VA Accountability First Act of 2017
This bill authorizes 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.
The bill prescribes VA removal and employee appeals procedures.
Whistle-blower protections are revised, including by prohibiting VA from taking any such action against a person who has a pending whistle-blower complaint.
This bill provides for the reduction of federal annuities of VA employees and retirees convicted of a felony that influenced their performance while employed in such position.
The VA may recoup certain bonuses, awards, and reallocation expenses.
The VA may directly appoint qualifying individuals to the positions of Medical Center Director and Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network.
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.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-21 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. | Senate |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Vote | On passage Passed by recorded vote: 237 - 178 (Roll no. 168). | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Vote | On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 229 (Roll no. 167). | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | Mr. Kihuen moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR H2133) | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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) | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1259. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1259. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | The Speaker designated the Honorable Harold Rogers to act as Chairman of the Committee. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 198 and Rule XVIII. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-16 | Floor | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 198. (consideration: CR H2114-2135) | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-10 | Calendars | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 16. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-10 | Discharge | Committee on Oversight and Government discharged. | House floor actions |
| 2017-03-10 | Committee | Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-34, Part I. | House floor actions |
| 2017-02-28 | IntroReferral | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-02-28 | IntroReferral | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2017-02-28 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |