S. 152 · 115th Congress
VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2017
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 115th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
R
RubioSponsor4 cosponsors · 4 R
2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2017
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Jan 17, 2017
VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2017
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove or demote a VA employee based on performance or misconduct. The VA may remove such individual from the civil service or demote the individual through a reduction in grade or annual pay rate.
A demoted individual shall not be placed on administrative leave or any other category of paid leave during the appeals period and can receive pay only if he or she reports for duty.
The bill: (1) establishes an expedited appeals process by the Merit Systems Protection Board, (2) amends the disability benefits appeals process, (3) prescribes restrictions on the VA's authority to remove or demote an employee, and (4) establishes whistleblower protections.
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 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.
The VA may recoup an award, a bonus, or relocation expenses paid to a VA employee under specified circumstances.
The VA may suspend, reprimand or admonish an SES employee for misconduct or performance that does not merit removal. Appeals may be made to the Senior Executive Disciplinary Appeals Board (as provided for by this bill).
The bill amends the disability benefits appeals process.
The bill prohibits payment of an award or bonus to any SES employee during each of FY2017-FY2021.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2017
Latest action (Jan 17, 2017): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Jan 17, 2017
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.