Increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability to Veterans Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-290
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2015-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee leave
Employee performance
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-28
text: 

Increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability to Veterans Act of 2015

 
Requires the reduction of the federal annuities of individuals removed from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Senior Executive Service (SES) if they are convicted of a felony that influenced their performance while employed in such position.
 
Authorizes the VA Secretary to order the reduction of the federal annuities of individuals who were convicted of such a felony and were subject to removal or transfer from the VA SES, but who left the VA before final action was taken. 
 
Reduces such annuities by excluding the covered service performed after the activity that subjects such an individual to transfer or removal occurs.
 
Requires the performance appraisal system for VA SES employees to provide for five specified annual summary ratings of levels of performance. Provides that in any given year no more than: (1) 10% of such employees may receive the outstanding level of performance, and (2) 20% of such employees may receive the exceeds-fully-successful level of performance.
 
Requires the Secretary to take any complaint or report from an appropriate person or entity related to any facility or program managed by an SES employee into account in evaluating that employee's performance.
 
 Directs the Secretary, at least once every five years, to reassign each SES employee to a position at a different location that does not include the supervision of the same personnel or programs. Allows the Secretary to waive such requirement if the Secretary submits to Congress notice of, and the reasons for, such waiver.
 
Directs the Secretary to contract with a nongovernmental entity for a review of the management training program for VA SES employees.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from placing a VA SES employee on administrative leave, or any other type of paid non-duty status, for more than a total of 14 days during any 365-day period. Allows the Secretary to waive such prohibition with respect to such an employee if the Secretary provides Congress with a detailed explanation of the reasons the employee was placed on such leave or status and the reasons for extending that placement.

action_date: 2016-12-10
text: 

Increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability to Veterans Act of 2016

 
 This bill requires the reduction of the federal annuities of individuals removed from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Senior Executive Service (SES) if they are convicted of a felony that influenced their performance while employed in such position.
 
The VA may order the reduction of the federal annuities of individuals who were convicted of such a felony and were subject to removal or transfer from the SES but who left the VA before final action was taken. Such annuities shall be reduced by excluding the covered service performed after the activity that subjects such an individual to transfer or removal occurs.
 
 An individual whose annuity is reduced may appeal the reduction to the Office of Personnel Management.
 
 The VA may not place an SES employee on administrative leave for more than a total of 14 days during any 365-day period. The VA may waive such prohibition if it provides Congress with a detailed explanation of the reasons the employee was placed on administrative leave and the reasons for extending such leave.
 
 The VA shall conduct an annual performance plan for each political appointee that is similar to the plan conducted for career appointee SES employees. 
 
 A supervisor of an employee on probation shall determine, during the 30-day period ending on the date on which the probationary period ends, whether the employee: (1) has demonstrated successful performance, and (2) should continue past the probationary period.
 
 Each annual performance plan for a supervisor of an employee serving a probationary period shall hold the supervisor accountable for: (1) providing regular feedback to the employee before making a determination regarding such employee's probationary status, and (2) making a timely probationary status determination.
 
 The evaluation of VA managers shall include actions taken to address employee performance. 
 
 Before terminating VA employment, an official who has participated personally and substantially in a VA acquisition that exceeds $1 million or who held a key acquisitions position at the VA shall obtain a written opinion from a VA ethics counselor regarding any restrictions on activities that the official may undertake on behalf of a contractor during the two-year period after the official terminates VA employment. A contractor may not knowingly provide compensation to such an individual during such two-year period unless the contractor determines that the individual has obtained or requested such written opinion. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7109)
action_date: 2016-12-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 725.
action_date: 2016-12-09
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Isakson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-12-09
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Isakson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-212.
action_date: 2015-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate