. Ms. Norton. I think that is a very weighty and heavy notion to bear in mind here, and if it is that easy, Mr. Chairman, fine, but it hasn't seemed that easy to me. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Porter. Thank you for your comments. Mr. Davis, any questions? Mr. Davis of Illinois. Yes. Mr. Bransford, if we could go back. It seems that I remember at a point you suggested that part of the problem with the EEO process was that managers were not really integrated into that process. If that is the case, could there not be some way to correct or fix that to the extent that input from managers could be a part, and would that not maybe help to streamline the process a bit? Mr. Bransford. Yes, it would. I believe that managers should be more a part of the process, and the Senior Executives Association has a legislative proposal that we have entitled the Federal Managers Fairness Act to do exactly that, to make managers more a part of the process. And to the extent that this independent court does not become a reality or is delayed in becoming a reality, we think it is important that managers are brought into the EEO process, that they be informed when a complaint is filed, that they be entitled to representation during investigations, that they be provided with relevant documents, that they be consulted, not necessarily in any authoritative way, but at least advised before a case is settled so that their input could be obtained, and that they be reconsidered for lost awards, lost promotions, lowered performance appraisals if an EEO complaint is later found to not have merit. We think that is important, and I suspect that the SEA's proposal on this court would be studied for some period of time. We hope that the other reform would take place in the interim, would be less necessary if an independent court were set up because we think these cases would move through it rapidly. Mr. Davis of Illinois. Representative Norton has sort of indicated that this would be a different kind of court, sort of a hybrid, something different than what individuals are generally accustomed to. Do you think that employees might end up feeling that they were shortchanged if they now are blocked from moving to Federal court in the traditional sense, or that they now can't go anyplace else, that this is it, and other people have the chance to go to Federal Court, maybe even to the Supreme Court, if necessary, that someone might feel that their rights had been diminished or taken away? Mr. Bransford. I have thought a lot about that because I think that is a very important question. Where I come down on it is by creating an Article I court you are going to give the court I think sufficient prestige and credibility that it will be able to fairly, fully decide these cases. They would be appealable to the Federal Circuit and then ultimately to the Supreme Court for EEO cases, so they would be fully appealed. The current system is to some extent clogging the Federal Courts. The data that was thrown out here this morning is only 1,300 cases, but there are still quite a few in Federal Court, and these are cases that have already gone through the administrative process. Unlike in the private sector, where an employee goes through the EEOC process in a less intensive way and faster, and they can go to Federal District Court, there's no separate mechanism. It seems to me that the Federal employee appeals and complaints system has learned enough to be able to set up this type of a court to give it sufficient significance so that Federal employees would accept it, decide cases rapidly, and also deal with cases as far as the input in a less formal way, so that employees could feel comfortable doing that without having a lawyer if they chose to. Mr. Davis of Illinois. And finally, anyone who would respond, is there any way that you can think of that would just simply shorten for people the process? I mean the title I think ``Justice Delayed, Justice Denied.'' I mean there are people who obviously just simply feel their cases will never get adjudicated, that they will just hang forever and forever and forever and forever, and they will never know. Does that do an injustice to our judicial notions and our judicial system, and is there a way to really kind of speed that up? Ms. Cabaniss. I know, at least in the FLRA's experience, in our statute Congress required us to do a certain type of case within a specific time deadline. Perhaps Congresswoman Norton has a better sense than I do of why that was the case. When the decision was made that the FLRA has to act on cases involving issues of representation, we have to act as the Authority within 60 days. Those kind of time limits were not imposed in our statute for other types of cases. That is the only issue that I would option--suggestion that I would make, if Congress makes a determination that the cases should be done within a specific amount of time, you might look to that, and the history behind it as a model. Mr. Bransford. Congressman Davis, if I could address your point. Current law does impose time limits, but the time limits don't have meaningful sanctions because when the time limit expires, the employee then has a right to move on to the next phase, and they can choose where to go. And very often, when you are representing an employee, as I have had the occasion to do over the years, and you get to that 180 days, you are left with a choice of, well, do I go to Federal Court and its very expensive process, do I go to the EEOC which is a less expensive but still expensive process, or do I wait for the agency to finish the investigation and learn a great deal of useful information? Usually you decide to wait, and the agency just takes off and takes its time. So if the time limits had more meaningful sanctions, perhaps that could speed the process up. Mr. Davis of Illinois. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Porter. Thank you. A lot of good people that have real problems won't enter the system because they are afraid it is going to take so long or that they are wasting their time or have some of that intimidation. I would like to note for the record that members can submit additional questions. Ms. Norton. Mr. Chairman, could I just--irresistibly because we have had a hearing on the Working for America Act, where you were just seeking reactions to it, and here--my recollection is that Ms. Cabaniss did not appear at that hearing and I am not sure anybody from the FLRA appeared at that hearing. I would like to know whether she supports the Working for America Act proposal? Ms. Cabaniss. I don't really think that it is appropriate. You all had the opportunity to talk to all the stakeholders, see where they are. The one thing I do support and I think is appropriate, is that you all are having this discussion. Unlike, for example, Superfund or the Clean Air Act, so many of these statutes come up for reauthorization that Congress has an opportunity to bring in all the stakeholders, those who are affected, have the hearing, and discuss is this where we want to be? Where do we want to go? I don't know that conversation has really taken place wholesale on the statute governing the FLRA. Obviously, there have been changes over the years, amendments through the appropriations process, but I don't know that anyone has really taken a hard look or whether or not the statute best serves the interest of the agencies, but more importantly the interest of the employees. We are a complex statute. Generally you do need a lawyer to come before the FLRA. I think it is always appropriate to have that discussion whether or not our statute is best serving the needs of our customers. Ms. Norton. But you are not prepared to endorse that proposal at this time? Ms. Cabaniss. No, ma'am, I am not, just because it is not a piece of legislation yet. We haven't been involved. Ms. Norton. But for us to be doing a piece of legislation that affects primarily your agency, it seems to me that you would be the first to want to have something to say about it. Ms. Cabaniss. Well, if given the opportunity to formally engage on that, we would certainly be happy to. Ms. Norton. You hear her, Mr. Chairman? She would be happy to engage in it. She is not engaging right now when I ask her questions, but perhaps you can engage Ms. Cabaniss later. Mr. Porter. Thank you for your questions, and thank you for your testimony. I appreciate you all being here. Members do have time to submit for the record additional questions. Thank you all for being here. Have a good day. [Whereupon, at 11:53 a.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.] [The prepared statement of Hon. Elijah E. Cummings and additional information submitted for the hearing record follow:] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.043 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.044 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.045 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.046 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T5705.047