Jen Kiggans Was A Co-Sponsor Of Restore Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability Act Of 2023 Which Could “Jeopardize The Quality Of Care Provided To Our Nation’s Heroes And Undermine The Rights And Job Security Of Dedicated VA Workers”
Kiggans Was A Co-Sponsor Of Legislation That Would Give Veterans Affairs More Authority To Fire People
Kiggans Was A Co-Sponsor Of The Restore VA Accountability Act Of 2023. According to Congress.gov, Kiggans was a Co-Sponsor of the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2023. [Congress.gov, HR 4278, Introduced, last action 7/26/23]
The Restore Accountability Act Of 2023 Would Give Veterans Affairs The Authority It Needs To Quickly Remove, Demote, And Suspend Employees Who Are A Disservice To Veterans. “The Restore Accountability Act of 2023 would (a) plug holes that courts have punctured in the 2017 Accountability Act by restoring Congresses intent to give VA the authority it needs to quickly remove, demote, and suspend employees who are a disservice to veterans; and (b) strengthen the authorities VA has to discipline unsatisfactory VA middle managers: aligning its middle manager disciplinary process with the process currently in place for members of the Senior Executive Service. The Restore Accountability Act of 2023 will ultimately help VA remove the small percentage of employees who are hurting veterans in weeks or months, rather than years.” [House Committee on Veteran Affairs, One Pager, accessed 11/2/23]
Officials At Veterans Affairs Said, “They Do Not Support The Restore VA Accountability Act” Saying It “Would Make It Harder To Hire And Retain Workers”
Officials At Veterans Affairs Said, “They Do Not Support The Restore VA Accountability Act.” “At a recent hearing before a House Veterans Affairs Committee panel, VA officials said they do not support the Restore VA Accountability Act (H.R. 4278), saying it would create uncertainty and end up gutted by legal challenges like its two predecessor laws, the 2017 VA Accountability Act and Whistleblower Protection Act and the 2014 Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act.” [FEDManager, Newsletter, 7/18/23]
Officials At Veterans Affairs Were Concerned The Legislation Would Be “Subject Of Extensive Litigation And Constitutional Challenges, Creating Uncertainty And Potentially Leading To A Continued Pattern Of Overturned Disciplinary Actions.” “VA Chief Security Officer Lewis Ratchford told the panel he is ‘concerned this language will continue to be the subject of extensive litigation and constitutional challenges, creating uncertainty and potentially leading to a continued pattern of overturned disciplinary actions.’ […] The VA’s director for human capital programs Rondy Waye, told representatives that the VA’s disciplinary process is working, saying the VA has taken over 39,000 disciplinary actions against employees since fiscal year 2016, averaging 5,000 a year, and doesn’t need additional authority to continue doing so. Director Waye said delays in removing employees were part of the fundamental appeals process and were not due to lack of authority. In addition, he slammed the proposed legislation saying it would make it harder to hire and retain workers, particularly lower-ranking, hourly employees.” [FEDManager, Newsletter, 7/18/23]
Officials At Veterans Affairs Were Concerned The Legislation “Would Make It Harder To Hire And Retain Workers.” “VA Chief Security Officer Lewis Ratchford told the panel he is ‘concerned this language will continue to be the subject of extensive litigation and constitutional challenges, creating uncertainty and potentially leading to a continued pattern of overturned disciplinary actions.’ […] The VA’s director for human capital programs Rondy Waye, told representatives that the VA’s disciplinary process is working, saying the VA has taken over 39,000 disciplinary actions against employees since fiscal year 2016, averaging 5,000 a year, and doesn’t need additional authority to continue doing so. Director Waye said delays in removing employees were part of the fundamental appeals process and were not due to lack of authority. In addition, he slammed the proposed legislation saying it would make it harder to hire and retain workers, particularly lower-ranking, hourly employees.” [FEDManager, Newsletter, 7/18/23]
Kiggans Was A Cosponsor Of Restore Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability Act Of 2023 Which Could, “Jeopardize The Quality Of Care Provided To Our Nation’s Heroes And Undermine The Rights And Job Security Of Dedicated VA Workers”
Virginian Pilot: Opinion: Kiggans Was A Cosponsor Of Restore Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability Act Of 2023 Which Could, “Jeopardize The Quality Of Care Provided To Our Nation’s Heroes And Undermine The Rights And Job Security Of Dedicated VA Workers.” “Veterans all over the nation are at risk of seeing a significant decline in the quality of care they receive at VA hospitals due to a group of conservative politicians attempting to revive the failed 2017 Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act in the United States Congress. The latest version, the Restore Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability Act of 2023, claims to address the original’s flaws, which was signed into law in June 2017. However, a closer look reveals that it actually aims to jeopardize the quality of care provided to our nation’s heroes and undermine the rights and job security of dedicated VA workers such as myself. […] Like its predecessor, the 2023 VA Accountability Act threatens civil servants at the VA who have tirelessly served those who have sacrificed for our country. Regrettably, U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia’s 2nd District has chosen to lend her support as a co-sponsor to this disastrous legislation. Every one of us should be outraged.” [The Virginian Pilot, Opinion, 7/29/23]