Bill > HR8860

This bill, the Strengthening VA Whistleblower Protection Act of 2020, aims to make improvements to the laws relating to whistleblower protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The key provisions of the bill include: 1) Establishing an Office of General Counsel for the VA's Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection that is independent from the VA's main Office of the General Counsel; 2) Requiring the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to provide technical assistance and guidance to whistleblowers, including obtaining necessary evidence and providing alternative dispute resolution options; and 3) Expanding whistleblower protections, such as prohibiting certain personnel actions against whistleblowers and allowing the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to issue binding decisions for temporary relief in cases of retaliation. The bill also requires the Assistant Secretary to issue regulations to carry out these changes within one year.