,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #gbe #aadth         
,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,s4 #bij     
,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united 
,,states  ,january #bh1 #bjae,mr4 ,moran
 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,ayotte1 ,mr4       
,rubio1 ,mr4 ,mc,cain1 ,mrs4 ,ernst1    
,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,kirk1 ,mr4      
,bennet1 and ,mr4 ,daines7 introduced   
the following bill2 which was read twice
 and referred to the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs  ,december #i1      
#bjaf,reported by ,mr4 ,isakson1 with an
 amendment,strike out all after the     
enacting clause and insert the part     
printed in italic  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend 
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to    
improve the accountability of employees 
of the ,department of ,veterans         
,affairs1 and for other purposes4  #a4  
,short title ,this ,act may be cited as 
the ,increasing the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs ,accountability to   
,veterans ,act of #bjae4  #b4 ,reduction
 of benefits for members of the ,senior 
,executive ,service within the          

,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
convicted of certain crimes  7a7 ,in    
general ,chapter #g of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
adding at the end the following new     
section3  #gae4 ,senior executives3     
reduction of benefits of individuals    
convicted of certain crimes  7a7        
,reduction of annuity for removed       
employee ,the covered service of an     
individual removed from a senior        
executive position under section #gac of
 this title shall not be taken into     
account for purposes of calculating an  
annuity with respect to such individual 
under chapter #hc or chapter #hd of     
title #e1 if the individual is convicted
 of a felony that influenced the        
individual's performance while employed 
in the senior executive position4  7b7  
,reduction of annuity for retired       
employee  7#a7 ,the ,secretary may order
 that the covered service of an         
individual who is subject to a removal  
or transfer action under section #gac of

 this title but who leaves employment at
 the ,department prior to the issuance  
of a final decision with respect to such
 action shall not be taken into account 
for purposes of calculating an annuity  
with respect to such individual under   
chapter #hc or chapter #hd of title #e1 
if the individual is convicted of a     
felony that influenced the individual's 
performance while employed in the senior
 executive position4  7#b7 ,the         
,secretary shall make such an order not 
later than #g days after the date on    
which such individual is convicted of   
such felony4  7#c7 ,not later than #cj  
days after the ,secretary issues any    
order with respect to an individual     
under paragraph 7#a71 the ,director of  
the ,office of ,personnel ,management   
shall recalculate the annuity of the    
individual4  7c7 ,lump-,sum ,annuity    
,credit ,any individual with respect to 
whom an annuity is reduced under        
subsection 7a7 or 7b7 shall be entitled 
to be paid so much of such individual's 

lump-sum credit as is attributable to   
the period of covered service4  7d7     
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the
 term covered service means1 with       
respect to an individual subject to a   
removal or transfer action under section
 #gac of this title1 the period of      
service beginning on the date that the  
,secretary determines under such section
 that such individual engaged in        
activity that gave rise to such action  
and ending on the date that such        
individual is removed from the civil    
service or leaves employment at the     
,department prior to the issuance of a  
final decision with respect to such     
action1 as the case may be4  7#b7 ,the  
term lump-sum credit has the meaning    
given such term in section #hcca7h7 or  
section #hdja7ai7 of title #e1 as the   
case may be4  7#c7 ,the term senior     
executive position has the meaning given
 such term in section #gac7;g77#c7 of   
this title4  7#d7 ,the term service has 
the meaning given such term in section  

#hcca7ab7 or section #hdja7bf7 of title 
#e1 as the case may be4  4  7b7         
,application ,section #gae of such      
title1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall
 apply to any action of removal or      
transfer under section #gac of such     
title commencing on or after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act4  7c7       
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is amended by adding at the end 
the following new item3  #gae4 ,senior  
executives3 reduction of benefits of    
individuals convicted of certain crimes4
  4  #c4 ,reform of performance         
appraisal system for ,senior ,executive 
,service employees of the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,performance   
appraisal system  7#a7 ,in general      
,chapter #g of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 as amended by section #b1
 is further amended by adding at the end
 the following new section3  #gag4      
,senior executives3 performance         
appraisal  7a7 ,performance appraisal   

system  7#a7 ,the performance appraisal 
system for individuals employed in      
senior executive positions in the       
,department required by section #dcab of
 title #e shall provide1 in addition to 
the requirements of such section1 for   
five annual summary ratings of levels of
 performance as follows3  7,a7 ,one     
outstanding level4  7,b7 ,one exceeds   
fully successful level4  7,c7 ,one fully
 successful level4  7,d7 ,one minimally 
satisfactory level4  7,e7 ,one          
unsatisfactory level4  7#b7 ,the        
following limitations apply to the      
rating of the performance of such       
individuals3  7,a7 ,for any year1 not   
more than #aj percent of such           
individuals who receive a performance   
rating during that year may receive the 
outstanding level under paragraph       
7#a77;,a74  7,b7 ,for any year1 not more
 than #bj percent of such individuals   
who receive a performance rating during 
that year may receive the exceeds fully 
successful level under paragraph        

7#a77;,b74  7#c7 ,in evaluating the     
performance of an individual under the  
performance appraisal system1 the       
,secretary shall take into consideration
 any complaint or report 7including any 
pending or published report7 submitted  
by the ,inspector ,general of the       
,department1 the ,comptroller ,general  
of the ,united ,states1 the ,equal      
,employment ,opportunity ,commission1 or
 any other appropriate person or entity1
 related to any facility or program     
managed by the individual4  7b7 ,change 
of position  7#a7 ,not less frequently  
than once every five years1 the         
,secretary shall reassign each          
individual employed in a senior         
executive position to a position at a   
different location that does not include
 the supervision of the same personnel  
or programs4  7#b7 ,the ,secretary may  
waive the requirement under paragraph   
7#a7 for any such individual1 if the    
,secretary submits to the ,committee on 
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  

the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives notice  
of the waiver and an explanation of the 
reasons for the waiver4  7c7 ,report    
7#a7 ,not later than ,march #a of each  
year1 the ,secretary shall submit to the
 ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
performance appraisal system of the     
,department under subsection 7a74  7#b7 
,each report submitted under paragraph  
7#a7 shall include1 for the year        
preceding the year during which the     
report is submitted1 all documentation  
concerning each of the following for    
each individual employed in a senior    
executive position in the ,department3  
7,a7 ,the initial performance appraisal4
  7,b7 ,the higher level review1 if     
requested4  7,c7 ,the recommendations of
 the performance review board4  7,d7    
,the final summary review4  7,e7 ,the   
review of the ,inspector ,general of the

 ,department of the information         
described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 
7,d74  7d7 ,definition of senior        
executive position ,in this section1 the
 term senior executive position has the 
meaning given that term in section      
#gac7;g7 of this title4  4  7#b7        
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new item3  #gag4  
,senior executives3 performance         
appraisal4  4  7#c7 ,conforming         
amendment ,section #dcab7;b7 of title   
#e1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 
7,a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking and 
at the end2  7,b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by 
striking the period at the end and      
inserting 2 and2 and  7,c7 by adding at 
the end the following3  7#d7 that1 in   
the case of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs1 the performance appraisal    
system meets the requirements of section
 #gaf of title #ch4  4  7b7 ,review of  
,,ses management training  7#a7 ,review 

7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj   
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans  
,affairs shall enter into a contract    
with a nongovernmental entity to review 
the management training program for     
individuals employed in senior executive
 positions 7as such term is defined in  
section #gac7;g7 of title #ch1 ,united  
,states ,code7 of the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs that is being        
provided as of the date of the enactment
 of this ,act4  7,b7 ,comparison ,the   
review required by subparagraph 7,a7    
shall include a comparison of the       
training provided by the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs to the management    
training provided for senior executives 
of other ,federal departments and       
agencies and to the management training 
provided to senior executives in the    
private sector4  7,c7 ,report to        
,secretary ,the contract required by    
subparagraph 7,a7 shall provide that the
 nongovernmental entity must complete   

and submit to the ,secretary a report   
containing the findings and conclusions 
of the review by not later than #ahj    
days after the date on which the        
,secretary and the nongovernmental      
entity enter into the contract4  7#b7   
,report to ,congress ,not later than #fj
 days after the date on which the       
,secretary receives the report under    
paragraph 7#a77;,c71 the ,secretary     
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives the     
report together with a plan for carrying
 out the recommendations contained in   
the report4  #d4 ,limitation on         
administrative leave for members of the 
,senior ,executive ,service within the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,chapter #g of title #ch1   
,united ,states ,code1 as amended by    
section #c1 is further amended by adding
 after section #gag the following new   
section3  #gai4 ,administrative leave   

limitation and report  7a7 ,limitation  
applicable to members of ,senior        
,executive ,service within ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs  7#a7 ,the        
,secretary may not place any covered    
individual on administrative leave1 or  
any other type of paid non-duty status1 
for more than a total of #ad days during
 any #cfe-;day period4  7#b7 7,a7 ,the  
,secretary may waive the limitation     
under paragraph 7#a7 and extend the     
administrative leave or other paid      
non-duty status of a covered individual 
placed on such leave or status under    
paragraph 7#a7 if the ,secretary submits
 to the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a detailed  
explanation of the reasons the          
individual was placed on administrative 
leave or other paid non-duty status and 
the reasons for the extension of such   
leave or status4  7,b7 ,any detailed    
explanation submitted under subparagraph

 7,a7 shall include the name of the     
covered individual1 the location where  
the individual is employed1 and the     
individual's job title4  7#c7 ,in this  
subsection1 the term covered individual 
means an individual 7as defined in      
section #gac7;g7 of this title7         
occupying a senior executive position   
7as defined in such section7--  7,a7 who
 is subject to an investigation for     
purposes of determining whether such    
individual should be subject to any     
disciplinary action under this title or 
title #e2 or  7,b7 against whom any     
disciplinary action is proposed or      
initiated under this title or title #e4 
7b7 ,report on administrative leave     
7#a7 ,not later than #cj days after the 
end of each quarter of any calendar     
year1 the ,secretary shall submit to the
 ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report listing the   
name of any employee of the ,department 

7if any7 who has been placed on         
administrative leave1 or any other type 
of paid non-duty status1 for a period   
longer than seven days during such      
quarter4  7#b7 ,any report submitted    
under paragraph 7#a7 shall include1 with
 respect to any employee listed in such 
report1 the position occupied by the    
employee1 the number of days of such    
leave1 and the reason that such employee
 was placed on such leave4  4  7b7      
,application  7#a7 ,administrative leave
 limitation ,section #gai7;a7 of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by 
subsection 7a71 shall apply to any      
action of removal or transfer under     
section #gac of such title or title #e1 
,united ,states ,code1 commencing on or 
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  7#b7 ,report ,the report under   
section #gai7;b7 of such title1 as added
 by subsection 7a71 shall begin to apply
 in the first quarter that ends after   
the date that is #ahj days after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act4  7c7

 ,clerical amendment ,the table of      
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is amended by adding at the end 
the following new item3  #gai4          
,administrative leave limitation and    
report4  4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act 
may be cited as the ,increasing the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
,accountability to ,veterans ,act of    
#bjae4  #b4 ,reduction of benefits for  
members of the ,senior ,executive       
,service within the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs convicted of certain 
crimes  7a7 ,in general ,chapter #g of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #gae4 ,senior   
executives3 reduction of benefits of    
individuals convicted of certain crimes 
7a7 ,reduction of annuity for removed   
member ,the covered service of an       
individual removed from a senior        
executive position at the ,department by
 the ,secretary for performance or      
misconduct shall not be taken into      

account for purposes of calculating an  
annuity with respect to such individual 
under chapter #hc or chapter #hd of     
title #e1 if the individual is convicted
 of a felony 7and the conviction is     
final7 that was related1 as determined  
by the ,director of the ,office of      
,personnel ,management1 to the          
individual's performance while employed 
in such senior executive position4  7b7 
,reduction of annuity for retired member
  7#a7 ,the ,secretary may order that   
the covered service of an individual who
 is subject to a removal or transfer    
from a senior executive position at the 
,department by the ,secretary for       
performance or misconduct but who leaves
 employment at the ,department prior to 
the issuance of a final decision with   
respect to such removal or transfer     
shall not be taken into account for     
purposes of calculating an annuity with 
respect to such individual under chapter
 #hc or chapter #hd of title #e1 if the 
individual is convicted of a felony 7and

 the conviction is final7 that was      
related1 as determined by the ,director 
of the ,office of ,personnel            
,management1 to the individual's        
performance while employed in such      
senior executive position4  7#b7 ,the   
,secretary shall make such an order not 
later than #g days after the date on    
which such individual is convicted of   
such felony4  7#c7 ,not later than #cj  
days after the ,secretary issues any    
order with respect to an individual     
under paragraph 7#a71 the ,director of  
the ,office of ,personnel ,management   
shall recalculate the annuity of the    
individual4  7c7 ,lump-sum annuity      
credit ,any individual with respect to  
whom an annuity is reduced under        
subsection 7a7 or 7b7 shall be entitled 
to be paid so much of such individual's 
lump-sum credit as is attributable to   
the period of covered service4  7d7     
,review of reduction of annuity ,any    
individual whose annuity is reduced     
under subsection 7a7 or 7b7 may appeal  

the reduction to the ,director of the   
,office of ,personnel ,management4  7e7 
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the
 term covered service means1 with       
respect to an individual subject to a   
removal or transfer from a senior       
executive position at the ,department   
for performance or misconduct1 the      
period of service beginning on the date 
that the ,secretary determines under    
such section that such individual       
engaged in activity that gave rise to   
such action and ending on the date that 
such individual is removed from the     
civil service or leaves employment at   
the ,department prior to the issuance of
 a final decision with respect to such  
action1 as the case may be4  7#b7 ,the  
term lump-sum credit has the meaning    
given such term in section #hcca or     
#hdja of title #e1 as the case may be4  
7#c7 ,the term senior executive position
 has the meaning given such term in     
section #gac7;g7 of this title4  7#d7   
,the term service has the meaning given 

such term in section #hcca or #hdja of  
title #e1 as the case may be4  4  7b7   
,application ,section #gae of such      
title1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall
 apply to any action of removal or      
transfer from a senior executive        
position 7as defined in section #gac7;g7
 of such title7 at the ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs commencing on or     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the     
table of sections at the beginning of   
such chapter is amended by adding at the
 end the following new item3  #gae4     
,senior executives3 reduction of        
benefits of individuals convicted of    
certain crimes4  4  #c4 ,independent    
review and assessment of management     
training and appraisal at ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,review and    
assessment  7#a7 ,in general ,not later 
than #ahj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall enter into a
 contract with a nongovernmental entity 

to review and assess the following3     
7,a7 ,the management training program   
for individuals employed in senior      
executive positions of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs that is being     
provided as of the date of the enactment
 of this ,act4  7,b7 ,the performance   
appraisal system of the ,department in  
effect on the day before the date of the
 enactment of this ,act for individuals 
employed in senior executive positions4 
7#b7 ,elements ,the review and          
assessment required by paragraph 7#a7   
shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a    
comparison of the training provided by  
the ,department to the management       
training provided for senior executives 
of other ,federal departments and       
agencies and to the management training 
provided to senior executives in the    
private sector4  7,b7 ,recommendations  
for improving the program described in  
paragraph 7#a77;,a74  7,c7              
,recommendations for improving the      
system described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74

  7,d7 ,an assessment of the ability of 
the ,department to attract and develop  
employees suitable for senior executive 
service positions of the ,department4   
7,e7 ,an assessment of the leadership   
and management actions of the           
,department resulting from ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs ,performance and  
,accountability ,reports submitted in   
the two most recent fiscal years ending 
before the date of the enactment of this
 ,act4  7,f7 ,a review of the strategy  
of the ,secretary called ,lean          
,management4  7,g7 ,an assessment of the
 compliance of the ,department with     
provisions of law added or amended by   
the ,,gpra ,modernization ,act of #bjaj 
7,public ,law #aaa-ceb7 and an          
explanation of the changes made to the  
,department and the activities carried  
out by the ,secretary in response to the
 enactment of such ,act4  7,h7 ,an      
assessment of the results of the most   
recent ,annual ,employee ,survey carried
 out pursuant to part #bej of title #e1 

,code of ,federal ,regulations4  7,i7   
,an assessment of the efforts of the    
,secretary to conduct data-driven       
reviews and develop a results-oriented  
culture pursuant to part #f of ,circular
 ,a-#aa of the ,office of ,management   
and ,budget4  7,j7 ,an assessment of the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs      
,federal ,performance ,improvement      
,officer role and oversight function4   
7,k7 ,a survey of the morale of         
employees and their satisfaction with   
their work and work environment in each 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs staff 
organization1 staff office1 and         
administration as described by          
,directive #jbaa of the ,department and 
provided for in version #c4j;a of the   
,functional ,organization ,manual of the
 ,department4  7#c7 ,report to          
,secretary ,the contract required by    
paragraph 7#a7 shall provide that the   
nongovernmental entity must complete and
 submit to the ,secretary a report      
containing the findings and conclusions 

of the review by not later than #ahj    
days after the date on which the        
,secretary and the nongovernmental      
entity enter into the contract4  7b7    
,report to ,congress ,not later than #fj
 days after the date on which the       
,secretary receives the report under    
subsection 7a77#c71 the ,secretary shall
 submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' 
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives the report  
together with a plan for carrying out   
the recommendations contained in the    
report4  7c7 ,senior executive position 
defined ,in this section1 the termsenior
 executive position has the meaning     
given that term in section #gac7;g7 of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  #d4  
,limitation on administrative leave for 
employees of ,department of ,veterans   
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,chapter #g of
 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is   
further amended by adding at the end the
 following new section3  #gag4          

,administrative leave limitation and    
report  7a7 ,limitation applicable to   
employees within the ,department  7#a7  
,the ,secretary may not place any       
covered individual on administrative    
leave for more than a total of #ad      
business days during any #cfe-;day      
period4  7#b7 7,a7 ,the ,secretary may  
waive the limitation under paragraph    
7#a7 and extend the period of           
administrative leave of a covered       
individual if the ,secretary submits to 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a detailed explanation 
of the reasons the covered individual   
was placed on administrative leave and  
the reasons for the extension of such   
leave4  7,b7 ,such explanation shall    
include the position of the covered     
individual and the location where the   
covered individual is employed4  7#c7   
,in this subsection1 the term covered   
individual means an employee of the     

,department1 including an employee in a 
senior executive position 7as defined in
 section #gac7;g7 of this title7--  7,a7
 who is subject to an investigation for 
purposes of determining whether such    
individual should be subject to any     
disciplinary action under this title or 
title #e2 or  7,b7 against whom any     
disciplinary action is proposed or      
initiated under this title or title #e4 
7b7 ,report on administrative leave     
7#a7 ,not later than #cj days after the 
end of each fiscal year1 the ,secretary 
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 listing the position of each employee  
of the ,department 7if any7 who has been
 placed on administrative leave for a   
period longer than #ad business days    
during such fiscal year4  7#b7 ,each    
report submitted under paragraph 7#a7   
shall include1 with respect to each     
employee listed in such report1 the     

following3  7,a7 ,the position occupied 
by the employee4  7,b7 ,the number of   
business days of such leave4  7,c7 ,the 
reason that such employee was placed on 
such leave4  7#c7 ,in submitting each   
report under paragraph 7#a71 the        
,secretary shall take such measures to  
protect the privacy of the employees    
listed in the report as the ,secretary  
considers appropriate4  7c7             
,administrative leave defined ,in this  
section1 the term administrative leave--
 7#a7 means an administratively         
authorized absence from duty without    
loss of pay or charge to leave for which
 the employee is placed due to an       
investigation on or for whom any        
disciplinary action is proposed or      
initiated2 and  7#b7 includes any type  
of paid non-duty status without a charge
 to leave4  4  7b7 ,application  7#a7   
,administrative leave limitation        
,subsection 7a7 of section #gag of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code 7as added by
 subsection 7a771 shall apply to any    

period of administrative leave 7as      
defined in such section7 commencing on  
or after the date of the enactment of   
this ,act4  7#b7 ,report ,the report    
under section #gag7;b7 of such title 7as
 added by subsection 7a77 shall apply   
beginning in the first quarter that ends
 after the date that is #ahj days after 
the date of the enactment of this ,act4 
7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   
sections at the beginning of chapter #g 
of such title is further amended by     
adding at the end the following new     
item3  #gag4 ,administrative leave      
limitation and report4  4  #e4          
,accountability of leaders for managing 
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
7a7 ,in general ,chapter #g of title    
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by inserting after section #gji the     
following new section3  #gaj4 ,annual   
performance plan for political          
appointees  7a7 ,in general ,the        
,secretary shall conduct an annual      
performance plan for each political     

appointee of the ,department that is    
similar to the annual performance plan  
conducted for an employee of the        
,department who is appointed as a career
 appointee 7as that term is defined in  
section #cacb7;a77#d7 of title #e7      
within the ,senior ,executive ,service  
at the ,department4  7b7 ,elements of   
plan ,each annual performance plan      
conducted under subsection 7a7 with     
respect to a political appointee of the 
,department shall include1 to the extent
 applicable1 an assessment of whether   
the appointee is meeting the following  
goals3  7#a7 ,recruiting1 selecting1 and
 retaining well-qualified individuals   
for employment at the ,department4  7#b7
 ,engaging and motivating employees4    
7#c7 ,training and developing employees 
and preparing those employees for future
 leadership roles within the            
,department4  7#d7 ,holding each        
employee of the ,department that is a   
manager accountable for addressing      
issues relating to performance1 in      

particular issues relating to the       
performance of employees that report to 
the manager4  4  7b7 ,clerical amendment
 ,the table of sections at the beginning
 of chapter #g of such title is further 
amended by inserting after the item     
relating to section #gji the following  
new item3  #gaj4 ,annual performance    
plan for political appointees4  4  #f4  
,accountability of managers for hiring  
well-qualified people  7a7 ,assessment  
during probationary period  7#a7        
,determination require ,with respect to 
any employee of the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs who is required to   
serve a probationary period in a        
position in the ,department1 the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
require the manager of such employee to 
determine1 during the #cj-;day period   
ending on the date on which the         
probationary period ends1 whether the   
employee--  7,a7 has demonstrated       
successful performance2 and  7,b7 should
 continue past the probationary period4 

7#b7 ,limitation on employment after    
probationary period ,no employee of the 
,department serving a probationary      
period as described in paragraph 7#a7   
may continue in that position after the 
end of the probationary period unless   
and until the manager of the employee   
has made an affirmative determination   
under such paragraph4  7b7 ,supervisors 
,with respect to any employee of the    
,department who is serving a            
probationary period at a supervisory    
position in the ,department1 successful 
performance under subsection 7a7 shall  
include demonstrating management        
competencies in addition to the         
technical skills required for such      
position4  7c7 ,performance plan ,each  
annual performance plan conducted for a 
manager of an employee serving a        
probationary period shall hold the      
manager accountable for--  7#a7         
providing regular feedback to such      
employee during such period before      
making a determination under subsection 

7a7 regarding the probationary status of
 such employee2 and  7#b7 making a      
timely determination under subsection   
7a7 regarding the probationary status of
 such employee4  #g4 ,accountability of 
managers for addressing performance of  
employees ,the ,secretary of ,veterans  
,affairs shall ensure that1 as a part of
 the annual performance plan of an      
employee of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs who is a manager1 the manager 
is evaluated on the following3  7#a7    
,taking action to address poor          
performance and misconduct among the    
employees that report to the manager4   
7#b7 ,taking steps to improve or sustain
 high levels of employee engagement4    
#h4 ,expansion of definition of         
personnel action to include performance 
evaluations of employees of the         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
,section #bcjb7;a77#b77;,a77viii7 of    
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 is     
amended by inserting or under title #ch 
after chapter #dc of this title4  #i4   

,written opinion on certain employment  
restrictions after terminating          
employment with the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,in general     
,chapter #g of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 is further amended by    
adding at the end the following new     
section3  #gai4 ,written opinion on     
certain employment restrictions after   
terminating employment with the         
,department  7a7 ,in general ,before    
terminating employment with the         
,department1 any official of the        
,department who has participated        
personally and substantially during the 
one-year period ending on the date of   
the termination in an acquisition by the
 ,department that exceeds #aj1jjj1jjj   
shall obtain a written opinion from an  
appropriate ethics counselor at the     
,department regarding any restrictions  
on activities that the official may     
undertake on behalf of a covered        
contractor during the two-year period   
beginning on the date on which the      

official terminates such employment4    
7b7 ,covered contractor defined ,in this
 section1 the term covered contractor   
means a contractor carrying out a       
contract entered into with the          
,department1 including pursuant to a    
subcontract4  4  7b7 ,clerical amendment
 ,the table of sections at the beginning
 of chapter #g of such title is further 
amended by inserting after the item     
relating to section #gag the following  
new item3  #gai4 ,written opinion on    
certain employment restrictions after   
leaving the ,department4  4  #aj4       
,requirement for contractors of the     
,department employing certain recently  
separated ,department employees  7a7 ,in
 general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ha
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is
 amended by adding at the end the       
following new section3  #habi4          
,requirement for contractors employing  
certain recently separated ,department  
employees  7a7 ,in general ,a covered   
contractor may not knowingly provide    

compensation to an individual described 
in subsection 7b7 during the two-year   
period beginning on the date on which   
the individual terminates employment    
with the ,department unless the covered 
contractor determines that the          
individual--  7#a7 has obtained the     
written opinion required under section  
#gai7;a7 of this title2 or  7#b7 has    
requested such written opinion not later
 than #cj days before receiving         
compensation from the covered           
contractor4  7b7 ,individual described  
,an individual described in this        
subsection is any official of the       
,department who participated personally 
and substantially during the one-year   
period ending on the date of the        
termination individual's employment with
 the ,department in an acquisition by   
the ,department that exceeds            
#aj1jjj1jjj4  7c7 ,covered contractor   
defined ,in this section1 the term      
covered contractor means a contractor   
carrying out a contract entered into    

with the ,department1 including pursuant
 to a subcontract4  4  7b7 ,application 
,the requirement under section #habi7;a7
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as
 added by subsection 7a71 shall apply   
with respect to any entity that enters  
into a contract with the ,department on 
or after the date of the enactment of   
this ,act4  7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the
 table of sections at the beginning of  
chapter #ha of such title is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to    
section #habh the following new item3   
#habi4 ,requirement for contractors     
employing certain recently separated    
,department employees4  4  #aa4         
,restoration of prior reporting fee     
multipliers ,during the one-year period 
beginning on ,september #bf1 #bjaf1 the 
second sentence of subsection 7c7 of    
section #cfhd of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 shall be applied--  7#a7 
by substituting #aj for #ab2 and  7#b7  
by substituting #ac for #ae4  ,december 
#i1 #bjaf,reported with an amendment