Congress 115 - HR 1259 - VA Accountability First Act of 2017

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Topics

Administrative remedies Armed Forces and National Security 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

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Summary

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.

Actions

Mar 21, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 16, 2017

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 16, 2017

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 237 - 178 (Roll no. 168).
Mar 16, 2017

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 237 - 178 (Roll no. 168).
Mar 16, 2017

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 229 (Roll no. 167).
Mar 16, 2017

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

Mr. Kihuen moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR H2133)
Mar 16, 2017

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)
Mar 16, 2017

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Mar 16, 2017

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1259.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

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.
Mar 16, 2017

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1259.
Mar 16, 2017

The Speaker designated the Honorable Harold Rogers to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Mar 16, 2017

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 198 and Rule XVIII.
Mar 16, 2017

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 198. (consideration: CR H2114-2135)
Mar 10, 2017

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 16.
Mar 10, 2017

Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
Mar 10, 2017

Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-34, Part I.
Feb 28, 2017

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.
Feb 28, 2017

Introduced in House

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