US Congress House Bill 611 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 35-0)
Status: Introduced on January 23 2017 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2017-02-03 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

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.

VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2017

Rep. Doug Lamborn [R-CO]	Rep. Trent Franks [R-AZ]	Rep. Scott Tipton [R-CO]	Rep. Blake Farenthold [R-TX]
Rep. Thomas Rooney [R-FL]	Rep. Austin Scott [R-GA]	Rep. Lamar Smith [R-TX]	Rep. Steve Stivers [R-OH]
Rep. Tom McClintock [R-CA]	Rep. Glenn Thompson [R-PA]	Rep. Jeff Denham [R-CA]	Rep. Earl Carter [R-GA]
Rep. David Rouzer [R-NC]	Rep. Pete Olson [R-TX]	Rep. David Young [R-IA]	Rep. Clay Higgins [R-LA]
Rep. Scott Perry [R-PA]	Rep. Bill Johnson [R-OH]	Rep. David Valadao [R-CA]	Rep. Steve King [R-IA]
Rep. Rick Allen [R-GA]	Rep. Robert Wittman [R-VA]	Rep. Chris Collins [R-NY]	Rep. Jason Smith [R-MO]
Rep. Thomas Garrett [R-VA]	Rep. Mike Bishop [R-MI]	Rep. Jeb Hensarling [R-TX]	Rep. Bob Gibbs [R-OH]
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick [R-PA]	Rep. Tom Graves [R-GA]	Rep. Ted Poe [R-TX]	Rep. Tom Rice [R-SC]
Rep. David Trott [R-MI]	Rep. Kenny Marchant [R-TX]	Rep. Ann Wagner [R-MO]

Date	Chamber	Action
2017-02-03	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
2017-01-23	House	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.
2017-01-23	House	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.
2017-01-23	House	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.
2017-01-23	House	Introduced in House

SB152 (Same As) 2017-01-17 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/611/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr611/BILLS-115hr611ih.pdf