Chalk up a win for America’s Military Veterans.Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released a statement after the House passed H.R. 1994, the VA Accountability Act of 2015 which he helped to cosponsor.  The legislation would give the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) increased authority to hold officials at any level accountable if they demonstrate inadequate performance or are found to have engaged in misconduct.

Congressman Dan Newhouse  - “In light of recent abuses, excessive wait times, and mistreatment of veterans, each and every VA employee must be held to a higher standard,” said Rep. Newhouse. “The VA Accountability Act reforms the Department of Veterans Affairs workforce management rules to allow the dismissal of officials for poor performance or after engaging in misconduct. Bureaucratic inaction that fails to address personnel problems at the VA will no longer be tolerated. This bill makes clear that fulfilling the mission to serve our veterans is the responsibility of VA officials at every level.”

Highlights of H.R. 1994, the VA Accountability Act of 2015

Gives the VA Secretary the authority to remove any VA employees who is found to be incompetent or guilty of misconduct – preventing bad actors from remaining on the federal payroll for years.

Requires that all probationary periods for new VA employees be extended from the    current requirement of one year to at least 18 months.

Strengthens protections for whistleblowers by limiting the Secretary’s authority to remove or demote an employee if they are a whistleblower who has filed a claim with the Office of Special Counsel.

 

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