Washington, D.C.— Today Congressmen Mike Bost (IL-12) voted to give the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) increased flexibility to fire employees whose performance misconduct led to substandard care for our Veterans.  The VA Accountability Act of 2015 (H.R. 1994) also strengthens accountability and performance measures for VA senior executives and strengthens protections for whistleblowers who report wrongdoing.

“Mismanagement and misconduct wouldn’t be accepted at any business or corporation, and it certainly shouldn’t be allowed at the VA,” said Rep. Bost.  “Our Veterans deserve nothing but the best health care services and support after valiantly serving their country and protecting our freedoms.  That begins with each VA employee being held accountable for his or her job performance.  No hero should suffer because government bureaucrats failed to fulfill their responsibilities.”

The VA Accountability Act of 2015 would:

 

• Expand the removal authority to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs for all VA employees;

• Allow employees to have seven days after the VA’s final decision to appeal their removal or demotion;

• Protect whistleblowers from retaliation by not allowing the Secretary to use this authority to fire employees who have filed a complaint with the Office of Special Council;

• Limit paid administrative leave for all new VA employees to only 14 days in a one-year time span;

• Extend the probationary period for all new VA employees from 12 to 18 months; and

• Develop more enhanced performance measures for all VA employees.