summary
Introduced
11/17/2015
11/17/2015
In Committee
11/17/2015
11/17/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
VA Patient Protection Act of 2015 This bill establishes an additional method for filing whistle blower complaints in which a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee may file such complaints with his or her immediate and next-level supervisors, and ultimately with the VA after having properly filed a complaint at each supervisory level. If a supervisor makes a positive determination regarding such complaint the VA shall: (1) inform the employee of the ability to volunteer for a transfer, and (2) give preference to such transfer. The VA may not exempt any employee from such whistle blower coverage. The central whistle blower office shall be responsible for investigating all VA whistle blower complaints, regardless of whether such complaints are made by or against an employee who is not a Senior Executive Service member. The VA shall carry out specified adverse actions against a supervisor who commits a prohibited personnel action relating to a whistle blower complaint. A supervisor who commits a prohibited personnel action shall not be paid any award or bonus for a one-year period, and any award or bonus paid during that period shall be recouped. VA employees shall receive annual whistle blower complaint training. Congressional testimony by a VA employee in his or her official capacity shall be considered official duty, and the VA shall provide any such employee with travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, during the period when the employee is so testifying.
AI Summary
This bill, the VA Patient Protection Act of 2015, establishes a new process for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees to report wrongdoing, known as whistleblower complaints, by allowing them to file with their immediate and next-level supervisors before escalating to the VA. If a supervisor finds a complaint has merit, the VA must inform the employee about their option to volunteer for a transfer and give them preference for it, and no employee can be exempted from whistleblower protections. The bill also mandates that a central VA office will investigate all whistleblower complaints, regardless of the employee's rank, and outlines penalties for supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers, including a one-year ban on awards or bonuses and recoupment of any bonuses already paid. Furthermore, VA employees will receive annual training on whistleblower complaints, and any testimony given by a VA employee to Congress in their official capacity will be considered official duty, with the VA covering their travel expenses.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (13)
Mark Kirk (R)*,
Tammy Baldwin (D),
Michael Bennet (D),
Richard Blumenthal (D),
Joe Donnelly (D),
Kirsten Gillibrand (D),
Chuck Grassley (R),
Dean Heller (R),
Ron Johnson (R),
Jerry Moran (R),
Chris Murphy (D),
Marco Rubio (R),
Pat Toomey (R),
Last Action
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. (on 11/18/2015)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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