HR 1259 115th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Administrative remedies Congressional oversight Department of Veterans Affairs Employee performance Employment discrimination and employee rights Federal officials Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Government studies and investigations Health facilities and institutions Health personnel Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Transportation costs Veterans' medical care

VA Accountability First Act of 2017

Introduced: February 28, 2017 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 29 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Mar 21, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mar 16, 2017

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Mar 16, 2017

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 237 - 178 (Roll no. 168).

Mar 16, 2017

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 229 (Roll no. 167).

Mar 16, 2017

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

Mar 16, 2017

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add language to the bill further defining protections to whistleblowers who file complaints.

Mar 16, 2017

Mr. Kihuen moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR H2133)

Mar 16, 2017

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2122-2125)

Mar 16, 2017

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

Mar 16, 2017

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1259.

Mar 16, 2017

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of amendments, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

Mar 16, 2017

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Takano Part A amendment No. 9, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Takano demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

Mar 16, 2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Takano Part A amendment No. 9.

Mar 16, 2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kuster(NH) Part A amendment No. 8.

Mar 16, 2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tenney Part A amendment No. 7.

Mar 16, 2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Taylor Part A amendment No. 6.

Mar 16, 2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kuster(NH) Part A amendment No. 4.

Mar 16, 2017

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Walz Part A amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Walz demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

Mar 16, 2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walz Part A amendment No. 2.

Mar 16, 2017

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 198, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Roe (TN) Part A amendment No. 1.

Mar 16, 2017

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1259.

Mar 16, 2017

The Speaker designated the Honorable Harold Rogers to act as Chairman of the Committee.

Mar 16, 2017

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 198 and Rule XVIII.

Mar 16, 2017

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 198. (consideration: CR H2114-2135)

Mar 10, 2017

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 16.

Mar 10, 2017

Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.

Mar 10, 2017

Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-34, Part I.

Feb 28, 2017

Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Feb 28, 2017

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 2

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Mar 16, 2017	House · vote #168	On Passage	Passed	237–178	See who voted →
Mar 16, 2017	House · vote #167	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions	Failed	189–229	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 7

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

5 agreed to 2 failed

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
HAMDT 87	Takano, Mark	Amendment sought to provide for the suspension and removal of VA employees for performance or misconduct that…	Failed	Mar 16, 2017
HAMDT 86	—	An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 115-39 to require VA supervisors to develop performance plans…	Agreed to	Mar 16, 2017
HAMDT 85	Tenney, Claudia	An amendment numbered 7 printed in Part A of House Report 115-39 to require that bonuses awarded to senior-le…	Agreed to	Mar 16, 2017
HAMDT 84	—	An amendment numbered 6 printed in Part A of House Report 115-39 to require the Veterans Administration to pr…	Agreed to	Mar 16, 2017
HAMDT 83	—	An amendment numbered 4 printed in Part A of House Report 115-39 to include as prohibited personnel practices…	Agreed to	Mar 16, 2017
HAMDT 82	—	Amendment sought to grant the VA Secretary improved authorities to hold VA senior executives and employees ac…	Failed	Mar 16, 2017
HAMDT 81	—	An amendment numbered 1 printed in Part A of House Report 115-39 to insert "to or" after the word "paid" on p…	Agreed to	Mar 16, 2017

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

VA Accountability First Act of 2017

(Sec. 3) This bill revises the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove, demote by a reduction in grade and pay, or suspend a VA employee, including a member in a senior executive position, for reasons of performance or misconduct.

A demoted individual shall not be placed on administrative leave during the appeals period and may receive pay only if he or she reports for duty or is approved to use certain accrued unused leave.

An expedited appeals process is established for such VA decisions, including the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

The VA may not remove, demote, or suspend an employee: (1) without the approval of the Special Counsel if the individual seeks corrective action from the Office of Special Counsel based on an alleged prohibited personnel practice, and (2) until a final decision in the case of a whistle-blower complaint.

Whistle-blower protections are revised, including to prohibit the VA from taking any such action against a person who has a pending whistle-blower complaint.

(Sec. 4) The VA shall reduce the federal annuity of an individual removed from the VA Senior Executive Service (SES) who is convicted of a felony that influenced his or her performance while employed in such position.

The VA may: (1) reduce the federal annuity of an individual who was convicted of such a felony and was subject to removal or transfer from the SES but who left the VA before final action was taken; and (2) recoup an award, a bonus, or relocation expenses paid to a VA employee under specified circumstances.

(Sec. 8) The VA may directly appoint qualifying individuals to the positions of Medical Center Director and Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network.

(Sec. 9) The bill revises time periods for adverse action reviews with respect to physicians, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants, and expanded-function dental auxiliaries.

(Sec. 10) The VA shall report to Congress annually on performance awards and bonuses awarded to certain high-level employees.

(Sec. 11) The VA shall: (1) ensure that supervisors are evaluated on actions taken to improve employee performance, and (2) provide supervisors with training on whistle-blower protections.

What's happening now March 21, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Related & companion bills 4

Bill text 4 versions

Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 3

Oversight and Government Reform Committee
House of Representatives
Veterans' Affairs Committee
House of Representatives
Veterans' Affairs Committee
Senate

Cosponsors 14

Cole, Tom

Oklahoma · Mar 9, 2017

Dunn, Neal P.

Florida · Mar 9, 2017

Louisiana · Mar 2, 2017

Arrington, Jodey C.

Texas · Feb 28, 2017

Banks, Jim

Indiana · Feb 28, 2017

Bergman, Jack

Michigan · Feb 28, 2017

Bilirakis, Gus M.

Florida · Feb 28, 2017

Bost, Mike

Illinois · Feb 28, 2017

Poliquin, Bruce

· Feb 28, 2017

Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman

American Samoa · Feb 28, 2017

Cite this page click to expand

APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1259: VA Accountability First Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1259/

MLA

"H.R. 1259: VA Accountability First Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1259/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.R. 1259, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1259/.

Markdown link

[H.R. 1259: VA Accountability First Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1259/)