Rep. Calvert Votes to Protect Veterans, Hold Government Employees Accountable

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a bipartisan majority (368-55) of the House of Representatives to approve a bill that will protect veterans by implementing new accountability measures for employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The measure, S. 1094, The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act makes it easier to fire VA employees who fail to live to the standards required of those who care for our nation's veterans. The legislation was previously approved by the Senate and now heads to the White House for the President's signature.

"Fulfilling our promise to care for America's veterans is one of my highest priorities in Congress," said Rep. Calvert. "In far too many instances the VA has failed to uphold the standards of care and treatment that our veterans deserve. While there are many, many hard working and dedicated individuals at the VA, those who have fallen short must go – period. With the passage of this bill we take an important step towards ending a culture within the VA bureaucracy that is more committed to protecting itself than protecting the welfare of our veterans."

The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 would create a new streamlined and efficient process to remove, demote or suspend any VA employee for poor performance or misconduct with a concrete shortened timeline, while still protecting employees' due process rights. It would also provide expanded protections for whistleblowers who highlight VA employee misconduct and would specifically bar VA from using this removal authority if the employee has an open whistleblower complaint/case with the Office of Special Counsel.

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