Department of Veterans Affairs Equitable Employee Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1856
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2015-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee performance
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-23
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Equitable Employee Accountability Act of 2015

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) suspend a VA employee without pay if the employee's performance or misconduct is a clear and direct threat to public health or safety; and (2) remove a suspended employee when, after investigation and review, removal is determined necessary for public health or safety interests. 
 
A suspended employee is entitled, after suspension and before removal, to: 
 
 
a written statement of the specific charges and an opportunity to answer the charges and submit affidavits, 
 
a case review by the VA before a decision adverse to the employee is made final, and 
 
a written statement of the VA's decision. 
 
 
A VA employee who is suspended or removed is entitled to: (1) appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board; and (2) back pay, less amounts otherwise earned during such period, if the suspension or removal is determined to be unwarranted.
 
The VA shall: 
 
 
conduct an annual performance plan for each political appointee that is similar to that conducted for VA Senior Executive Service employees; 
 
provide managers with training on the rights of whistle blowers and how to address reports of hostile work environment, reprisal, or harassment; and 
 
develop a promotional track for technical expert employees that allows for career advancement without being required to transition to management positions. 
 
 
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 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 the two-year period unless the contractor determines that the individual has obtained or requested such written opinion. 
 
The VA may not place an individual subject to disciplinary action on administrative leave for more than 14 business days during any 365-day period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-212.
action_date: 2015-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5528-5530)
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate