Book Description

This document records oral and written testimony given at a hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The testimony pertains to veterans' preferences in hiring in the federal government and problems veterans are having in being reemployed after stints of active duty or during reductions in force (RIFs) at federal agencies. Those testifying included members of the House of Representatives, representatives of veterans' organizations, and officials of the Clinton Administration. According to the House members and the representatives of veterans' organizations, veterans have been faring badly in applications for employment and in protection against RIFs because bureaucrats do not support veterans and do not follow the law. The legislators have proposed bills that would provide for redress for veterans hurt by bureaucrats' failure to follow the law of preference in hiring. Administration officials, however, pointed out statistics that show that hiring of veterans has increased greatly during the past several years and that veterans have fared much better than nonveterans during RIFs. (KC)