,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #beed  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #aa1 #bjaf,mr4
 ,inh(e introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
provide = ! removal or demotion (       
employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs bas$ on p]=mance or misconduct1
 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is
 ,act may be cit$ z ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs ,acc\ntability ,act ( 
#bjaf4  #b4 ,removal or demotion (      
employees bas$ on p]=mance or misconduct
  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #g ( title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+ new section3  #gad4     
,employees3 removal or demotion bas$ on 
p]=mance or misconduct  7a7 ,9 g5]al    
7#a7 ,! ,secret>y may remove or demote  
an individual :o is an employee ( !     
,dep>tm5t if ! ,secret>y det]m9es !     
p]=mance or misconduct ( ! individual   
w>rants su* removal or demotion4  7#b7  

,a det]m9ation "u p>agraph 7#a7 t !     
p]=mance or misconduct ( an individual  
w>rants removal or demotion may consi/ (
 a det]m9ation ( any ( ! foll[+3  7,a7  
,! individual neglect$ a duty ( !       
position 9 :i* ! individual 0 employ$4  
7,b7 ,! individual engag$ 9 malfeasance4
  7,c7 ,! individual fail$ to accept a  
direct$ reassignm5t or to accompany a   
position 9 a transf] ( function4  7,d7  
,! individual violat$ a policy ( !      
,dep>tm5t4  7,e7 ,! individual violat$ a
 provision ( law4  7,f7 ,! individual   
engag$ 9 insubord9ation4  7,g7 ,!       
individual ov] prescrib$ m$ication4     
7,h7 ,! individual contribut$ to !      
purposeful omission ( ! "n ( "o or m    
vet]ans wait+ = heal? c>e f an          
electronic wait li/ = a m$ical facility 
( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7,i7 ,! individual 0 !  
sup]visor ( an employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t1  
or 0 a sup]visor ( ! sup]visor1 at any  
level1 :o contribut$ to a purposeful    
omission z describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,h7 &
 knew1 or reasonably %\ld h kn[n1 t !   

employee contribut$ to su* purposeful   
omission4  7,j7 ,su* o!r p]=mance or    
misconduct z ! ,secret>y det]m9es       
w>rants ! removal or demotion ( !       
individual "u p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,if !
 ,secret>y removes or demotes an        
individual z describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a71 !
 ,secret>y may--  7,a7 remove !         
individual f ! civil s]vice 7z def9$ 9  
section #baja ( title #e72 or  7,b7     
demote ! individual by means (--  7i7 a 
r$uction 9 grade = :i* ! individual is  
qualifi$ & t ! ,secret>y det]m9es is    
appropriate2 or  7ii7 a r$uction 9      
annual rate ( pay t ! ,secret>y det]m9es
 is appropriate4  7#d7 7,a7 ,! ,secret>y
 %all delegate au?ority "u p>agraph 7#a7
 to ea* director ( a ,vet]ans ,integrat$
 ,s]vice ,network = ! removal & demotion
 ( employees ( ! dep>tm5t 9 su* network4
  7,b7 ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t       
au?ority delegat$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 c 
be ex]cis$ )\t int]v5+ action by !      
,secret>y4  7b7 ,pay ( c]ta9 demot$     
individuals  7#a7 ,not)/&+ any o!r      

provision ( law1 any individual subject 
to a demotion "u subsection             
7a77#c77;,b77i7 %all1 beg9n+ on ! date (
 su* demotion1 receive ! annual rate (  
pay applicable to su* grade4  7#b7 ,an  
individual s demot$ may n be plac$ on   
adm9i/rative leave or any o!r category (
 paid leave dur+ ! p]iod dur+ :i* an    
appeal 7if any7 "u ?is section is ongo+1
 & may only receive pay if ! individual 
reports = duty4 ,if an individual s     
demot$ does n report = duty1 su*        
individual %all n receive pay or o!r    
b5efits pursuant to subsection 7e77#e74 
7c7 ,notice to ,congress ,n lat] ?an #cj
 days aft] remov+ or demot+ an          
individual "u subsection 7a71 !         
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees  
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives notice 9 writ+ (
 su* removal or demotion & ! reason =   
su* removal or demotion4  7d7 ,proc$ure 
7#a7 ,! proc$ures "u section #geac7;b7 (
 title #e & *apt] #dc ( su* title %all n
 apply to a removal or demotion "u ?is  

section4  7#b7 7,a7 ,subject to         
subp>agraph 7,b7 & subsection 7e71 any  
removal or demotion "u subsection 7a7   
may be appeal$ to ! ,m]it ,sy/ems       
,protection ,bo>d "u section #ggja (    
title #e4  7,b7 ,an appeal "u           
subp>agraph 7,a7 ( a removal or demotion
 may only be made if su* appeal is made 
n lat] ?an sev5 days aft] ! date ( su*  
removal or demotion4  7e7 ,exp$it$      
review by adm9i/rative law judge  7#a7  
,^u receipt ( an appeal "u subsection   
7d77#b77;,a71 ! ,m]it ,sy/ems           
,protection ,bo>d %all ref] su* appeal  
to an adm9i/rative law judge pursuant to
 section #ggja7;b77#a7 ( title #e4 ,!   
adm9i/rative law judge %all exp$ite any 
su* appeal "u su* section &1 9 any su*  
case1 %all issue a decision n lat] ?an  
#de days aft] ! date ( ! appeal4  7#b7  
,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1       
includ+ section #ggjc ( title #e1 !     
decision ( an adm9i/rative judge "u     
p>agraph 7#a7 %all be f9al & %all n be  
subject to any fur!r appeal4  7#c7 ,9   

any case 9 :i* ! adm9i/rative judge _c  
issue a decision 9 accordance ) !       
#de-;day requirem5t "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! 
removal or demotion is f9al4 ,9 su* a   
case1 ! ,m]it ,sy/ems ,protection ,bo>d 
%all1 )9 #ad days aft] ! date t su*     
removal or demotion is f9al1 submit to  
,congress & ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'  
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,h\se (         
,repres5tatives a report t expla9s !    
reasons :y a decision 0 n issu$ 9       
accordance ) su* requirem5t4  7#d7 ,!   
,m]it ,sy/ems ,protection ,bo>d or      
adm9i/rative judge may n /ay any removal
 or demotion "u ?is section4  7#e7 ,dur+
 ! p]iod beg9n+ on ! date on :i* an     
individual appeals a removal f ! civil  
s]vice "u subsection 7d7 & end+ on !    
date t ! adm9i/rative judge issues a    
f9al decision on su* appeal1 su*        
individual may n receive any pay1 aw>ds1
 bonuses1 inc5tives1 all[ances1         
diff]5tials1 /ud5t loan repaym5ts1      
special paym5ts1 or b5efits4  7#f7 ,to !
 maximum ext5t practicable1 ! ,secret>y 

%all provide to ! ,m]it ,sy/ems         
,protection ,bo>d1 & to any adm9i/rative
 law judge to :om an appeal "u ?is      
section is ref]r$1 su* in=mation &      
assi/ance z may be necess>y to ensure an
 appeal "u ?is subsection is exp$it$4   
7f7 ,:i/lebl[] protection  7#a7 ,9 !    
case ( an individual seek+ corrective   
action 7or on behalf ( :om corrective   
action is s\ght7 f ! ,(fice ( ,special  
,c\nsel bas$ on an alleg$ prohibit$     
p]sonnel practice describ$ 9 section    
#bcjb7;b7 ( title #e1 ! ,secret>y may n 
remove or demote su* individual "u      
subsection 7a7 )\t ! approval ( !       
,special ,c\nsel "u section #abad7;f7 ( 
title #e4  7#b7 ,! ,(fice ( ,special    
,c\nsel %all e/abli%-- 7,a7 a me*anism  
to exp$ite cases = corrective action "u 
p>agraph 7#a72 &  7,b7 a /&>d = !       
approval "u p>agraph 7#a7 ( removal or  
demotion "u subsection 7a71 :i* may     
include a det]m9ation z to :e!r !       
removal or demotion is a prohibit$      
p]sonnel action4  7#c7 7,a7 ,not)/&+ any

 o!r provision ( law1 ! ,special ,c\nsel
 may t]m9ate an inve/igation ( a        
prohibit$ p]sonnel practice alleg$ by an
 individual 9 connection ) a removal or 
demotion ( ! individual "u subsection   
7a7 only aft] ! ,special ,c\nsel        
provides to ! individual a writt5       
/atem5t ( ! reasons = ! t]m9ation ( !   
inve/igation4  7,b7 ,! writt5 /atem5t   
provid$ to ! individual "u subp>agraph  
7,a7 may n be admissible z evid5ce 9 any
 judicial or adm9i/rative proce$+ )\t ! 
cons5t ( su* individual4  7g7 ,relation 
to o!r provisions ( law  7#a7 ,!        
au?ority provid$ by ?is section is 9    
addition to ! au?ority provid$ by       
sub*apt] ,v ( *apt] #ge ( title #e &    
*apt] #dc ( su* title4  7#b7 ,sub*apt]  
,v ( *apt] #gd ( ?is title %all n apply 
to any action "u ?is section4  7h7      
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3  7#a7 ,! t]m
 individual means an individual occupy+ 
a position at ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs b does n include--  7,a7 an    
individual1 z t t]m is def9$ 9 section  

#gac7;g77#a72 or  7,b7 a political      
appo9tee4  7#b7 ,! t]m grade has ! mean+
 giv5 su* t]m 9 section #geaa7;a7 (     
title #e4  7#c7 ,! t]m misconduct       
includes neglect ( duty1 malfeasance1 or
 failure to accept a direct$ reassignm5t
 or to accompany a position 9 a transf] 
( function4  7#d7 ,! t]m political      
appo9tee means an individual :o is--    
7,a7 employ$ 9 a position describ$ "u   
sections #ecab ?r\gh #ecaf ( title #e1  
7relat+ to ! ,executive ,s*$ule72  7,b7 
a limit$ t]m appo9tee1 limit$ em]g5cy   
appo9tee1 or nonc>e] appo9tee 9 ! ,s5ior
 ,executive ,s]vice1 z def9$ "u         
p>agraphs 7#e71 7#f71 & 7#g71           
respectively1 ( section #cacb7;a7 (     
title #e2 or  7,c7 employ$ 9 a position 
( a confid5tial or policy-det]m9+ "* "u 
s*$ule ,c ( subp>t ,c ( "p #bac ( title 
#e ( ! ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations4  4  
7b7 ,cl]ical & con=m+ am5dm5ts  7#a7    
,cl]ical ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+
 ( su* *apt] is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+ new item3  #gad4 ,employees3    

removal or demotion bas$ on p]=mance or 
misconduct  4  7#b7 ,con=m+ ,section    
#dcjc7;f7 ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code1 is am5d$-- 7,a7 by /rik+ or at ! 
end ( p>agraph 7#b72  7,b7 by /rik+ !   
p]iod at ! end ( p>agraph 7#c7 & ins]t+ 
1 or2 &  7,c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3
  7#d7 any removal or demotion "u       
section #gad ( title #ch4  4  #c4       
,au?ority to inve/igate m$ical c5t]s    
7a7 ,! ,director ( a ,vet]ans ,integrat$
 ,s]vice ,network ( ! ,dep>tm5t may     
contract ) an appropriate entity        
specializ+ 9 civilian accr$itation or   
heal? c>e evaluation to inve/igate any  
m$ical c5t] )9 su* ,network to assess & 
report defici5cies ( ! facilities at su*
 m$ical c5t]4  #d4 ,comptroll] ,g5]al   
report on ! implem5tation & execution ( 
! ,vet]ans ,*oice ,program  7a7 ,report 
,n lat] ?an ,m>* #a1 #bjag1 !           
,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
%all submit to ! appropriate committees 
( ,congress a report on ! implem5tation 
& execution by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   

,affairs ( ! ,vet]ans ,*oice ,program4  
7b7 ,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by       
subsection 7a7 %all include an assessm5t
 ( ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! numb] ( vet]ans    
enroll$ 9 & receiv+ c>e ?r\gh ! ,vet]ans
 ,*oice ,program z ( ! date ( submittal 
( ! report1 disaggregat$ by--  7,a7     
,/ate2  7,b7 ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice
 ,network ( ! ,dep>tm5t2  7,c7 m$ical   
c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 &  7,d7 cl9ic ( !   
,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,! ability ( vet]ans to
 fully access ! ,vet]ans ,*oice ,program
 s t !y d n h to travel m ?an #dj miles 
to receive c>e at a m$ical facility ( ! 
,dep>tm5t4  7#c7 ,! in/ances 9 :i*      
vet]ans h to travel m ?an #dj miles to  
receive c>e4  7#d7 ,! in/ances 9 :i*    
vet]ans h be5 d5i$ c>e ?r\gh ! ,vet]ans 
,*oice ,program & an analysis ( any     
sy/ematic policies1 includ+ at !        
national1 regional1 or local level1 t h 
l$ to su* d5ials ( c>e4  7#e7 ,! impact 
( ! ,vet]ans ,*oice ,program on r$uc+   
wait times = ! receipt ( c>e f !        
,dep>tm5t4  7#f7 ,! effectiv5ess ( !    

rules1 regulations1 & proc$ures us$ by !
 ,dep>tm5t to c>ry out ! ,vet]ans ,*oice
 ,program4  7#g7 ,! diff]5ce 9          
implem5tation ( ! ,vet]ans ,*oice       
,program-- 7,a7 9 ea* ,/ate2  7,b7 at   
ea* ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,network
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t2  7,c7 at ea* m$ical c5t]
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 &  7,d7 at ea* cl9ic ( !
 ,dep>tm5t4  7#h7 ,! process+ ( claims =
 reimbursem5t = s]vices provid$ "u !    
,vet]ans ,*oice ,program1 disaggregat$  
by--  7,a7 ,/ate2  7,b7 ,vet]ans        
,integrat$ ,s]vice ,network ( !         
,dep>tm5t2  7,c7 m$ical c5t] ( !        
,dep>tm5t2 &  7,d7 cl9ic ( ! ,dep>tm5t4 
7#i7 ,! satisfaction ( vet]ans ) !      
,vet]ans ,*oice ,program1 disaggregat$  
by-- 7,a7 ,/ate2  7,b7 ,vet]ans         
,integrat$ ,s]vice ,network ( !         
,dep>tm5t2  7,c7 m$ical c5t] ( !        
,dep>tm5t2 &  7,d7 cl9ic ( ! ,dep>tm5t4 
7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3  7#a7   
,appropriate committees ( congress ,!   
t]m appropriate committees ( ,congress  
means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'  

,affairs1 ! ,committee on ,arm$         
,s]vices1 & ! ,committee on             
,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7 !   
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs1 !     
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices1 & !       
,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives4  7#b7 ,vet]ans ,*oice
 ,program ,! t]m ,vet]ans ,*oice        
,program means hospital c>e & m$ical    
s]vices furni%$ "u section #aja ( !     
,vet]ans ,access1 ,*oice1 &             
,acc\ntability ,act ( #bjad 7,public    
,law #aac-adf2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agja      
note74