,i  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #biii  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,july #i1 #bjae ,mr4  
,takano introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to improve !      
au?ority ( ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs to susp5d & remove employees ( 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs =       
p]=mance or misconduct t is a ?reat to  
public heal? or safety4  #a4 ,%ort title
 ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,fair ,,va   
,acc\ntability ,act4  #b4 ,susp5sion &  
removal ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
employees = p]=mance or misconduct t is 
a ?reat to public heal? or safety  7a7  
,9 g5]al ,*apt] #g ( title #ch1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ aft]     
section #gac ! foll[+ new section3      
#gae4 ,employees3 susp5sion & removal = 
p]=mance or misconduct t is a ?reat to  
public heal? or safety  7a7 ,susp5sion &
 removal ,subject to subsections 7b7 &  
7c71 ! ,secret>y may-- 7#a7 susp5d )\t  

pay an employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs if ! ,secret>y det]m9es !     
p]=mance or misconduct ( ! employee is a
 cle> & direct ?reat to public heal? or 
safety2 &  7#b7 remove an employee      
susp5d$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 :51 aft] su*   
inve/igation & review z ! ,secret>y     
consid]s necess>y1 ! ,secret>y det]m9es 
t removal is necess>y 9 ! int]e/s (     
public heal? or safety4  7b7 ,proc$ure  
,an employee susp5d$ "u subsection      
7a77#a7 is entitl$1 aft] susp5sion &    
be=e removal1 to--  7#a7 )9 #cj days    
aft] susp5sion1 a writt5 /atem5t ( !    
specific *>ges aga9/ ! employee1 :i* may
 be am5d$ )9 #cj days !reaft]2  7#b7 an 
opportunity )9 #cj days !reaft]1 plus an
 additional #cj days if ! *>ges are     
am5d$1 to answ] ! *>ges & submit        
affidavits2  7#c7 a he>+1 at ! reque/ ( 
! employee1 by a ,dep>tm5t au?ority duly
 con/itut$ = ?is purpose2  7#d7 a review
 ( ! case by ! ,secret>y1 be=e a        
decision adv]se to ! employee is made   
f9al2 &  7#e7 writt5 /atem5t ( !        

decision ( ! ,secret>y4  7c7 ,relation  
to o!r discipl9>y rules ,! au?ority     
provid$ "u ?is section %all be 9        
addition to ! au?ority provid$ "u       
section #gac & title #e ) respect to    
discipl9>y actions = p]=mance or        
misconduct4  7d7 ,back pay = :i/lebl[]s 
,if any employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs is subject to a       
susp5sion or removal "u ?is section &   
su* susp5sion or removal is det]m9$ by  
an appropriate au?ority "u applicable   
law1 rule1 regulation1 or collective    
b>ga9+ agreem5t to be a prohibit$       
p]sonnel practice describ$ "u section   
#bcjb7;b77#h7 or 7#i7 ( title #e1 su*   
employee %all receive back pay equal to 
! total am\nt ( basic pay t su* employee
 w\ld h receiv$ dur+ ! p]iod t !        
susp5sion & removal 7z ! case may be7 0 
9 effect1 less any am\nts e>n$ by !     
employee ?r\gh o!r employm5t dur+ t     
p]iod4  7e7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section1 
! t]m employee means any individual     
occupy+ a position )9 ! ,dep>tm5t (     

,vet]ans ,affairs "u a p]man5t or       
indef9ite appo9tm5t & :o is n s]v+ a    
probation>y or trial p]iod4  4  7b7     
,cl]ical & con=m+ am5dm5ts  7#a7        
,cl]ical ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+
 ( su* *apt] is am5d$ by add+ aft] !    
item relat+ to section #gac ! foll[+ new
 item3  #gae4 ,employees3 susp5sion &   
removal = p]=mance or misconduct t is a 
?reat to public heal? or safety4  4     
7#b7 ,con=m+ ,section #dcjc7;f7 ( title 
#e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--     
7,a7 by /rik+ or at ! end ( p>agraph    
7#b72  7,b7 by /rik+ ! p]iod at ! end ( 
p>agraph 7#c7 & ins]t+ 1 or2 &  7,c7 by 
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#d7 any       
susp5sion or removal "u section #gae (  
title #ch4  4  7c7 ,report on susp5sions
 & removals ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] !   
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs %all submit to !      
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a    
report on susp5sions & removals (       

employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t made "u section 
#gae ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z
 add$ by subsection 7a74 ,su* report    
%all include1 ) respect to ! p]iod cov]$
 by ! report1 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! numb] ( 
employees :o 7 susp5d$ "u su* section4  
7#b7 ,! numb] ( employees :o 7 remov$ "u
 su* section4  7#c7 ,a description ( !  
?reats to public heal? or safety t caus$
 su* susp5sions & removals4  7#d7 ,!    
numb] ( su* susp5sions or removals1 or  
propos$ susp5sions or removals1 t 7 (   
employees :o fil$ a compla9t reg>d+--   
7,a7 an alleg$ prohibit$ p]sonnel       
practice committ$ by an (fic] or        
employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t & describ$ 9     
section #bcjb7;b77#h7 or                
#bcjb7;b77#i77;,a77i71 7,b71 7,c71 or   
7,d7 ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 or
  7,b7 ! safety ( a pati5t at a m$ical  
facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#e7 ,( ! numb]
 ( susp5sions & removals li/$ "u        
p>agraph 7#d71 ! numb] t ! ,inspector   
,g5]al consid]s to be retaliation =     
:i/lebl[+4  7#f7 ,! numb] ( su*         

susp5sions or removals t 7 ( an employee
 :o 0 ! subject ( a compla9t made to !  
,dep>tm5t reg>d+ ! heal? or safety ( a  
pati5t at a m$ical facility ( !         
,dep>tm5t4  7#g7 ,any recomm5dations by 
! ,inspector ,g5]al1 bas$ on ! in=mation
 describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#f71  
to improve ! au?ority to make su*       
susp5sions & removals4  #c4 ,prohibition
 on c]ta9 =m] employee's acceptance (   
comp5sation f contractor  7a7 ,9 g5]al  
,*apt] #g ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 is fur!r am5d$ by add+ aft]      
section #gae1 z add$ by section #b1 !   
foll[+ new section3  #gag4 ,prohibition 
on c]ta9 =m] employee's acceptance (    
comp5sation f contractors ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,an individual :o 0 =m]ly  
employ$ 9 a s5ior executive position at 
! ,dep>tm5t may n accept comp5sation f a
 cov]$ contractor z an employee1 (fic]1 
director1 or consultant ( ! cov]$       
contractor dur+ ! "o-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on
 ! date on :i* ! individual 0 la/       
employ$ 9 a s5ior executive position at 

! ,dep>tm5t4  7b7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is    
section3 7#a7 ,! t]m cov]$ contractor   
means a contractor c>ry+ out a contract 
ent]$ into ) ! ,dep>tm5t1 includ+       
pursuant to a subcontract4  7#b7 ,! t]m 
s5ior executive position has ! mean+    
giv5 su* t]m 9 section #gac7;g7 ( ?is   
title4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table
 ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt] is  
fur!r am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+   
new item3  #gag4 ,prohibition on c]ta9  
=m] employee's acceptance ( comp5sation 
f contractors ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  4  #d4    
,limitation on contract+ ) entities     
employ+ c]ta9 rec5tly sep>at$ ,dep>tm5t 
employees  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,sub*apt] ,,ii (
 *apt] #ha ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new section3  #habi4 ,limitation 
on contract+ ) entities employ+ c]ta9   
rec5tly sep>at$ ,dep>tm5t employees  7a7
 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may n ent] into a
 contract ) any entity if ! entity      
employs an individual :o is prohibit$ f 
accept+ comp5sation f a contractor "u   

section #gag ( ?is title4  7b7          
,c]tification ,be=e ent]+ into a        
contract ) any entity1 ! ,secret>y %all 
require ! entity to submit to !         
,secret>y c]tification t ! entity does n
 employ1 & w n employ dur+ ! p]iod cov]$
 by ! contract1 any individual :o is    
prohibit$ f accept+ comp5sation f a     
contractor "u section #gag ( ?is title4 
7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m   
s5ior executive position has ! mean+    
giv5 su* t]m 9 section #gac7;g77#c7 (   
?is title4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!  
table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt]
 is am5d$ by add+ aft] ! item relat+ to 
section #habh ! foll[+ new item3  #habi4
 ,limitation ( contract+ ) entities     
employ+ c]ta9 rec5tly sep>at$ ,dep>tm5t 
employees4  4  #e4 ,limitation on       
adm9i/rative leave = employees )9 !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9   
g5]al ,*apt] #g ( title #ch1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code1 is fur!r am5d$ by add+    
aft] section #gag1 z add$ by section #c1
 ! foll[+ new section3  #gai4           

,adm9i/rative leave limitation & report 
7a7 ,limitation applicable to employees 
)9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7#a7
 ,! ,secret>y may n place any cov]$     
individual on adm9i/rative leave1 or any
 o!r type ( paid non-duty /atus )\t *>ge
 to leave1 = m ?an a total ( #ad days   
dur+ any #cfe-;day p]iod4  7#b7 ,!      
,secret>y may waive ! limitation "u     
p>agraph 7#a7 & ext5d ! adm9i/rative    
leave or o!r paid non-duty /atus )\t    
*>ge to leave ( a cov]$ individual plac$
 on su* leave or /atus "u p>agraph 7#a7 
if ! ,secret>y submits to ! ,committees 
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ,h\se
 ( ,repres5tatives a detail$ explanation
 ( ! reasons ! individual 0 plac$ on    
adm9i/rative leave or o!r paid non-duty 
/atus )\t *>ge to leave & ! reasons = ! 
ext5sion ( su* leave or /atus4 ,su*     
explanation %all include ! "n ( ! cov]$ 
individual1 ! location :]e ! individual 
is employ$1 & ! individual's job title4 
7#c7 ,9 ?is subsection1 ! t]m cov]$     
individual means an employee ( !        

,dep>tm5t-- 7,a7 :o is subject to an    
inve/igation = purposes ( det]m9+ :e!r  
su* individual %\ld be subject to any   
discipl9>y action "u ?is title or title 
#e2 or  7,b7 aga9/ :om any discipl9>y   
action is propos$ or initiat$ "u ?is    
title or title #e4  7b7 ,report on      
adm9i/rative leave  7#a7 ,n lat] ?an #cj
 days aft] ! end ( ea* qu>t] ( any      
cal5d> ye>1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !
 ,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !  
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a    
report li/+ ! "n ( any employee ( !     
,dep>tm5t 7if any7 :o has be5 plac$ on  
adm9i/rative leave1 or any o!r type (   
paid non-duty /atus1 = a p]iod long] ?an
 #g days dur+ su* qu>t]4  7#b7 ,any     
report submitt$ "u subsection 7a7 %all  
include1 ) respect to any employee li/$ 
9 su* report1 ! position occupi$ by !   
employee1 ! numb] ( days ( su* leave1 & 
! reason t su* employee 0 plac$ on su*  
leave4  4  7b7 ,application  7#a7       
,adm9i/rative leave limitation ,section 
#gai7;a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates     

,code 7z add$ by subsection 7a771 %all  
apply to any action ( removal or transf]
 "u section #gac ( su* title or title   
#e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 comm5c+ on or  
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section4   
7#b7 ,report ,! report "u section       
#gai7;b7 ( su* title 7z add$ by         
subsection 7a77 %all beg9 to apply 9 !  
qu>t] t ends aft] ! date t is #f mon?s  
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section4   
7c7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( sections
 at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt] #g is am5d$ by 
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new item3  #gai4 
,adm9i/rative leave limitation & report4
  4