U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, applauded the bipartisan committee passage of his Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act that would improve accountability at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
 
The measure, which passed the committee by voice vote, would reform the VA by allowing the secretary to dismiss bad employees and ensure appropriate due process protections for whistleblowers. Following today’s committee approval, the legislation now moves to the full Senate for a vote on final passage.
 
“This legislation will give Secretary Shulkin the tools he needs to hold bad actors at the VA accountable and protect whistleblowers from the threat of retaliation,” said Isakson. “Today’s bipartisan committee vote to advance this critical legislation will help change the culture and improve accountability at the VA. I urge the Senate to follow suit and take up this bipartisan legislation without delay.”
 
The legislation also includes a number of other provisions to hold employees accountable, including:

· Requires the VA to evaluate supervisors based on the protection of whistleblowers;

· Incentivizes managers to address poor performance and misconduct among employees by requiring the VA secretary to include this as part of the annual performance plan;

· Prohibits bonuses for employees who have been found guilty of wrongdoing; and

· Prohibits relocation expenses to employees who abuse the system.
 
Isakson introduced the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act on May 11 with U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Additional cosponsors include U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., John Boozman, R-Ark., Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., John Kennedy, R-La., John McCain, R-Ariz., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., David Perdue, R-Ga., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss.
 
The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act is widely supported by key veterans stakeholders including the VA and U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee leadership. This legislation has also won the support of several veterans advocacy groups that represent millions of veterans in the United States and key government accountability groups.