H.R. 2047 — Introduced in House

I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2047 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 28, 2015 Mr. Duffy introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to remove senior executives of the Department of Veterans Affairs for performance or misconduct to include removal of certain other employees of the Department, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Veteran Safety Through Accountability Act of 2015. 2. Expansion of authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to remove senior executives of Department of Veterans Affairs for performance or misconduct to include certain other employees of the Department (a) In general Section 713 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the matter before subparagraph (A), in the first sentence, by striking senior executive position both places it appears and inserting covered position; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking in paragraph (2) and inserting in paragraph (3) employed in a senior executive position at the Department; (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2): (2) For purposes of this section, a covered position is— (A) a senior executive position; or (B) a position listed in section 7401 of this title that is not a senior executive position. ; (2) in subsection (b), by striking under subsection (a)(2) and inserting under subsection (a)(1)(B); (3) in subsection (c), by striking senior executive position and inserting covered position; (4) in subsection (d)(1), by striking The procedures under section 7543(b) of title 5 and inserting Sections 7461(b) and 7462 of this title and sections 7503, 7513, and 7543(b) of title 5; and (5) in subsection (g)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking or at the end; (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) an employee of the Department employed on a full-time basis under a permanent appointment in a position listed in section 7401 of this title (other than interns and residents appointed pursuant to section 7406 of this title) who is not in a senior executive position. . (b) Conforming amendments Subchapter V of chapter 74 of such title is amended— (1) in section 7461(b)(1), by striking If the and inserting Except as provided in sections 713 of this title, if the; and (2) in section 7462— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking Disciplinary and inserting Except as provided in section 713 of this title, the Disciplinary; and (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking In any case and inserting Except as provided in section 713 of this title, in any case. (c) Technical corrections Section 713 of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1), in the first sentence, by striking of Veterans Affairs; and (2) in subsection (c), by striking Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives and inserting Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives. (d) Clerical amendment (1) Section heading The heading for section 713 of such title is amended by striking Senior executives: removal based on performance or misconduct and inserting Removal of senior executives and certain other employees based on performance or misconduct. (2) Table of sections The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 713 and inserting the following new item: 713. Removal of senior executives and certain other employees based on performance or misconduct. .