#aag? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #heaj ,,an ,,act ,to am5d title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to make c]ta9 improvem5ts to ! ,(fice ( ,acc\ntability & ,:i/lebl[] ,protection ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,/r5g!n+ ,:i/lebl[] ,protections at ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,act4 #b4 ,c\nsel ( ,(fice ( ,acc\ntability & ,:i/lebl[] ,protection ,subsection 7e7 ( section #cbc ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by ins]t+ 7#a7 be=e ,! ,(fice2 & 7#b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3 7#b7 ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y %all appo9t a ,c\nsel ( ! ,(fice1 :o %all be a c>e] appo9tee 9 ! ,s5ior ,executive ,s]vice & %all report to ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y4 ,! ,c\nsel %all provide ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y ) legal advice on all matt]s relat+ to ! ,(fice4 ,9 accordance ) subsection 7e71 ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y may hire ! appropriate /aff = ! ,c\nsel to provide su* legal advice4 4 #c4 ,modifications to functions ( ,(fice ( ,acc\ntability & ,:i/lebl[] ,protection ,subsection 7c77#a7 ( su* section is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ subp>agraphs 7,a7 & 7,b72 7#b7 by r$esignat+ subp>agraphs 7,c7 ?r\gh 7,g7 z subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,e71 respectively2 7#c7 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 z s r$esignat$1 by ins]t+ & allegations ( :i/lebl[] retaliation aft] disclosures2 7#d7 by /rik+ subp>agraph 7,b71 z s r$esignat$1 & ins]t+ ! foll[+ new subp>agraph3 7,b7 ,ref]r+ employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t to ! ,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel s ! ,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel may receive :i/lebl[] disclosures & allegations ( :i/lebl[] retaliation4 2 & 7#e7 by /rik+ subp>agraphs 7,h7 & 7,i74 #d4 ,expansion ( :i/lebl[] protections 7a7 ,cl>ification ( prohibit$ p]sonnel action ,section #gca7;c7 ( su* title is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 9 ! matt] prec$+ subp>agraph 7,a71 by ins]t+ 1 or ?reat5+ to take or fail to take1 aft] fail+ to take2 & 7,b7 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 by ins]t+ 1 or ) respect to an allegation ( su* a disclosure be=e ! semicolon2 7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#c71 by ins]t+ 1 mak+ a ref]ral to bo>ds ( lic5sure1 aft] negative pe] review4 7b7 ,function ( ,(fice ( ,acc\ntability & ,:i/lebl[] ,protection ,section #cbc7;g7 ( su* title is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3 7#d7 ,! t]m prohibit$ p]sonnel action has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9 section #gca7;c7 ( ?is title4 4 #e4 ,track+ & en=cem5t ( recomm5dations & settlem5t agreem5ts reg>d+ :i/lebl[]s ,subsection 7c7 ( section #cbc ( su* title1 z am5d$ by section #d1 is fur!r am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new subp>agraphs3 7,i7 ,track+ ! negotiation1 implem5tation1 & en=cem5t ( settlem5t agreem5ts ent]$ into by ! ,secret>y reg>d+ claims ( :i/lebl[] retaliation1 includ+ ) respect to ! "w ( ! ,g5]al ,c\nsel ( ! ,dep>tm5t reg>d+ su* settlem5ts4 7,j7 ,track+ ! det]m9ations made by ! ,special ,c\nsel reg>d+ claims ( :i/lebl[] retaliation1 includ+-- 7i7 any discipl9>y action = ! individual :o engag$ 9 :i/lebl[] retaliation2 & 7ii7 det]m9ations reg>d+ ! ne$ = settlem5t z id5tifi$ by ! ,special ,c\nsel1 & any settlem5t resolv+ claims ( :i/lebl[] retaliation ent]$ into by ! ,secret>y ) ! :i/lebl[]4 2 & 7#b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3 7#d7 7,a7 ,9 c>ry+ out subp>agraph 7,i7 ( p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y %all1 9 consultation ) ! ,g5]al ,c\nsel1 e/abli% metrics & /&>ds reg>d+-- 7i7 ! timely implem5tation ( settlem5t agreem5ts ent]$ into by ! ,secret>y reg>d+ :i/lebl[] retaliation2 & 7ii7 reasonable re/itution & re/oration ( employm5t1 & o!r relief = :i/lebl[]s2 & 7,b7 ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y %all e/abli% a secure electronic sy/em to c>ry out subp>agraphs 7,i7 & 7,j7 ( p>agraph 7#a7 9 a mann] t ensures ! confid5tiality ( ! id5tity ( a :i/lebl[]4 4 #f4 ,tra9+ & in=mation ,section #cbc ( su* title is fur!r am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7c77#b71 by /rik+ receive anonym\s :i/lebl[] disclosures & ins]t+ provide in=mation to employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t reg>d+ ! rights ( & proc$ures = :i/lebl[]s2 7#b7 by r$esignat+ subsection 7g7 z subsection 7i72 & 7#c7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7f7 ! foll[+ new subsections3 7g7 ,tra9+ ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y %all-- 7#a7 develop1 9 consultation ) ! ,special ,c\nsel1 annual tra9+ on :i/lebl[] protection & relat$ issues2 7#b7 provide & make su* tra9+ available to employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 & 7#c7 dissem9ate tra9+ mat]ials & in=mation to employees on :i/lebl[] rights1 :i/lebl[] disclosures1 & allegations ( :i/lebl[] retaliation1 includ+ any mat]ials creat$ pursuant to section #gcc ( ?is title4 4 #g4 ,improvem5ts to annual reports ,subsection 7f7 ( section #cbc ( su* title is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,b77ii71 by /rik+ subsection 7,c77#a77;,g7 & ins]t+ subsection 7c77#a77;,e72 7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ "u subsection 7c77#a77;,i7 & ins]t+ by ! ,special ,c\nsel2 & 7,b7 by ins]t+ n lat] ?an #fj days aft] su* date be=e ! ,secret>y %all2 & 7#c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3 7#c7 ,n lat] ?an ,june #cj1 #bjbc1 & semiannually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a report on settlem5ts describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,i7 ( subsection 7c71 includ+1 ) respect to ! p]iod cov]$ by ! report-- 7,a7 ! numb] ( settlem5ts "u negotiation or execut$1 & ! numb] ( execut$ settlem5ts t h n be5 fully implem5t$2 7,b7 ! explanation z to :y any su* execut$ settlem5t has n be5 fully implem5t$2 7,c7 a description ( ! metrics describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#d77;,a7 ( su* subsection2 & 7,d7 id5tification ( settlem5t agreem5ts t are n meet+ su* metrics & /&>ds1 or = :i* ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y is aw>e ( a det]m9ation t a brea* ( agreem5t has be5 f\nd4 4 ,pass$ ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives ,septemb] #bi1 #bjbb4;,cl]k4