VA Accountability First Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1259
Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1]
Introduced: 2017-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee performance
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Transportation costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-28
text: 

VA Accountability First Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove, demote by a reduction in grade and pay, or suspend a VA employee, including a member in a senior executive position, for reasons of performance or misconduct. 
 
The bill prescribes VA removal and employee appeals procedures.
 
Whistle-blower protections are revised, including by prohibiting VA from taking any such action against a person who has a pending whistle-blower complaint. 
 
This bill provides for the reduction of federal annuities of VA employees and retirees convicted of a felony that influenced their performance while employed in such position. 
 
The VA may recoup certain bonuses, awards, and reallocation expenses. 
 
The VA may directly appoint qualifying individuals to the positions of Medical Center Director and Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network.
 
The bill revises time periods for adverse action reviews with respect to physicians, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants, and expanded-function dental auxiliaries.
 

action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

VA Accountability First Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 3) This bill revises the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove, demote by a reduction in grade and pay, or suspend a VA employee, including a member in a senior executive position, for reasons of performance or misconduct.
 
A demoted individual shall not be placed on administrative leave during the appeals period and may receive pay only if he or she reports for duty or is approved to use certain accrued unused leave.
 
 An expedited appeals process is established for such VA decisions, including the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board. 
 
The VA may not remove, demote, or suspend an employee: (1) without the approval of the Special Counsel if the individual seeks corrective action from the Office of Special Counsel based on an alleged prohibited personnel practice, and (2) until a final decision in the case of a whistle-blower complaint. 
 
Whistle-blower protections are revised, including to prohibit the VA from taking any such action against a person who has a pending whistle-blower complaint. 
 
 (Sec. 4) The VA shall reduce the federal annuity of an individual removed from the VA Senior Executive Service (SES) who is convicted of a felony that influenced his or her performance while employed in such position.
 
The VA may: (1) reduce the federal annuity of an individual who was convicted of such a felony and was subject to removal or transfer from the SES but who left the VA before final action was taken; and (2) recoup an award, a bonus, or relocation expenses paid to a VA employee under specified circumstances. 
 
(Sec. 8) The VA may directly appoint qualifying individuals to the positions of Medical Center Director and Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network.
 
 (Sec. 9) The bill revises time periods for adverse action reviews with respect to physicians, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants, and expanded-function dental auxiliaries.
 
 (Sec. 10) The VA shall report to Congress annually on performance awards and bonuses awarded to certain high-level employees.
 
(Sec. 11) The VA shall: (1) ensure that supervisors are evaluated on actions taken to improve employee performance, and (2) provide supervisors with training on whistle-blower protections.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 237 - 178 (Roll no. 168).
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 237 - 178 (Roll no. 168).
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 229 (Roll no. 167).
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add language to the bill further defining protections to whistleblowers who file complaints.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Mr. Kihuen moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR H2133)
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2122-2125)
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1259.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of amendments, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Takano Part A amendment No. 9, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Takano demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Takano Part A amendment No. 9.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kuster(NH) Part A amendment No. 8.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tenney Part A amendment No. 7.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Taylor Part A amendment No. 6.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kuster(NH) Part A amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Walz Part A amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Walz demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walz Part A amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Roe (TN) Part A amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1259.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Harold Rogers to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 198 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 198. (consideration: CR H2114-2135)
action_date: 2017-03-10
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 16.
action_date: 2017-03-10
text: Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
action_date: 2017-03-10
text: Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
action_date: 2017-03-10
text: Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-34, Part I.
action_date: 2017-03-10
text: Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-34, Part I.
action_date: 2017-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-02-28
text: Introduced in House