,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #eicb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,novemb] #g1 #bjbe,mr4
 ,biggs ( ,arizona introduc$ ! foll[+   
bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on   
,vet]ans' ,affairs1 & 9 addition to !   
,committees on ! ,judici>y1 & ,ov]sight 
& ,gov]nm5t ,re=m1 = a p]iod to be      
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to enhance employee
 acc\ntability1 prev5t fraud1 /r5g!n    
:i/lebl[] protections1 & mod]nize       
disability rat+ processes 9 ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  #a4 ,%ort title   
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,claims       
,legitimacy & ,evaluation ,acc\ntability
 ,nationwide = ,,va ,act or ! ,,clean   
,,va ,act4  #b4 ,exp$it$ proc$ures =    
employee acc\ntability actions  7a7     
,modification ( discipl9>y proc$ures =  
dep>tm5t ( vet]ans affairs employees    
,section #gad ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection    

7a7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by ins]t+ by
 sub/antial evid5ce aft] ! ,secret>y    
det]m9es2 &  7,b7 by add+ at ! end !    
foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#c7 7,a7 ,:5 mak+
 an initial decision "u ?is subsection )
 respect to det]m9+ :e!r a cov]$        
individual %\ld be remov$1 demot$1 or   
susp5d$1 ! decid+ employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 %all exclusively apply ! foll[+        
factors3 7i7 ,! nature & s]i\sness ( !  
(f5se1 & its relation to ! cov]$        
individual's duties1 position1 &        
responsibilities1 includ+ :e!r ! (f5se 0
 int5tional or te*nical or inadv]t5t1 or
 0 committ$ malici\sly or = ga91 or 0   
frequ5tly repeat$4  7ii7 ,! cov]$       
individual's job level & type (         
employm5t1 includ+ sup]visory or        
fiduci>y role1 & prom95ce ( ! position4 
7iii7 ,! cov]$ individual's pa/         
discipl9>y record4  7iv7 ,! cov]$       
individual's pa/ "w record1 includ+ l5g?
 ( s]vice1 p]=mance on ! job1 ability to
 get along ) fell[ work]s1 &            
dep5dability4  7v7 ,mitigat+            

circum/ances surr\nd+ ! (f5se su* z     
unusual job t5sions1 p]sonality         
problems1 m5tal impairm5t1 h>assm5t1 or 
bad fai?1 malice1 or provocation on ! "p
 ( o!rs involv$ 9 ! matt]4  7,b7 ,!     
,secret>y %all review ! initial decision
 & uphold su* decision if x is support$ 
by sub/antial evid5ce4  2  7#b7 9       
subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ p>agraph 
7#a77;,d72 &  7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#c71 by  
ins]t+ be=e ! p]iod ! foll[+3 1 & !     
,secret>y may c>ry out su* a removal1   
demotion1 or susp5sion )\t fir/ plac+ a 
cov]$ individual on a p]=mance          
improvem5t plan2  7#c7 9 subsection     
7d7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#b71 by add+ at !
 end ! foll[+ new subp>agraph3  7,c7    
,except to ! ext5t t an appeal "u ?is   
subsection pres5ts a con/itutional      
issue1 ! adm9i/rative judge may n review
 a *all5ge to ! p5alty impos$ aga9/ !   
cov]$ individual4  2  7,b7 9 p>agraph   
7#c71 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
subp>agraph3  7,d7 ,except to ! ext5t t 
an appeal "u ?is subsection pres5ts a   

con/itutional issue1 ! ,m]it ,sy/ems    
,protection ,bo>d may n review a *all5ge
 to ! p5alty impos$ aga9/ ! cov]$       
individual4  2  7,c7 9 p>agraph 7#e71 by
 add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new subp>agraph3
  7,c7 ,except to ! ext5t t an appeal "u
 ?is subsection pres5ts a con/itutional 
issue1 su* ,c\rt may n review a *all5ge 
to ! p5alty impos$ aga9/ ! cov]$        
individual or mitigate su* p5alty4  2 & 
7,d7 by /rik+ p>agraph 7#aj72 &  7#d7 by
 r$esignat+ subsection 7h7 z subsection 
7j74  7b7 ,tim+ ( discipl9>y actions    
,section #gad ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 is fur!r am5d$ by ins]t+ aft]   
subsection 7a7 7z am5d$ by subsection   
7a7 ( ?is section7 ! foll[+ new         
subsection3  7b7 ,tim+  7#a7 ,!         
aggregate p]iod = notice1 response1 &   
f9al decision by ! ,secret>y ( an action
 "u ?is section may n exce$ #ae bus9ess 
days4  7#b7 ,! p]iod = ! response ( a   
cov]$ individual to a notice "u         
subsection 7a77#b77;,a7 %all be #g      
bus9ess days4  7#c7 ,! f9al decision by 

! ,secret>y "u subsection 7a77#a77;,b7  
%all-- 7,a7 be issu$ n lat] ?an #ae     
bus9ess days aft] notice is provid$ "u  
subsection 7a77#b77;,a72 &  7,b7 be 9   
writ+ & %all include ! specific reasons 
= ! decision4  4  #c4 ,enhanc$ p5alties 
= ,,va employee fraud & misconduct2     
:i/lebl[] protections & inc5tives  7a7  
,enhanc$ p5alties = fraud & misconduct  
7#a7 ,public money1 prop]ty1 or records 
,section #fda ( title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !     
foll[+3 ,if ! (f5se "u ?is section is   
committ$ by an employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs1 act+ 9 an (ficial    
capacity or us+ access to vet]ans'      
records or b5efits sy/ems1 ! t]m (      
imprisonm5t %all be n m ?an #ae ye>s1 & 
any f9e impos$ %all be n m ?an #ejj1jjj4
 ,! c\rt %all ord] m&atory re/itution to
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs or !   
,unit$ ,/ates ,treasury = any loss      
su/a9$44  7#b7 ,false /atem5ts ,section 
#ajja ( title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 ,if 

! (f5se involves ! falsification or     
concealm5t ( mat]ial facts relat$ to a  
claim = vet]ans' b5efits or ! p]=mance (
 duties by a ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs employee1 ! t]m ( imprisonm5t  
%all be n m ?an #aj ye>s1 & any f9e     
impos$ %all be n m ?an #bej1jjj44  7#c7 
,brib]y ( public (ficials & witnesses   
,section #bja ( title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !     
foll[+3 ,if ! public (ficial is employ$ 
by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & ! 
bribe or gratuity relates to ! process+ 
or aw>d+ ( vet]ans' b5efits or          
contracts1 ! maximum f9e %all be twice !
 am\nt ( ! bribe or ?+ ( value receiv$1 
& ! t]m ( imprisonm5t %all be n m ?an   
#bj ye>s44  7#d7 ,false /atem5ts or     
fraud to obta9 ,f$]al employees'        
comp5sation ,section #aibj ( title #ah1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+3 ,if a p]son convict$ "u
 ?is section is an employee ( !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & !       
fraudul5t conduct relates to vet]ans'   

disability1 comp5sation1 or employm5t   
b5efits1 su* p]son %all be f9$ n m ?an  
#bej1jjj1 imprison$ n m ?an #aj ye>s1 & 
%all =feit any ,f$]al p5sion or annuity 
b5efits pursuant to section #hcab (     
title #e44  7#e7 ,=feiture ( ,f$]al     
p5sion & annuity b5efits ,section #hcab 
( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is     
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
subsection3  7e7 ,an individual convict$
 ( an (f5se "u section #fda1 #ajja1     
#bja1 or #aibj ( title #ah1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 z am5d$ by ! ,claims      
,legitimacy & ,evaluation ,acc\ntability
 ,nationwide = ,,va ,act1 if su*        
individual is an employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs & ! (f5se relates to
 _! duties1 %all =feit any entitlem5t to
 annuity or retir$ pay "u ?is *apt] or  
*apt] #hd ( ?is title4  4  7b7          
,:i/lebl[] protections & inc5tives  7#a7
 ,exp$it$ retaliation inve/igations     
,section #bcjc ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !     
foll[+ new subsection3  7e7 ,9 ! case ( 

a retaliation claim involv+ an employee 
( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 !    
,(fice ( ,acc\ntability & ,:i/lebl[]    
,protection %all complete inve/igations 
)9 #fj days ( fil+4 ,! ,(fice %all      
provide writt5 ju/ification to ,congress
 = any delay beyond #fj days & %all     
ensure int]im protections aga9/         
reassignm5t or adv]se p]sonnel actions  
:ile claims are p5d+4  4  7#b7          
,transp>5cy & ov]sight ( settlem5ts ,!  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
report annually to ! ,inspector ,g5]al (
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & !    
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,s5ate & ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives on !   
numb] ( :i/lebl[] retaliation claims    
fil$1 inve/igat$1 & settl$2 ! total     
settlem5t am\nts2 & :e!r settlem5t      
obligations 7 fulfill$4 ,! ,secret>y    
%all publi% an anonymiz$ summ>y ( ?is   
report on ! ,dep>tm5t's website4  7#c7  
,inc5tive aw>ds = valid disclosures ,!  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs is        
au?oriz$ to provide monet>y aw>ds up to 

#aj1jjj = sub/antiat$ int]nal           
disclosures t prev5t or uncov]          
significant fraud1 wa/e1 or abuse valu$ 
ov] #ajj1jjj4 ,su* aw>ds %all be fund$ f
 recov]$ am\nts :5 practicable & %all n 
be consid]$ comp5sation = p5sion or     
b5efit purposes4  7#d7 ,indep5d5t review
 & report+ ,! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates %all review !             
implem5tation ( ! provisions ( ?is      
subsection )9 #b ye>s ( ! date (        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act & submit a report to
 ,congress on ! timel9ess (             
inve/igations1 settlem5t compliance1 &  
effectiv5ess ( inc5tive provisions4  #d4
 ,review ( ! ,,va disability rat+ s*$ule
  7a7 ,compreh5sive review ,! ,secret>y 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all conduct a      
compreh5sive review ( ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs s*$ule = rat+         
disabilities to-- 7#a7 id5tify          
vuln]abilities to fraudul5t1 exagg]at$1 
or duplicative claims2  7#b7 assess :e!r
 exi/+ rat+ crit]ia accurately reflect  
curr5t m$ical /&>ds & functional        

impairm5t measures2 &  7#c7 recomm5d    
updates to ensure consi/5cy1 integrity1 
& fairness 9 disability det]m9ations4   
7b7 ,integration ( artificial           
intellig5ce & data analytics tools  7#a7
 ,! ,secret>y %all1 9 consultation ) !  
,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs & ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 develop & implem5t a
 program utiliz+ data analytics &       
artificial intellig5ce sy/ems to        
proactively id5tify irregul>ities or    
high-risk indicators )9 disability      
claims4  7#b7 ,su* sy/ems %all be       
model$1 to ! ext5t practicable1 aft] !  
,wa/e1 ,fraud1 & ,abuse ,id5tification &
 ,report+ sy/em utiliz$ by ! ,c5t]s =   
,m$ic>e  ,m$icaid ,s]vices4  7#c7 ,all  
f9d+s g5]at$ ?r\gh automat$ or          
algori?mic processes %all be subject to 
human review & validation be=e any      
adm9i/rative or discipl9>y action may be
 tak54  7#d7 ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t 
! use ( su* sy/ems respects all due     
process protections & privacy safegu>ds 

af=d$ to claimants "u ,f$]al law4  7c7  
,coord9ation & ov]sight ,! ,secret>y    
%all coord9ate ) ! ,(fice ( ,inspector  
,g5]al & ! ,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability     
,(fice to-- 7#a7 evaluate ! effectiv5ess
 ( ! tools describ$ 9 subsection 7b72   
7#b7 id5tify risks ( ov]-flagg+ or      
"u-detection ( improp] claims2 &  7#c7  
recomm5d be/ practices to ensure balanc$
 ov]sight & prev5tion ( misuse4  7d7    
,report+ requirem5t ,n lat] t #ahj days 
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !    
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees  
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs & ,ov]sight &     
,acc\ntability ( ! ,h\se (              
,repres5tatives & ! ,committees on      
,vet]ans' ,affairs & ,homel& ,security &
 ,gov]nm5tal ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate a      
report detail+-- 7#a7 ! results ( !     
review conduct$ "u subsection 7a72  7#b7
 vuln]abilities id5tifi$ & corrective   
measures propos$2  7#c7 ! /atus ( data  
analytics & artificial intellig5ce      
integration "u subsection 7b72 &  7#d7  
recomm5dations = fur!r mod]nization ( ! 

disability rat+ process4  #e4 ,m&atory  
e?ics & fraud prev5tion tra9+  7a7      
,requirem5t = annual tra9+ ,sub*apt]    
,,ii ( *apt] #gg ( title #ch1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new section3  #ggce4 ,m&atory  
e?ics & fraud prev5tion tra9+  7a7      
,requirem5t ,! ,secret>y %all require   
all employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t to complete 
annual tra9+ on e?ics1 fraud prev5tion1 
& compliance ) applicable laws &        
regulations4  7b7 ,ov]sight ,!          
,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t %all    
ov]see compliance ) ! tra9+ requirem5t  
"u subsection 7a7 & submit an annual    
report to ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ,h\se (           
,repres5tatives on tra9+ completion     
rates & any id5tifi$ defici5cies4  4    
7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( sections
 at ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #gg ( title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ 
aft] ! item relat+ to section #ggcd !   
foll[+ new item3  #ggce4 ,m&atory e?ics 
& fraud prev5tion tra9+4  4  #f4 ,review

 ( ! ,,va disability rat+ s*$ule  7a7   
,compreh5sive review ,! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs %all conduct a        
compreh5sive review ( ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs ,s*$ule = ,rat+       
,disabilities to-- 7#a7 id5tify         
vuln]abilities to fraudul5t1 exagg]at$1 
or duplicative claims2  7#b7 assess :e!r
 exi/+ rat+ crit]ia accurately reflect  
curr5t m$ical /&>ds & functional        
impairm5t measures2 &  7#c7 recomm5d    
updates to ensure consi/5cy1 integrity1 
& fairness 9 disability det]m9ations4   
7b7 ,integration ( artificial           
intellig5ce & data analytics tools  7#a7
 ,! ,secret>y %all1 9 consultation ) !  
,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs & ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 develop & implem5t a
 program utiliz+ data analytics &       
artificial intellig5ce sy/ems to        
proactively id5tify irregul>ities or    
high-risk indicators )9 disability      
claims4  7#b7 ,su* sy/ems %all be       
model$1 to ! ext5t practicable1 aft] !  

,wa/e1 ,fraud1 & ,abuse ,id5tification &
 ,report+ sy/em utiliz$ by ! ,c5t]s =   
,m$ic>e  ,m$icaid ,s]vices4  7#c7 ,all  
f9d+s g5]at$ ?r\gh automat$ or          
algori?mic processes %all be subject to 
human review & validation be=e any      
adm9i/rative or discipl9>y action may be
 tak54  7#d7 ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t 
! use ( su* sy/ems respects all due     
process protections & privacy safegu>ds 
af=d$ to claimants "u ,f$]al law4  7c7  
,coord9ation & ov]sight ,! ,secret>y    
%all coord9ate ) ! ,(fice ( ,inspector  
,g5]al & ! ,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability     
,(fice to-- 7#a7 evaluate ! effectiv5ess
 ( ! tools describ$ 9 subsection 7b72   
7#b7 id5tify risks ( ov]-flagg+ or      
"u-detection ( improp] claims2 &  7#c7  
recomm5d be/ practices to ensure balanc$
 ov]sight & prev5tion ( misuse4  7d7    
,report+ requirem5t ,n lat] ?an #ahj    
days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 
! ,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees
 on ,vet]ans' ,affairs & ,ov]sight &    
,acc\ntability ( ! ,h\se (              

,repres5tatives & ! ,committees on      
,vet]ans' ,affairs & ,homel& ,security &
 ,gov]nm5tal ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate a      
report detail+-- 7#a7 ! results ( !     
review conduct$ "u subsection 7a72  7#b7
 vuln]abilities id5tifi$ & corrective   
measures propos$2  7#c7 ! /atus ( data  
analytics & artificial intellig5ce      
integration "u subsection 7b72 &  7#d7  
recomm5dations = fur!r mod]nization ( ! 
disability rat+ process4