Improving VA Accountability To Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2704
Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
Introduced: 2021-04-20 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Assault and harassment offenses
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: 

Improving VA Accountability To Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement various policies and procedures related to sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination.
 
The bill requires the VA to ensure that
 
 
the official who serves as the VA's Equal Employment Opportunity Director reports directly to the Deputy Secretary and does not also serve in a position that has responsibility over personnel functions or functions that conflict with the equal employment functions,
 
each Equal Employment Opportunity program manager at the facility level reports to the head of the Office of Resolution Management (ORM) with respect to equal employment functions, and
 
the employment discrimination complaint resolution system requires any VA manager who receives a harassment or employment discrimination complaint to report such complaint to the ORM immediately (or within two business days of receiving the complaint if immediate reporting is impracticable).
 
 
The VA must provide employees with mandatory annual training on identifying and addressing sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination, including with respect to processes under the VA's Harassment Prevention Program.
 
The VA must regularly review the policies relating to sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination to ensure its policies are complete and in accordance with the policies established by the ORM. Additionally, the VA must issue a final directive and handbook for its Harassment Prevention Program. 

action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

Improving VA Accountability To Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement various policies and procedures related to sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination.
 
The bill requires the VA to ensure that
 
 
the official who serves as the VA's Equal Employment Opportunity Director reports directly to the Deputy Secretary and does not also serve in a position that has responsibility over personnel functions or functions that conflict with the equal employment functions,
 
each Equal Employment Opportunity program manager at the facility level reports to the head of the Office of Resolution Management (ORM) with respect to equal employment functions, and
 
the employment discrimination complaint resolution system requires any VA manager who receives a harassment or employment discrimination complaint to report such complaint to the ORM immediately (or within two business days of receiving the complaint if immediate reporting is impracticable).
 
 
The VA must provide employees with mandatory annual training on identifying and addressing sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination, including with respect to processes under the VA's Harassment Prevention Program.
 
The VA must regularly review the policies relating to sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination to ensure its policies are complete and in accordance with the policies established by the ORM. Additionally, the VA must issue a final directive and handbook for its Harassment Prevention Program. 

action_date: 2021-05-18
text: 

Improving VA Accountability To Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement various policies and procedures related to sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination.
 
The bill requires the VA to ensure that
 
 
the official who serves as the VA's Equal Employment Opportunity Director reports directly to the Deputy Secretary and does not also serve in a position that has responsibility over personnel functions or functions that conflict with the equal employment functions,
 
each Equal Employment Opportunity program manager at the facility level reports to the head of the Office of Resolution Management (ORM) with respect to equal employment functions, and
 
the employment discrimination complaint resolution system requires any VA manager who receives a harassment or employment discrimination complaint to report such complaint to the ORM immediately (or within two business days of receiving the complaint if immediate reporting is impracticable).
 
 
The VA must provide employees with mandatory annual training on identifying and addressing sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination, including with respect to processes under the VA's Harassment Prevention Program.
 
The VA must regularly review the policies relating to sexual harassment, other harassment, and employment discrimination to ensure its policies are complete and in accordance with the policies established by the ORM. Additionally, the VA must issue a final directive and handbook for its Harassment Prevention Program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 403, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 144, as amended; H.R. 204, as amended; H.R. 210, as amended; H.R. 240; H.R. 707, as amended; H.R. 711, as amended; H.R. 1157, as amended; H.R. 1447, as amended; H.R. 1510, as amended; H.R. 1711, as amended; H.R. 2027; H.R. 2167, as amended; H.R. 2441; H.R. 2494; H.R. 2533; H.R. 2655, as amended; H.R. 2695, H.R. 2704; H.R. 2788; H.R. 2878, as amended; and H.R. 3008. (consideration: CR H2482-2520; text: CR H2517)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 403, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 144, as amended; H.R. 204, as amended; H.R. 210, as amended; H.R. 240; H.R. 707, as amended; H.R. 711, as amended; H.R. 1157, as amended; H.R. 1447, as amended; H.R. 1510, as amended; H.R. 1711, as amended; H.R. 2027; H.R. 2167, as amended; H.R. 2441; H.R. 2494; H.R. 2533; H.R. 2655, as amended; H.R. 2695, H.R. 2704; H.R. 2788; H.R. 2878, as amended; and H.R. 3008.(consideration: CR H2482-2520; text: CR H2517)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 403, proceedings on H.R. 2704 are considered vacated.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. (text: CR H2360-2361)
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2704.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2360-2362; text: CR H2360-2361)
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 21.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 117-36.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 117-36.
action_date: 2021-05-04
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 6.
action_date: 2021-05-04
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-05-04
text: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Discharged.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Introduced in House