McCain Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Enhance Accountability & Protect Whistleblowers at VA

Press Release

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today applauded the Senate's unanimous passage of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, bipartisan legislation he cosponsored that would reform the VA by allowing the VA Secretary to dismiss bad employees, and ensure appropriate due process protections for whistleblowers. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and 27 other senators also cosponsored the bill. The legislation now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Specifically, this legislation would provide the VA Secretary the authority to discipline employees at all levels, and hold them accountable for their wrongdoing. It would also protect whistleblowers from retaliation and reprisal, require training of all VA employees about whistleblower protections, streamline the authority for the VA Secretary to rescind bonuses and relocation expense reimbursement when necessary, and allow reductions to certain retirement pensions upon conviction for misconduct.

"This legislation is an important step forward in correcting the archaic and broken civil service system that has prevented the VA Secretary from removing bad actors, including those responsible for the scandal in care in Phoenix and around the country," said Senator McCain. "This legislation provides the VA Secretary the authority needed to hold employees accountable for their wrongdoing, and strengthens protections for whistleblowers who are committed to the health and wellbeing of veterans. Our veterans deserve a VA they can have trust in, and these commonsense reforms are key to restoring that confidence. I urge the House of Representatives to quickly take-up and pass this much-needed measure for our veterans."

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