#aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #heaj ,,an ,,act ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to make certain improvements to the ,office of ,accountability and ,whistleblower ,protection of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,strengthening ,whistleblower ,protections at the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,act4 #b4 ,counsel of ,office of ,accountability and ,whistleblower ,protection ,subsection 7e7 of section #cbc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting 7#a7 before ,the ,office2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#b7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall appoint a ,counsel of the ,office1 who shall be a career appointee in the ,senior ,executive ,service and shall report to the ,assistant ,secretary4 ,the ,counsel shall provide the ,assistant ,secretary with legal advice on all matters relating to the ,office4 ,in accordance with subsection 7e71 the ,assistant ,secretary may hire the appropriate staff for the ,counsel to provide such legal advice4 4 #c4 ,modifications to functions of ,office of ,accountability and ,whistleblower ,protection ,subsection 7c77#a7 of such section is amended-- 7#a7 by striking subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b72 7#b7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,c7 through 7,g7 as subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,e71 respectively2 7#c7 in subparagraph 7,a71 as so redesignated1 by inserting and allegations of whistleblower retaliation after disclosures2 7#d7 by striking subparagraph 7,b71 as so redesignated1 and inserting the following new subparagraph3 7,b7 ,referring employees of the ,department to the ,office of ,special ,counsel so the ,office of ,special ,counsel may receive whistleblower disclosures and allegations of whistleblower retaliation4 2 and 7#e7 by striking subparagraphs 7,h7 and 7,i74 #d4 ,expansion of whistleblower protections 7a7 ,clarification of prohibited personnel action ,section #gca7;c7 of such title is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting 1 or threatening to take or fail to take1 after failing to take2 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting 1 or with respect to an allegation of such a disclosure before the semicolon2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by inserting 1 making a referral to boards of licensure1 after negative peer review4 7b7 ,function of ,office of ,accountability and ,whistleblower ,protection ,section #cbc7;g7 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#d7 ,the term prohibited personnel action has the meaning given such term in section #gca7;c7 of this title4 4 #e4 ,tracking and enforcement of recommendations and settlement agreements regarding whistleblowers ,subsection 7c7 of section #cbc of such title1 as amended by section #d1 is further amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs3 7,i7 ,tracking the negotiation1 implementation1 and enforcement of settlement agreements entered into by the ,secretary regarding claims of whistleblower retaliation1 including with respect to the work of the ,general ,counsel of the ,department regarding such settlements4 7,j7 ,tracking the determinations made by the ,special ,counsel regarding claims of whistleblower retaliation1 including-- 7i7 any disciplinary action for the individual who engaged in whistleblower retaliation2 and 7ii7 determinations regarding the need for settlement as identified by the ,special ,counsel1 and any settlement resolving claims of whistleblower retaliation entered into by the ,secretary with the whistleblower4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#d7 7,a7 ,in carrying out subparagraph 7,i7 of paragraph 7#a71 the ,assistant ,secretary shall1 in consultation with the ,general ,counsel1 establish metrics and standards regarding-- 7i7 the timely implementation of settlement agreements entered into by the ,secretary regarding whistleblower retaliation2 and 7ii7 reasonable restitution and restoration of employment1 and other relief for whistleblowers2 and 7,b7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall establish a secure electronic system to carry out subparagraphs 7,i7 and 7,j7 of paragraph 7#a7 in a manner that ensures the confidentiality of the identity of a whistleblower4 4 #f4 ,training and information ,section #cbc of such title is further amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c77#b71 by striking receive anonymous whistleblower disclosures and inserting provide information to employees of the ,department regarding the rights of and procedures for whistleblowers2 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7g7 as subsection 7i72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7f7 the following new subsections3 7g7 ,training ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 develop1 in consultation with the ,special ,counsel1 annual training on whistleblower protection and related issues2 7#b7 provide and make such training available to employees of the ,department2 and 7#c7 disseminate training materials and information to employees on whistleblower rights1 whistleblower disclosures1 and allegations of whistleblower retaliation1 including any materials created pursuant to section #gcc of this title4 4 #g4 ,improvements to annual reports ,subsection 7f7 of section #cbc of such title is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,b77ii71 by striking subsection 7,c77#a77;,g7 and inserting subsection 7c77#a77;,e72 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 by striking under subsection 7c77#a77;,i7 and inserting by the ,special ,counsel2 and 7,b7 by inserting not later than #fj days after such date before the ,secretary shall2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#c7 ,not later than ,june #cj1 #bjbc1 and semiannually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate a report on settlements described in paragraph 7#a77;,i7 of subsection 7c71 including1 with respect to the period covered by the report-- 7,a7 the number of settlements under negotiation or executed1 and the number of executed settlements that have not been fully implemented2 7,b7 the explanation as to why any such executed settlement has not been fully implemented2 7,c7 a description of the metrics described in paragraph 7#d77;,a7 of such subsection2 and 7,d7 identification of settlement agreements that are not meeting such metrics and standards1 or for which the ,assistant ,secretary is aware of a determination that a breach of agreement has been found4 4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,september #bi1 #bjbb4;,clerk4