118 S2679 IS: Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development Act of 2023
U.S. Senate
2023-07-27
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development Act of 2023
or the LEAD Act of 2023
. (b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—Accountability and adverse actions
Sec. 101. Establishment of system and standards for accountability and adverse actions.
Sec. 102. Establishment of Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management in Veterans Health Administration.
Sec. 103. Department of Veterans Affairs accountability, management, and leadership survey.
Sec. 104. Establishment of administrative investigation board and other accountability actions database.
Sec. 105. Report on accountability actions of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 106. Report on views of Secretary of Veterans Affairs on need for additional legislative action to improve accountability, due process, and whistleblower protection at Department of Veterans Affairs.
TITLE II—Oversight of health care
Sec. 201. Oversight visit requirements for medical facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 202. Establishment of Office of the Medical Inspector of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 203. Inclusion of officials within Office of the Under Secretary for Health.
Sec. 204. Mobile temporary health staffing program to ensure access and continuity of care.
TITLE III—Whistleblower protections and employee accountability
Sec. 301. Strengthening whistleblower protections at Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 302. Report on implementation of provisions of law relating to accountability and whistleblower protections at Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 303. Peer review of investigations by Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 304. Reports on improvements to adherence to recommendations of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.
Sec. 305. Report on Department of Veterans Affairs actions in response to preliminary observations in Comptroller General of the United States report on Department whistleblower retaliation.
Sec. 306. Modification to responsibilities and authorities of Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.
TITLE IV—Improving security, oversight, accountability, and management of Department of Veterans Affairs
Sec. 401. Plan to consolidate and centralize security operations of Department of Veterans Affairs to improve management, clarify accountability, and strengthen effectiveness.
Sec. 402. Report on enterprise risk management efforts of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 403. Modification of reporting requirement for Secretary of Veterans Affairs annual report on implementation of recommendations of Comptroller General of the United States pertaining to Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 404. Annual Hatch Act training program at Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 405. Independent study regarding management structures of Department of Veterans Affairs.
<enum>I</enum><header>Accountability and adverse actions</header>
<section id="id4e008201099d4ad29e84b7ce4f263cf9"><enum>101.</enum><header>Establishment of system and standards for accountability and adverse actions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9238f789b4ba48878f59b73d9a551152"> <section id="id2820a28401c54c929454be0f8470eef3"><enum>729.</enum><header>Accountability and adverse action system and standards</header> <subsection id="id02edf7b73e2d423fb15e77da0215890c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>System and standards</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development Act of 2023</short-title>, the Secretary shall establish a system and standards for accountability and adverse action preparation and proposal (hereafter referred to as <quote>standards</quote>).</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id11d50ac28cb543c090d93f882b1830bc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—</text> <paragraph id="idfff8eb4036244a94bca50019f51b110a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>determine distinct steps and processes whereby any adverse action is investigated, prepared, and proposed for an employee of the Department;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id0a944c56d0e44999a0c68659fc6feefd"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develop and distribute training on the processes determined pursuant to paragraph (1), which shall be a required annual training across the enterprise and may differ for each employee based on the seniority, role, and Administration within the Department of the employee;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idea0f5dc2cf754026934da18a500804de"><enum>(3)</enum><text>collect and distribute best practices and resources on accountability reporting and investigations, preparation, and proposal of adverse actions for human resources offices of the Department, the Office of General Counsel, and heads of facilities and offices of the Department, including relevant regional offices, to distribute to their relevant staff across the enterprise; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id960c2a86219548dca28c6094cffe7662"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">monitor the implementation of the standards at facilities of the Department, including monitoring—</text> <subparagraph id="id19fb79eb7624468fb757446b49e22656"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of adverse actions issued versus number overturned in the three fiscal years prior;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id7f681641ff274c03bce62630f654627a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>metrics for the time taken from allegation of improper conduct or performance raised to an official proposal being issued;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ida5dbfe0574704f2a94b7a718ed7c8c60"><enum>(C)</enum><text>quality, frequency, and comprehension of training, information, and education provided to employees regarding accountability and adverse actions;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id5b96acefb1174c26bbe6f8a2338e48ea"><enum>(D)</enum><text>percentage of staff that completed the training developed and distributed pursuant to paragraph (2) over the past three fiscal years;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id5d3579f20dea4bf1ad43383e5b4f3926"><enum>(E)</enum><text>number of external and internal investigations that resulted in at least one substantiated claim of a prohibited personnel action set forth under section 731(c) of this title; </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idb38211a981ff4e3baeec759835824e79"><enum>(F)</enum><text>responses to relevant surveys conducted by the Department, including those established by section 103 of the <short-title>LEAD Act of 2023</short-title>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ida9a56cb10f5d42f1bf89d903276dec6b"><enum>(G)</enum><text>grievances filed by labor organizations relative to the number of collective bargaining unit employees and whether or not they were adjudicated in favor of the labor organization; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="iddffaea01fda6443fa6c0ecf5fa941245"><enum>(H)</enum><text>such other factors as the Secretary considers appropriate to monitor the accountability and due process culture of facilities, offices, Administrations, and other relevant elements of the Department; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id1cfe3214f988482b8c81f49b5e1be62f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id58433c95a2cd452e9975b694db688fc7"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Representatives of labor organizations.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id957dd1eb5b6246efbe0c7d5ab54e98ee"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Inspector General of the Department.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6975e0aef0f04a7dafb5dff8118aca93"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb260414340045cfa2dbaac0bcca31f9"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id78e0c10ce48a42d8baf186b4a9cd687f"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employees of the Department across the enterprise.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida5efc90aea724c25a0cfc7a749af5944"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Comptroller General of the United States.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaa4dcecbe7de4414966864e1b33d5b07"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Special Counsel.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id27cef13ecc6243dfa66d30a731e3bf73"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such others as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce5ae47ad13449028b84062c39f4bdc9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definition of adverse action</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3f485f5e47824e109c585ba79702d686"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>adverse action</term> means a personnel action taken by the Department against an employee of the Department.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd96d17b5fa1645c5abf9d3789cef3b79" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Term <quote>adverse action</quote> includes a removal, demotion, suspension, and any other relevant significant personnel action taken by the Department against an employee of the Department.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5802dd60060f45f7835eae1f3137193b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 728 the following new item:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF92EADA7DF8142BF800F4E21ED84AC28"> <toc> <toc-entry bold="off" level="section">729. Accountability and adverse action system and standards.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="idbbe647008f24468d8c70d4eccf0cbfa4"><enum>102.</enum><header>Establishment of Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management in Veterans Health Administration</header> <subsection id="idd12a17e78d244d18866f9139c55650b3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7e71d443fcbb48b7b66191de28f61ce3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/73">chapter 73</external-xref> of title 38, United States, Code, is amended by inserting after section 7306 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8783b940cca54e598e5ed8aa1485ef0f">
<section id="id02557978b4ce4bc0a07b213d8c8b96ed"><enum>7306A.</enum><header>Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management</header>
<subsection id="idef63a6053814440083358c41e00cfa09"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Veterans Health Administration an office to be known as the <quote>Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management</quote> or the <quote>TEAM Office</quote> (in this section referred to as the <quote>Office</quote>).</text></subsection> <subsection id="id9a09a76d3fd940718436c21fc2d5658e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Head of Office</header> <paragraph id="id74cffcc0c111466b9b8d6b923ed883d7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The head of the Office shall be responsible for the functions of the Office and shall be appointed by the Under Secretary for Health from among individuals qualified to perform the duties of the position.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id46d6f46e8d914e7990035e3099a1e465"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Director</header><text>The head of the Office shall be known as the <quote>Director of the Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management</quote> or the <quote>Director of the TEAM Office</quote> and shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Health.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idd2debb3426d6438b828f52fcf7c74609"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>The functions of the Office shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id68f660664a7f4ef9b03032ae1945fd26"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Tracking recommendations related to the Veterans Health Administration, and other relevant recommendations, made by the Office of the Medical Inspector (established under section 7306B of this title), the Inspector General of the Department, the Comptroller General of the United States, the Office of Special Counsel, the Joint Commission, and other relevant internal and external investigative and oversight bodies, to ensure individual and relevant system-wide compliance with and adoption of those recommendations.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id5c80230192e2458682665363df1b89fc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To ensure compliance with those recommendations, the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id5f27af19287c45d4a6b5176d69f3b996"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Following up with relevant departments and program offices of the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Integrated Service Networks, medical centers, and other facilities to which those recommendations were made.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idac7702bce9e749a894fc4b78c16ff2df"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Sharing knowledge of those recommendations and directing corrective policy actions across the Veterans Health Administration so as to aid other offices, facilities, and other entities in avoiding repetition of the issues that required those recommendations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idfc3c74a4fd0b498ebbcce4032e62e6f4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Ensuring consistency and reducing variation in delivery of health care and related services by the Veterans Health Administration (whether direct care or through any contract or agreement) and adherence to national policies across the country.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id82da8da2cf934e37b1810179599b2dbf"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Conducting regular proactive and reactive in-person and virtual oversight visits to check adherence to all applicable policies, regulations, and guidance of the Department.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id3c895074d68a4f749f3f825798007691"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Using internal and external data related to health quality, safety, access, satisfaction, staffing, and other areas with respect to health care from the Department to monitor and discover risks and challenges before they become larger issues and proactively direct changes, including by providing direction and recommendations to the central office of the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Integrated Service Networks, medical centers, and other facilities and sub-units to address quality, safety, access, satisfaction, staffing, and other health care delivery performance priorities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id9d80e078316549e5960b45bcf2fbb21f"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Soliciting feedback to seek areas of improvement of delivery of health care to veterans, including from individual veterans and their families, veterans service organizations, labor organizations, and employees across all levels of the Department.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id03ccfb0e3677459f8b2cf1efacf2e012"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Proactive sharing of best practices and challenges identified across the Veterans Health Administration with the appropriate leadership at every level of the Veterans Health Administration.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id1c5c2a6c07414231996957d7fba15c18"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Monitoring for, and incorporating best practices in, health quality, safety, access, satisfaction, staffing, compliance, and risk management in public, private, and non-profit health settings and providing guidance for the Veterans Health Administration to incorporate those relevant best practices.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idf6c750ed99af43b28e8fdc3bc28508f3"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Instilling a proactive approach to leadership at every level of the Veterans Health Administration, including the central office, Veterans Integrated Service Networks, medical centers, and other facilities and sub-units. </text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id23314397ed46447cb58496d883925d12"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In establishing the Office and carrying out the functions of the Office, the Under Secretary shall consult with the Comptroller General of the United States and the Inspector General of the Department to ensure the Office draws upon best practices identified across the Federal Government and recommendations of the Comptroller General and the Inspector General.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="id5b0c5044d81d4a28a316050da754a648"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reorganization</header><text>The Under Secretary may reorganize other offices within the Veterans Health Administration to operate under the purview of the Office if the Under Secretary notifies Congress in advance of such reorganization.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id746cc7f0144d4e0a8c47b0e0c8958c2b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7306 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="id326a9af8-10a6-49e6-8744-f856c1e697c1">
<toc>
<toc-entry level="section" idref="id02557978b4ce4bc0a07b213d8c8b96ed">7306A. Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="ide130e1a27bd6494dbb1a6e1d798c8cc6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination with stakeholders</header>
<paragraph id="id5859f0e550584828a5f96e68777c9938"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In establishing the Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management under section 7306A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall solicit formal written feedback from labor organizations, veterans service organizations, and other appropriate entities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id75938eaa862d426d8515781dcf163519"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after soliciting formal written feedback under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing any recommendations obtained under such paragraph, including feedback on whether or not the Under Secretary intends to follow any such recommendations and explanations for why the Under Secretary does not intend to follow any such recommendations.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id3d82fbaaddd04b8291b10e4f6cd53fda"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reorganization</header>
<paragraph id="id51396fb1cabf41eb810e632359da6aec"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As part of the establishment of the Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management under section 7306A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Comptroller General of the United States and the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall reorganize into a cohesive office with relevant sub-offices consistent with best practices of the Comptroller General for internal controls and management the various relevant disparate oversight functions within the Veterans Health Administration that have some portion of responsibility for—</text> <subparagraph id="id13bd3e82471a43da9d823ae20a51ae4c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>health care quality, safety, and risk;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idfff7a4bcc097428b9e39108872cbceb7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>proactive safety and quality improvements;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id462e057360fa4307bd319a8be9b668b1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>reactive safety and quality improvements;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idd3ba5a01a3874fa7bcc1dd63647dc2a0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>access to care;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ida381b44f5121439ea173b6163689eaf2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>consistency of care delivery and quality;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id2d49080fd99f48f3b00b93d7172d3e53"><enum>(F)</enum><text>adherence to national standards, policy, protocols, laws, and regulations;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id4077f8161b3e40d99ecb78b77f3fff69"><enum>(G)</enum><text>quality and safety data collection and monitoring; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ide0fa4f352c9f4acc8a4cc14b893a348e"><enum>(H)</enum><text>such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="ide85e854cacae4dceb0171a0405fe628b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reduction of duplication</header><text>In carrying out the reorganization required under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3cc2bef2e91644db8c412524b8ab3faa"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reduce duplication of functions in the various offices reorganized under such paragraph;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id47f76be8eef24c768a556f1e0c0aaa40"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">clarify reporting structures and responsibilities; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1f69b30c55c54572bf9a0d983c6fe6cb"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure the establishment of a centralized, proactive, and accountable office dedicated to the functions outlined in section 7306A(c) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idc2c7e73e8da54784b0420522e78779b2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Offices included</header><text>At a minimum, the offices that shall be subsumed and restructured under the Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management under section 7306A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), as part of the reorganization required under paragraph (1) shall include, from within the Veterans Health Administration—</text>
<subparagraph id="id69849ff0c1994a5bb9aa2a885178d0fb"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Office of Oversight, Risk, and Ethics;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id5b7c3ea5d724444493ab2e77a9b62bf0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>relevant portions or full offices from—</text>
<clause id="idd4b5b02391354df1b353419dec8d130f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Office of Risk Management;</text></clause> <clause id="id02f674fa181f463f89af54d92be6a53f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Office of Clinical Services;</text></clause>
<clause id="id76d70a0ffed1492f84cc8845d4dd31e3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Office of Patient Care Services;</text></clause> <clause id="idc8914b932ea04a1184addf20ce0583b2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the Office of Operations; and</text></clause>
<clause id="id7d6ad6951fd842a7bf2b317a35b817b8"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Office of Quality and Patient Safety; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id829f6b42b21e4785ab8b14ae96f87a0c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Office of the Medical Inspector under section 7306B of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 202(a), solely for purposes of organizational efficiency and economies of scale.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idf74f13e0d1994bffa9ee00aa15e8e69e"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Report</header>
<subparagraph id="id86e691e7bfc8495cb7799282f5160ffd"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the completion of the reorganization required under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id85b7ee61e3814aa7aff0f7bcaf5fcc94"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include—</text>
<clause id="idf7c9db51cd444fc3a53248b5f7d08c95"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a description of the reorganization required under paragraph (1) that the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs has carried out and the reasoning for the various structures established and how those structures will improve accountability, efficiency, management, leadership, care delivery, and oversight;</text></clause> <clause id="idcd49144b63c947acb02e5fcfc01c0a5e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a description of any challenges, and a response to those challenges, encountered in conducting such reorganization;</text></clause>
<clause id="id310ceaa874e24de188f4fdf348b7369b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>recommendations for such legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate to fully implement such reorganization, including additional authorities or resources; and</text></clause> <clause id="id3f1a2719ca8842cc8913f737141e62a5"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a description of any reasons why offices listed under paragraph (2) were not consolidated and how that decision will not affect accountability, efficiency, care delivery, and oversight.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id40ea1707996f47baaee5b75eabb775ef"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Appropriate committees of congress defined</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text> <clause id="id0d1cc36e1f6349b29181454339ea1138"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida7ca409b743f4607b1a6af5822404a49"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="idfb88a169c5fe48c684be1ecfb4a9d90c"><enum>103.</enum><header>Department of Veterans Affairs accountability, management, and leadership survey</header> <subsection id="id07d18914a166401898505d6da0d3f0e9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Biennial survey required</header><text>Starting not less than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less than once every two years thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a voluntary anonymous accountability, management, and leadership survey open to all employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="id299005811c5547be8bc555ff8ca67b2b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Anonymity</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd6708bb908914c5187320eed5cdd480e"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Feedback collected and data compiled under this section is only to be disaggregated by—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2f79967018ed4943b72f5c6d2a63c5b5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether an employee is in a Senior Executive Service position (as such term is defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code) or other equivalent position or not; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4282bdf4f5654271acbda5eef809b131"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administration (namely Veterans Health Administration, National Cemetery Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and Central Office of the Department) or staff office or other entity where a survey participant is employed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id1e783a5e83ee417ca7c5639b9892612d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), the granularity of data collected is not recorded or collected in a manner to allow the identification of employees within any unit of the Department which contains a relatively smaller number of employees and whose identities could potentially be ascertained.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="ida2cb6d1e65de45eba0e1c9ae2f052f9a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Feedback collected and data compiled under this section does not include any personally identifiable information. </text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ida5dd43356fdc4d3fa9216b2db0e6cca8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The protections for participants provided under this subsection are clearly made known within the survey and in educational and training material informing employees of the Department about the survey.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idbcf9c3fa02e14572bc66907927ffc8db"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Elements</header> <paragraph id="id7bf184f7e4264912b34d74a842ab219e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As part of the voluntary anonymous survey required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall inquire about the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id2d9af8e26be24e779f5f918bf3b9c58e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The knowledge level and understanding of employees regarding reporting and accountability structures within and outside of the Department regarding employment concerns, issues of waste, fraud, and abuse and other related matters.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idc1ac09b7c8aa417c89bc82b6eb4033be"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The knowledge level and understanding of employees regarding whistleblower protections including protections against prohibited personnel actions described in section 731(c) of title 38, United States Code.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id00d1305384854639a09fa4498df15335"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The knowledge level and understanding of employees regarding where to seek assistance with equal employment opportunity, harassment, and other related matters.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idf04c338f95944f4087b56ea8104c621c"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The knowledge level and understanding of how to report information to the Office of Inspector General of the Department, the Office of the Medical Inspector established by section 7306B of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 202, the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, the Office of Special Counsel, the Comptroller General of the United States, and related entities. </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id5fe0a9017d564029b8efb6036ab1a867"><enum>(E)</enum><text>To what extent employees feel comfortable reporting areas of concern to an individual in the supervisory chain of the employee.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id3b71995d0fea47c3a1a3707b5fa1b732"><enum>(F)</enum><text>If the employee has reported areas of concern within their supervisor chain in the past, to what extent the employee feels the report was taken seriously and addressed.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id13e4f24738ab4896b93579680d02731e"><enum>(G)</enum><text>If the employee has reported areas of concern to a representative of a labor organization, to what extent the employee feels the labor organization was able to address it. </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id1935988ac8b0475db38cdf31113ba027"><enum>(H)</enum><text>The opinions and comments of survey participants on any topic the participants consider appropriate.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idf9a858661b9448be8d304d467461000d"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Such other matters the Secretary considers appropriate. </text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="ideed51f886bc04eafbc5b4dfc48d7ff19"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Information and resources</header><text>At the end of each survey required by subsection (a), the Department shall provide employees with information and resources regarding the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id9cc606bc194544e18b144c8be2e52aff"><enum>(A)</enum><text>How to reach out to their appropriate labor representatives, where applicable.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id38d09ecd4258456c98bb1e70efd1ac5b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Resources and information on the legal protections for whistleblowers.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id8d1f7e34aec44114bea49e5fa9a96220"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Reporting information to the Office of Inspector General of the Department, the Office of the Medical Inspector established by section 301, the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, the Office of Special Counsel, the Comptroller General of the United States, and related entities.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id4b357e89490a4bb28c97c6787121db17"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Responses not required</header><text>The Secretary shall not require an employee who chooses to participate in the survey to respond to every question of the survey required by subsection (a). </text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id6db0036fa7e546c79cf27b5ea4aa6130"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reports to congress</header>
<paragraph id="id5a3bcfc44fa34fb08c9e02a5bcbe8bf0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Report required</header><text>Not later than 180 after the date of the completion of the initial survey conducted pursuant to subsection (a) and each survey conducted thereafter, the Department shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the survey.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide93fb5abe4414b12a4f9b1d8f09a99ec"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) regarding a survey shall include the following, disaggregated as described in subsection (b)(1):</text>
<subparagraph id="id4367faf434b44e719a7fb5c4c66e9af4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A copy of the survey as it was presented, including any variations depending on employee status and Administration, staff office, or related element of the Department.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idb5c973964940441fb1858b829433a14a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The survey response rate.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idedc71e8bea274a92a992cf11d58c3b8e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A description of outreach the Department conducted to notify employees of the survey and solicit responses.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idec9c780e121c496190dc0cb869223679"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A description of incentives provided to employees for responding to the survey or workplace accommodations made for employees to respond to the survey during working hours. </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id872f11dfdd464aa6b306a8e67c2095c9"><enum>(E)</enum><text>A description of safeguards instituted to ensure employee anonymity.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id89509456b66340d693d0d3000d797cef"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Conclusions, recommendations, and plans of action based on survey responses to improve accountability, due process, employee retention and development, and leadership and management at the Department. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id3d1c4fc90c064ffbb6253d6f21296c5c"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Coordination with third parties</header><text>The Secretary may enlist a reputable non-Department entity to develop, conduct, and analyze the surveys.</text></subsection> <subsection id="idd69deb4965a94203bc9b66bda688f32a"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Coordination with community and labor organizations</header><text>The Secretary shall solicit formal written feedback from labor organization partners and other appropriate entities regarding the contents of the surveys conducted pursuant to subsection (a) and the data analysis of each survey. The Secretary shall share these recommendations with the committees described in subsection (d)(1) and include feedback on whether or not the Secretary intends to follow the recommendations and explanations for any recommendations the Secretary does not follow.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id171a12232e854878ada96cdff72ed2dc"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>The requirements of this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act, but the Secretary may continue conducting surveys under this section as the Secretary considers appropriate. </text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id75de5d506ca14505b8dba23f1fe490f0"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Definition of whistleblower</header><text>In this section, the term <term>whistleblower</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by this Act.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="id67c30fd9f24e4bef9904c0653e4a50e3"><enum>104.</enum><header>Establishment of administrative investigation board and other accountability actions database</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd527ae285add427ea48c4c6952fd3421"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 101, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7FDAD848A4EE46AB8E08F94EA709CFC3"> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4d3b6bf2c28b4266ad151921e62798a7"><enum>729A.</enum><header>Administrative investigation board and other accountability actions database</header> <subsection id="id77e5b775e83c47cbb31d5cff864e7440"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a central, access-controlled, and secure database to make administrative investigation board information, and other official investigatory process information, accessible for relevant officials of the Department for the purposes of—</text>
<paragraph id="id4fbf4936adb84011a7f282057abc81ab"><enum>(1)</enum><text>reviewing an employee who is under consideration for promotion or rehire and who was the subject of an administrative investigation board or other official investigatory process;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idb6447ec0585e4fa88172f429747d324c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>monitoring trends and challenges, including with respect to management and accountability; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id5153200997264992a1c599b971117f0d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>enabling relevant authorized officials of—</text> <subparagraph id="id1177b42586e542b697b95053bebaf59e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Office of the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary and non-Administration offices of the Central Office of the Department to attain visibility and insight into the accountability actions and investigations of the headquarters of the Department for purposes of management and oversight;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idef7ca1910ea84a1ba84a6f11895b1e27"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Veterans Integrated Service Networks and the central office of the Veterans Health Administration to attain visibility and insight into the accountability actions and investigations of the Department medical centers and other relevant sub-facilities for the purposes of management and oversight; </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id44d2446ed3f342d2b47ffcf32042fd1c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the central office of the Veterans Benefits Administration to attain visibility and insight into the accountability actions and investigations of regional offices of the Administration for the purposes of management and oversight; </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id367e58fbccf84cc79902fdf3d7063528"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the central office of the National Cemetery Administration to attain visibility and insight into the accountability actions and investigations of regional offices of the Administration for the purposes of management and oversight; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ida4f87ba0030542e38c48bcfe50d53458"><enum>(E)</enum><text>all other relevant offices and administrations of the Department to attain visibility and insight into the accountability actions and investigations of regional or sub-offices of a relevant organization for the purposes of management and oversight.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id03b2161d10b94b68a0815f9bfd013883"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Manner of implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The database established pursuant to subsection (a) may be implemented through—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd2ac26a51c2a4ef08a0e74f3d11aa87d"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the creation of a standalone information technology service or system; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id55e2a1e1221941ed8ad5b0066ee737e5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>incorporated into an existing or planned information technology solution for human resources, accountability, or other similar functions, but only if such system complies with the requirements of subsection (c).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46e2f3d3e95a4422a393d255577de711"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Privacy and security</header> <paragraph id="id3df1761c0cb248f5812796f973d07b1a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The database established pursuant to subsection (a) shall have privacy, user-based, time-limitation, and access controls to ensure only those with a need to know can access the information.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ida5927b80d45a402d9858e5c0f6899a4f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Protocols</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb53f5d0fd9a647a0b1999e237a7a9dd5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, in consultation with the General Counsel of the Department, the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, the Chief Human Capitol Officer, and the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, and the heads of such other relevant offices of the Department, develop protocols for who can have access to the database established pursuant to subsection (a) and when, so as to preserve privacy, preserve due process, and strengthen accountability and whistleblower protection.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idf147f21eb55943a198752b4adcc8988b"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Annual reviews</header><text>The Secretary shall review the protocols developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) not less frequently than once each year. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5be5cf606bdf4c0cbdc39e3d71deef2c"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Features</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The database established pursuant to subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the ability to filter data in the database and search such data by the following:</text> <paragraph id="idc44d67584b2842639a558d6e3a02cff3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Outcome of an administrative investigation board or other official investigatory process.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id2293470c11814b8f8287f61638546205"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The implementation status of the recommendations or other actions included in a final administrative investigation board or other official investigatory process. </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idf57177f672544d05bb0489d87d1695e4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Summary of facts of a case.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id5043feb0899a47c2881b0ce33c97a6ae"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Relevant final documents and interviews, findings, and adjudication.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idd3cffecbb664425284dcdd1e1085a9ac"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Grade of employee.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id80c0c0a79f794f9c862e1a269c8bc1e9"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Status of administrative investigation board review or other official investigatory process.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id67f8d687ccab43959f144a102da1d8fc"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Date of initiation and whether a case is open but not concluded or other such status.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idde07553587e84c86959d7b21360575f9"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Date of closure of an administrative investigation board or other official investigatory process.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idaae4c1c8628e46d193987ed966bad7b6"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Employee name.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id54cdef75ec4a4dcebfd6f824f2ff30a5"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Administration, staff office, or other Department entity.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id6c9c5a9bb3354f709544f7b4b63ce349"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Location, such as the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id95b0f678a23b46dc879dc82906253e59"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Station code.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id9617e9691cd144c297bd5f552d38f262"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Regional office.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id958a2ca653ca4834b88e66065189298f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Department medical center or medical facility of the Department.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id969a5ccb751549dea497405584309891"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Cemetery.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id04feda2474a74d64a0feb8bd93372073"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Such other relevant subcategories as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04ccc6f1251143ce8340f4ad9fa388ce"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Expansion of scope</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may expand the scope of the database established pursuant to subsection (a) to include such other accountability reviews and adverse employment outcomes as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="idca2ae301c83f45efa1bfcaf95437e0e7"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Monitoring of database</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, the central office of the Department, the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, the district offices of the National Cemetery Administration, the central office of the National Cemetery Administration, the regional districts of the Veterans Benefits Administration, the central office of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and such senior leaders of the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate monitor the database established pursuant to subsection (a) for activity and trends within their organizations down to the lowest level so as to ensure awareness of administrative investigation boards and other official investigatory processes open and concluded within their organization so as to determine potential trends and challenges within the various levels and sub-levels of each organization. </text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7b59a42c23bb4af09e544601d9505b1b"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Policies on uploading, entering, or otherwise submitting information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall develop and implement policy to require all parts of the Department to upload, enter, or otherwise submit information to the database established pursuant to subsection (a) in real-time so as to ensure the database has the most current available information at all times. </text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3180a15d340d4f6585023fb833206117"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>The General Counsel shall—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idad4f156c98084c3a9d4d2493dcf7f072"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">administer the database established pursuant to subsection (a);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id8749b0c200a847efac1d4fd089357239"><enum>(2)</enum><text>maintain the database in coordination with the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Department, the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, and the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, especially with respect to ensuring security, access control, due process, and whistleblower protection;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id17198d151ad64568871fc172bf4b61c1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>monitor the database for trends; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ide430542cbdfb4e36920b090f8c658d8a"><enum>(4)</enum><text>develop recommendations, based on the findings of the General Counsel with respect to the monitoring carried out pursuant to paragraph (3), for the Secretary to improve accountability, oversight, leadership, and management at the Department.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idf9f82aaafd654d0eb90520022998cc0c"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Definition of Vet Center</header><text>In this section, the term <term>Vet Center</term> has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of this title. </text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="idbd4587eb67f34643ac33092806afe4ac"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title, as amended by section 101, is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 729 the following new item:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE50C2930F39C40119E33CCE85AB66FD8"> <toc> <toc-entry bold="off" level="section">729A. Administrative investigation board and other accountability actions database.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="idb105cdaa1bf7468c8d3107da2c97ca76"><enum>105.</enum><header>Report on accountability actions of Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id469e796384774b429c954e2784228668"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and not later than 60 days after the commencement of each fiscal year thereafter until the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on adverse actions relating to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs occurring during the previous fiscal year.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="idb79c723004bb47b7bdda59e8c842c381"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe0c8dc769334ebe8287ff87006d1569"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Information for all terminations, removals, demotions, or other adverse actions, during the 10 fiscal years ending before the date of the submittal of the report, disaggregated by fiscal year.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida4f0df78c2174cd4b97eab8c354ef358"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The authority used to terminate an employee, disaggregated by type of adverse action and seniority level of employee. </text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide6e3dcf107b64c09806b511bedf1e375"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definition of appropriate committees of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id72bcbf8796bf4f3eade30f77766c09cd"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8866984923f44ff5a30639b5ee6fea25"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="ide2c990d14df047b6bce063ef465e0061"><enum>106.</enum><header>Report on views of Secretary of Veterans Affairs on need for additional legislative action to improve accountability, due process, and whistleblower protection at Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd1d947062c72473ea677a0141ecba968"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report indicating—</text> <paragraph id="id85015143f7cf4040a16f9ee3c316a62f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>whether the Secretary has determined that additional legislative action is required to ensure accountability, due process, and whistleblower protection for employees of the Department;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id06aa1140df2f40a79072af7a7b21f6ad"><enum>(2)</enum><text>if the Secretary has determined that additional legislative action is required, the recommended action and a justification for such recommendation; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="ided39a64338904fcbbd3bc602cb4c64f5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>if the Secretary determines that additional legislative action is not required, the reasoning for such determination.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc69c900a81bb4f11b4ec70cf7ba16986"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definition of whistleblower</header><text>In this section, the term <term>whistleblower</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323(h) of title 38, United States Code, as redesignated by section 201(d). </text></subsection></section> <enum>II</enum><header>Oversight of health care</header> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcdfd3b4233214e20b9cd669f8cd9c58b"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Oversight visit requirements for medical facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="id1a4ff014565a4596aa731365910724b6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Health, shall establish requirements for in-person oversight visits by officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs to medical facilities of the Department as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="idb3b4a82f92764b438003bd8ac6babc6a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not less frequently than once each fiscal year, the director of each medical center of the Department shall make an announced or unannounced oversight visit to each medical facility that is within the jurisdiction of such director or the catchment area of such medical center.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idbe0d33a705a24b518a4a76f8f871cdc7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not less frequently than once every two fiscal years, each member of the executive leadership team, except for the director, of each medical center of the Department shall make an announced or unannounced oversight visit to each medical facility that is within the jurisdiction of such team or the catchment area of such medical center.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id874da1efbeb14cfb9b7dac70245f48f2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not less frequently than once every two fiscal years, the director of each Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department shall make an announced or unannounced oversight visit to each medical center of the Department that falls within such network.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id0696169ffb0042bfa225bfefb930046d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than October 1 following the end of the second fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every fiscal year thereafter for five years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the Under Secretary for Health, shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on—</text>
<paragraph id="id4182ffcd861a497fa18b3556418f473b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any observations regarding the impact of in-person visits required under subsection (a) in improving oversight of, and leadership engagement in, facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, accountability of employees, to include leadership, at such facilities, and care delivery and quality to veterans;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idc7756d0f3ad1454d8bd8447b08948013"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the number of individuals, their job title, and the facility of the Department at which they serve, who have not met the requirements set forth in subsection (a) and steps taken to improve compliance with such requirements, including an explanation as to why those requirements were not met; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="iddc7e803e7e6f4fc19eabcebc635242be"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any other observations the Secretary or the Under Secretary for Health may have regarding the impact of visits required under subsection (a) on improving health care delivery, quality, safety, leadership, and accountability. </text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="id9278153F3F5D424C9F4FD2B15083CA8C"><enum>202.</enum><header>Establishment of Office of the Medical Inspector of Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="idfedc8df5b5cd4938936a2e3d45ac6725"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/73">chapter 73</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7306A">section 7306A,</external-xref> as added by section 102(a)(1) of this Act, the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id12ce72a1cf554d2a949956ed26d695fb">
<section id="id15d6b006e2a74ed08522b91edc42ac9a"><enum>7306B.</enum><header>Office of the Medical Inspector</header>
<subsection id="id4c859af587654232b87be6208396d3f0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established in the Veterans Health Administration within the Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management under section 7306A of this title, or subsequent office of similar function, an office to be known as the <quote>Office of the Medical Inspector</quote> (in this section referred to as the <quote>Office</quote>).</text></subsection> <subsection id="ideeca3a3adcde4c1c854f9ad33a0cb010"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Head of office</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1c5e5bdfb6e2431cbf945e4720eb1c15"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The Medical Inspector shall be the head of the Office.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id414eeca1759c4773aa34334f70b72eb4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text>The Medical Inspector shall be appointed by the Secretary from among individuals qualified to perform the duties of the position.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1e254f4d5a784dbfb1eb13be806915fd"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>The Medical Inspector shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Health.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="idf2a3f0beb1a446018f1442f304cd5c80"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The functions of the Office shall include the following:</text> <paragraph id="id3f9d49d5c7ba460f8809ae0ad1c6ff13"><enum>(1)</enum><text>To review, including proactively, the quality, safety, outcomes, and delivery of, and access to, health care provided to veterans by the Department.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idd57281bff8124519ade8df192eb4eebc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To proactively review offices and facilities of the Veterans Health Administration that have an impact on the quality, safety, and delivery of, and access to, such care and the performance of the Department in providing such care.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id20b6583b84bf492680274df1b1cc8ba7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To proactively review offices and facilities of the Veterans Health Administration to ensure that policies and procedures of the Department and the Veterans Health Administration are applied consistently at all such offices and facilities.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idf168e0c027ed4bb7ad5a7d5680933faa"><enum>(4)</enum><text>To investigate, including proactively, the existence of any systemic health delivery, quality, safety, access, or related issues, as determined by the Medical Inspector, that arise within the Veterans Health Administration or through health care provided by the Department.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id28b9cc56b9e3474d80ed13f1e9b4d005"><enum>(5)</enum><text>To establish temporary investigative teams to carry out reviews or investigations described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) in response to specific incidents or inquiries, including the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idc05626cda4fd4cd0b0f2fdef74f840ec"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Investigations of complaints by a veteran, a family member of a veteran, an employee of the Department, or another individual that may require a visit to a facility or facilities of the Department.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id3aec15ef57494c0a8966d7c60a0d003e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Reviews or investigations upon request by the Secretary or the Under Secretary for Health.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idd84af3b3605245a8b42583d792269bb6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Reviews or investigations in response to information or requests by the Inspector General of the Department, the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of the Department, the Special Counsel, the Comptroller General of the United States, a Member of Congress, and other related entities, as determined by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id3a75788b969944a9a50001fefdcfea64"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Assessments to examine potential systemic health quality, safety, access, satisfaction, staffing, performance, and other issues within the Veterans Health Administration, including through the conduct of surveys, the collection and examination of data, and the analysis of databases. </text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id2121a007fcc64157be0e8f69d9f43550"><enum>(6)</enum><text>To recommend policies to promote efficiency in the administration of, and to prevent waste, abuse, and mismanagement in, programs and operations of the Veterans Health Administration.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id0d5708be25564e08b0cd7f529f0ad716"><enum>(7)</enum><text>To carry out other related duties required of the Office by the Secretary or the Under Secretary for Health before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this section.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id82625c86db1246c1b1da9f13ac366172"><enum>(8)</enum><text>To conduct coordination and open communication with the Inspector General of the Department, the Special Counsel, and the Comptroller General and to ensure those entities have the information required to perform their independent oversight functions. </text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id6edbdae6872a467198415d0500bdf06f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Capabilities and internal controls</header><text>The Under Secretary and the Medical Inspector shall ensure that the Office has the following capabilities and internal controls to achieve effective operations of the Office:</text>
<paragraph id="id00f685758f9443bb8ef32b131a5b7e16"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A modern electronic information technology database, system, or systems with a minimum of the following functions or capabilities:</text> <subparagraph id="idab283ff51c9547b6b3cd1a06e86358f1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>To perform modern case management activities, including tracking open cases, closed cases, trends, time to process, open recommendations, to whom a recommendation is directed (such as a facility or individual), and other similar activities of the Office.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id6eab1e37f03f4262905bec623578d708"><enum>(B)</enum><text>To track referrals of issues the Office declines to review but refers to other entities to review.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idbbefe88c91b34bb79e345bdd1e65d200"><enum>(C)</enum><text>To review all report recommendations of the Office for trends and issues throughout the Veterans Health Administration and alert leadership of the Veterans Health Administration for corrective and preventative action.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id96bfa420ebfd4dc583b735d71adb60a9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Such other functions or capabilities as determined by the Under Secretary and the Medical Inspector. </text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id96616987822e445e8b8e8c6451c5b55a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Consistent guidelines for how long facilities that have an open recommendation from the Office have to close such recommendation.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7bc53b4aacf34254b2c5a21b883843cd"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Best practice guidelines on what set of management officials and processes are to be used to approve the closure of recommendations from the Office consistent with internal controls best practices of the Government Accountability Office.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id5e8fa205b90b4cc3b09a48518029176f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A staffing model and budget for the Office that is consistent with those of a health care system with a patient workload the size of that served by the Department.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id66943fd8f6c347aab528a1c2788b9860"><enum>(5)</enum><text>An organizational performance plan.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc1f92cfb324e44acaa358e93127fcc12"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Information on Senior Executive Service applicants</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id28b58c0990114f8aa32b97cc79c8f758"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting a review under this section with respect to an individual serving in a Senior Executive Service position (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5) or equivalent position in the Department, the Medical Inspector, and a limited number of personnel delegated by the Medical Inspector from within the Office, may request and receive from other relevant offices of the Department the complete hiring packet, package, or assembled paperwork and other information, including electronically stored information, that was submitted by a Federal agency on behalf of the individual when the individual was a candidate for such position.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide674cf543f8745658d79b13549e27ff9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Access to information authorized under paragraph (1) shall be secure, on a need to know basis, and provided with appropriate controls to protect privacy, whistleblower retaliation, and related matters.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idbc0547aabe3f4180974b2b5742487acd"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Privacy matters</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any medical or other personal information obtained by the Office shall be protected from disclosure or misuse in accordance with the laws on privacy and whistleblower protection applicable to such information.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="id0322a39ee640414c92b6f42e7e18cddf"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7306A, as added by section 102(a)(2) of this Act, the following new item:</text> <quoted-block style="USC" id="id4cf377a8-1637-4cab-9f33-7bcaec362a6e"> <toc> <toc-entry level="section" idref="id15d6b006e2a74ed08522b91edc42ac9a">7306B. Office of the Medical Inspector.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection id="ide1c9a7992fd947809d55112ed374142b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Guidance on provision of feedback</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall determine and publish guidance requiring all internal offices, sub-offices, and other entities of the Department of Veterans Affairs reviewing a draft report by the Office of the Medical Inspector under section 7306B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), for the purpose of concurrence by the Department with that report to provide feedback on that report to the Office not later than 15 business days after assignment for review of that report by the Office or another entity controlling or administering the concurrence process.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcefea9ecc9a14d98a1df09925751e48b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Capabilities and internal controls</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Medical Inspector shall ensure that the Office of the Medical Inspector established under section 7306B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), has the capabilities and internal controls specified in subsection (d) of such section.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8b41cbbf71854db3aeb240b436021e36"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Continuation in office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The individual serving as the Medical Inspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act may serve as the Medical Inspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs after that date until the date on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs appoints an individual to be the Medical Inspector pursuant to section 7306B(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), which may include the appointment of the same individual.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id646E17B8F52249B59A94DB02C8E40C4B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Report on actions To respond to Comptroller General report on Office of Medical Inspector</header>
<paragraph id="id2a5019de79c64671b8a23852d8611fd6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the action plan of the Secretary to implement relevant recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States contained in any review published by the Comptroller General in the previous three calendar years regarding the Office of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including recommended short, medium, and long-term plans to establish the Office of the Medical Inspector pursuant to this section.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="ide49ff045304f4a109266b4ed4499f628"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The report required by paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="idea013e171baa43ec8e9912606424915d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>specific plans, timelines, and status as of the date of the report of the actions of the Secretary to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Comptroller General in 2023 regarding the Office of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id4c53ae2a62fc462e9cfa281e7e49fa62"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any requests for legislative action and resources to implement the provisions of this Act that relate to the Office of the Medical Inspector to ensure the effectiveness of the Office to handle the workload and caseload for an integrated health system with a veteran patient volume and medical workforce the size of that served by the Department; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide22ec257269447e0bc3f903d4fd9475e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such other matters as the Secretary considers necessary. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id45d692c7c5bd4443b699438105be8768"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Rule of construction on independence of Office of the Medical Inspector</header><text>The establishment of the Office of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 7306B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), within the Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management under section 7306A of such title, as added by section 102(a)(1), is done for organizational efficiency and economies of scale but shall not be construed to indicate that the Office of the Medical Inspector or the Medical Inspector should report to any individual or entity other than the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs. </text></subsection></section>
<section commented="no" id="id4f7060d375174feca511a18aad75b5e4"><enum>203.</enum><header>Inclusion of officials within Office of the Under Secretary for Health</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7306(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="id405459652c274c5fafd102768c511aa8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph (14); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id195dcb990c4944c9a0c7744137d7dd97"><enum>(2)</enum><text>inserting after paragraph (11) the following new paragraphs:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4208edc65bc54ab08092fbd49dbc65cf"> <paragraph commented="no" id="idd6d5132a1c79420f8fcf13bba517d882"><enum>(12)</enum><text>The Director of the Office of Transparency, Engagement, Accountability, and Management under section 7306A of this title.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc95e13c0defb449c8b434df325497950"><enum>(13)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Medical Inspector, who shall be the head of the Office of the Medical Inspector under section 7306B of this title.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section> <section id="idEAEADF476A6040C8BDB5BCAB913D4334"><enum>204.</enum><header>Mobile temporary health staffing program to ensure access and continuity of care</header> <subsection id="id17e0c6a02595472eb793ba8740229532"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall establish a mobile temporary staffing program (in this section referred to as the <quote>Program</quote>) to temporarily fill vacancies and employee absences for certain positions within the Veterans Health Administration, including by combining any existing similar programs of the Veterans Health Administration within the Program.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="idad0e9bae87824e3fa84dc2cbddfd08fb"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>At a minimum, the Program shall include—</text> <paragraph id="idabf24bcd38e843ba83c2cb6e95246018"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a team of individuals representing each shortage occupation or high-turnover occupation within the Veterans Health Administration; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idf017726b9f434f219cba72fe05588add"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a request mechanism for facilities of the Veterans Health Administration to request those individuals to be temporarily assigned to fill vacancies and employee absences.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id20b432e7ca00400d8cdff72d5e30e43b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority assignments</header><text>A facility of the Veterans Health Administration shall obtain priority assignment for staffing of an occupancy type under the Program if the facility has only one position of that occupancy type and that position is vacant or functionally vacant due to the employee in question being under administrative investigation, detailed out of such position, or otherwise not performing their regular care delivery duties.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="id98c7e70bdba44175bfcf6e93ee62d9a7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Not permanent positions</header><text>An individual temporarily assigned to a position at a facility of the Veterans Health Administration under the Program—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfcb2cddac0cb492aa5fd238e373d435f"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall not be permitted to permanently occupy the position; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ide0f2a9bfe70c4bc2bf76897a967667fe"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall not be permitted to fill a non-temporary employment vacancy.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="ida3a40fb2cb9942ff9eb4af0b8f5407f8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reports to Congress</header> <paragraph id="idbad55e5fb112491891dff581f5e858c1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Initial report</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Health shall submit to Congress a report detailing the plans of the Under Secretary to establish the Program.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idb430875f217748cc91af21d3f3877004"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual report</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6cff82b8d10f4b3f9cd9d29b77569649"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the establishment of the Program, and annually thereafter, the Under Secretary for Health shall submit to Congress—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd597a8a1c5b3403d80cd3b813dbeb26a"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">data on staffing under the Program, including—</text>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4dd7f0eef5f94bd9b1fcf71493bdb5c2"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">where temporary assignments occurred under the Program and for what length of time;</text></subclause> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id76ddd958fada4a219cc0b0087c54664c"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the top three positions with respect to which temporary assignments are requested; and</text></subclause>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7a9ba8e1b3334f76b50b51ef201c5479"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other data and analysis the Secretary considers appropriate;</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="id91f54e02c3a044f496b536fb0ce445fc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an assessment of any additional incentives, including any legislative action to carry out those incentives, to incentivize employees of the Veterans Health Administration to participate in the Program; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd26c4aef187d4265835e5a49111bd2cb"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7604141e2fc942d18d984ca7f2ba8873"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Combination of report with existing reports</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report required under subparagraph (A) may be submitted as part of another workforce-related report submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs to Congress. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Whistleblower protections and employee accountability</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id82b954e1d4234188a994ff2d805989b9"><enum>301.</enum><header>Strengthening whistleblower protections at Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4cebe78e4e1c4726abf5eebf5238b634"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">General Counsel of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (e) of section 323 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC353C0B52BAB4CD59A4627A276FA98B7"> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id308861f7ca114329b457510703d84399"><enum>(e)</enum><header>General Counsel</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idda29031f5b50402ebfbe0c840aaf9d2a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>There is in the Office a General Counsel who shall be the chief legal officer of the Office and provides legal assistance to the Assistant Secretary concerning the programs and policies of the Office.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id84139bce63f9497095eb800167b3fa4f" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary shall appoint the General Counsel of the Office, who shall be a career appointee in the Senior Executive Service and shall report to the Assistant Secretary.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="idabab9287501f471e87a8ba0d7b1c4b2b"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In accordance with subsection (d), the Assistant Secretary may hire staff for the General Counsel of the Office to provide such legal assistance pursuant to paragraph (1).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf10c92a32c69493984c49e925955a3b0" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Office shall not be established as an element of the Office of the General Counsel of the Department and the Assistant Secretary may not report to the General Counsel of the Department.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection commented="no" id="idc29f0079175f4202b69cb78ad7c39624"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Modifications and additional functions of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (c)(1) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id38dafff92c7f4ba183ae17a9cb472bbf"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by inserting <quote>and allegations of whistleblower retaliation</quote> after <quote>disclosures</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7f8582c5bc8b4b50bf96c00404071416"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subparagraphs (F) and (G), and inserting the following new subparagraphs:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB290CBAD41A74A7797249D5BC38858D3">
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idedbd09e9cd5d4414adf31b1d23629d64" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Recording, tracking, reviewing, and confirming implementation of relevant accountability and disciplinary recommendations from audits and investigations carried out by the Inspector General of the Department, the Medical Inspector of the Department, the Special Counsel, the Comptroller General of the United States, and such others as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate, including the imposition of disciplinary actions and other related personnel actions contained in such recommendations.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="idab37af915299424f9e920976f3bf1f1a"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Analyzing data available to the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection from internal and external data sources, disaggregated by facility, region, network, and area of health care, benefits, memorial services, or such other services of the Department as the Assistant Secretary determines relevant, and other pertinent audits and investigations to identify trends relating to accountability matters, whistleblower retaliation and protection, reoccurring management shortcomings, and issue reports and recommendations to the Secretary on these matters based on analysis conducted under this subparagraph.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" id="idf939677c61c64ff389d5514a03995c96"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Tracking and enforcement of recommendations and settlement agreements regarding whistleblowers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (c) of such section, as amended by subsection (b), is further amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="id7460bffd35034a8fb036838e6b1a58f3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2ad250521bca47e996387d9379b34017">
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id2e59f53d8cd74962b0844bd3e37bb69d" indent="up1"><enum>(J)</enum><text>Tracking the negotiation, implementation, and enforcement of settlement agreements entered into by the Secretary regarding claims of retaliation, including with respect to the work of the General Counsel of the Department regarding such settlements.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id4c8d095c8b824f809f7fcb6c8921a089"><enum>(K)</enum><text>In conducting tracking pursuant to subparagraph (J), examining factors, including volume, size of monetary value, and other matters, so as to determine and identify—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb1838e27e88423f85e85c6d59b9d1b7"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any underlying causes of such settlement agreements relating to management, leadership, accountability, prohibited personnel actions described in section 731(c) of this title, and other similar matters at a facility, office, or organization of the Department; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idea4cfdd7a7764fa0b1a147c01c64d248"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the need for corrective action.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddb46988b7b01435595707af2f2497866" indent="up1"><enum>(L)</enum><text>Tracking determinations made by the Special Counsel regarding claims of committal of a prohibited personnel action described in section 731(c) of this title, including—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id75097d0c137b4eddb74a034b1ed77e32"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any disciplinary action for the individual who engaged in such prohibited personnel action; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5ecd4de7c9fb48f7a40f174ddd43ae6d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>determinations regarding the need for corrective action under section 1214 of title 5, as identified by the Special Counsel, and any settlement agreement resolving claims of whistleblower retaliation entered into by the Secretary with the whistleblower.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" id="id1e767602f6804aa7b51f7ad7c6932bff"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43EDDA4E7890474A8A6AEE2BE84F76F0">
<paragraph commented="no" id="id632020134bd442a5b2d10ea50ef81f75" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id5e38827e068d4fadaa8b3965c4b8ca89"><enum>(A)</enum><text>In carrying out subparagraph (J) of paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall, in consultation with the General Counsel of the Department, establish metrics and standards regarding—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id408e720a4de14c8d9ccca91e7dea35a3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the timely negotiation and implementation of settlement agreements entered into by the Secretary regarding retaliation; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id2ebacf5f5c2c4ba89d6159261d54b97d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text> reasonable restitution and restoration of employment, and other relief for whistleblowers.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id5daafb68287d43c58bebce349fa08e7e" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Assistant Secretary shall establish a secure electronic system to carry out subparagraphs (J) and (K)<italic></italic> of paragraph (1) in a manner that ensures the confidentiality of the identity of a whistleblower or a party to a settlement agreement described in either of such subparagraphs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" id="id697a1564db564a2381ca6ff7cd7d5967"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Training and information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 323 of such title is further amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="id7bb69d5fa89f42f997eacac27b74490e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(2), by striking <quote>receive anonymous whistleblower disclosures</quote> and inserting <quote>provide information to employees of the Department regarding the rights of and procedures for whistleblowers</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id8b571492d944445ea2e5abfa9833077c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" id="ided14a61b8ce14517bd4771c39313aeec"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection (g):</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd0a5df3bfd2b4224b6e5d191f20e4ca7">
<subsection commented="no" id="idb97cc76510a24f61a993a4161dbecc0c"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Training</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="id264dce5ba1d040baa516c087d6c5eca9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in consultation with the Special Counsel, develop annual training on whistleblower protection and related issues;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="ide7e32c62304d490ebf14dccad12600ca"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide and make such training available to employees of the Department; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" id="id140ec4896701466c8b330a57d7fffe10"><enum>(3)</enum><text>disseminate training materials and information to employees on whistleblower rights, whistleblower disclosures, and allegations of whistleblower retaliation, including any materials created pursuant to section 733 of this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" id="idc5a260f79da54603b7f78e941ac9b7c4"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Improvements to annual reports</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (f) of such section is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="id815a40d7aaa54ab480356cd75e65ca20"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), by striking <quote>subsection (C)(1)(G)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsection (c)(1)(E)</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id6b7db4d4ff5e420b9a0c482024daaad1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5E35385274324267A089DB6DA2A50D54"> <paragraph id="id56abd6584d8d4438b7743e5c8bdc635f" indent="up1"><enum/></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id9871f77ec2bf4c41991acabd2d4fc351"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If the Secretary, or other relevant management or supervisory official as the case may be, receives a recommendation for disciplinary action under subsection (c)(1)(I) and does not take or initiate, or modifies, mitigates, or delays, the recommended disciplinary action before the date that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary or other relevant management or supervisory official as the case may be, received the recommendation, not later than 60 days after such date, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a detailed justification for the relevant official not taking, modifying, or mitigating, or delaying or initiating such disciplinary action.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id0aab311c9e4143169b2d8744947bc4cf"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3192263e327346a9a0bcf76ab1118768"> <paragraph commented="no" id="idaf8327f6dcbf43ff9452fd0d2ceef82c" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not later than June 30, 2024, and semiannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on settlements described in paragraph (1)(J) of subsection (c), including, with respect to the period covered by the report—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idd75addf6427b402ca8cc4dea62e47832"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of settlements initiated, the disposition of each settlement that was resolved, and the number of settlements that are pending or have not been implemented;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id327f4395794f4a3aba364380f6461916"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the status of each such pending settlement, including any progress or lack of progress toward settlement and the implementation of such a settlement;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id295b8776b9524773b14531527b200153"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of the metrics described in paragraph (4)(A) of such subsection; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id3c601c7c53e34fd5b35822f3062edab7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>identification of settlement agreements that are not meeting such metrics and standards, or for which there has been any breach of the agreement.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="id7d3b9a146345411cb39c266a4e484bb6"><enum>302.</enum><header>Report on implementation of provisions of law relating to accountability and whistleblower protections at Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id96f073fb3e3b4c6dabcf720a9c266b17"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Report required</header><text>Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report detailing the implementation of Executive Order 13793 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/301">38 U.S.C. 301</external-xref> note; relating to improving accountability and whistleblower protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs) and the provisions of, and amendments made by, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/41">Public Law 115–41</external-xref>), the effect of such implementation, and lessons learned—</text> <paragraph id="id76af2843a2bf451a9eb74a850016cde5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to improve accountability and sustain accountability actions;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id36c27a97391741849696a94520703558"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to improve oversight;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idd42d5cb5eaab41a7a97384f6589f395e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to follow due process;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id37e326c4a9374f49a12913608399b0e2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to reduce future financial expenditures and legal risk due to incomplete personnel actions, insufficient documentation and due diligence, and poor compliance;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id2a571984d22147029a43a6fbf1e500cf"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to support recruitment and retention of high quality employees to serve at the Department of Veterans Affairs; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idd4cb3668a85a4126a7b391b836335c8f"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to ensure accountability actions withstands external judicial or other quasi-judicial or administrative review.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id89548d9460024578a1bb1cc4b2fa6fe2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id38fc85af902f4d4f9d5ad1f1c1eea295"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A description and a timeline of pre-planning, reasoning of the policy steps made to implement, and staffing decisions and selections made to carry out Executive Order 13793.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id55623834866444588936210081d047ef"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A description and a timeline of pre-planning, reasoning of the policy steps made to implement, and staffing decisions and selections for the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to carry out the provisions of, and amendments made by, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/41">Public Law 115–41</external-xref>).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id2677413b24a04ed0b8b0765fbe92e872"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A description of the actual implementation and staffing decisions made to carry out such Executive Order and the provisions of, and amendments made by, such Act and how the implementation differed from what was planned.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idad4a72118faf46979ba79ba8cd936df7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A discussion of the legal consequences of not bargaining or notifying the relevant labor organization partners before implementation of section 714 of title 38, United States Code.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ide476cde3e49b42efb9d950cadabb3872"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A discussion of how and why the Department was brought into legal proceedings pursuant to actions in Federal courts, administrative proceedings, or quasi-judicial bodies, relating to the implementation of the provisions of law and amendments described in paragraph (2) and the Executive Order 13793, including descriptions of—</text> <subparagraph id="idf91d506b51e647059e0cbd7eee44a3d3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each legal proceeding, including the issues presented; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id293cde63d8144cf08802df2bcbab2ab6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the current or final status of litigation, judicial review, quasi-judicial review, or administrative proceeding as of the date of the report.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id8093fe49efd14b2689dae97bef0833c4"><enum>(6)</enum><text>A detailed explanation of the staffing, policy, and other decisions made that led to the challenges and recommendations contained in Office of Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs report 18–04968–249, dated October 24, 2019, and titled <quote>Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection: Failures Implementing Aspects of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017</quote>, which contained 22 recommendations for corrective action.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7abad4bf2bbc42f082fef8adda68433e"><enum>(7)</enum><text>A count of the employees terminated or otherwise removed from service, including their seniority level and date of removal, pursuant to authority provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/41">Public Law 115–41</external-xref>) during the period beginning on June 23, 2017, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, including which authority was utilized and which of those were required to be rehired or financially made whole, or received some other form of compensation or corrective action, because their termination was subsequently found to be in violation of a provision of law, regulation, or related matters, or was so directed by judicial, quasi-judicial, or other administrative order or ruling.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="ida12fd70333354e489c2c0c1058b9af60"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Information on the establishment of the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection pursuant to Executive Order 13793 and then by the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/41">Public Law 115–41</external-xref>), including a description of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id63b98b68e4d04254a81f352295923a07"><enum>(A)</enum><text>How the office was initially staffed and how many of the people hired to staff the office were hired using noncompetitive practices.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idab8f5b5241be429db88574d0f5f95e4d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>How the office handled cases in the period between April 27, 2017, and ending on October 31, 2019, where an apparent conflict of interest existed, such as in which one senior official had to carry out or direct a review of another senior official or of equal rank and what firewalls or other procedures were established to prevent potential conflicts of interest.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id44dafc01ff2e43859ca5c669b4fd09b8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Any leaders who had multiple roles within the office and in other elements of the Department simultaneously and any conflicts of interest or apparent conflicts of interest in those roles.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id11e224923ab945dda8545b036bc46232"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Who was held accountable, and in what manner, as a result of the failures identified in the report described in paragraph (6) and thereafter, including—</text>
<clause id="id85be18aa301d4e83a3c17ec3651d60c3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>how many employees of the office were terminated, demoted, or suspended during the period beginning on April 27, 2017, and ending on October 31, 2019;</text></clause> <clause id="idbc77526498d1478fb1e2d297b15bca9a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>what authority was used for the terminations, demotions, or suspensions, described in clause (i) and the reasons for such terminations; and</text></clause>
<clause id="ida280817ecb904dc8ab382409d9410ff9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>how many employees of the office retired or resigned during the period described in clause (i).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id1eada5ae58c64905855c0ca8b8e1def8"><enum>(9)</enum><text>What lessons were learned by the Department regarding how to better implement accountability actions in the future to avoid or reduce potential litigation, reduce financial costs incurred, reduce lost accountability actions, increase efficiency, and ensure sustained accountability.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id11259886469f4361bc0f43294ffa79d1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>The total final, or estimated final, financial cost and employment outcome, such as the rehiring or compensation of employees, of orders, rulings, or other actions by Federal courts, administrative judges, quasi-judicial entities, or final Collective Bargaining Agreement settlement or renegotiation relating to the implementation of the provisions of, and amendments made by, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/41">Public Law 115–41</external-xref>) from June 23, 2017, to the date of the report.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idde2c8d0aeab94b5ba6817c0ebaa1f1d9"><enum>(11)</enum><text>For each of the outcomes under paragraph (10), an indication of whether the Department could have achieved the same outcome, namely of holding relevant employees accountable in a sustained manner, while avoiding litigation and costs incurred and accountability actions rejected.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="iddad25656e9cb4add94b16b2ff8dc040a"><enum>(12)</enum><text>Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate to describe lessons learned on implementing and sustaining accountability actions and culture.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="id4739324985724deca93bed183c72918b"><enum>303.</enum><header>Peer review of investigations by Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 323 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 301(d), is further amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1a33d678b5374776a1b1baca4b354808"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i);</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddb87e91b7a83481481821495a4fd0c6b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection (h):</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCE8B2E3150BA46ACAA94E67ACCC06B4A">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4c9c71e62dcd43668398d270b6bfb352"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Peer review</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4f08f6aa4f444a059df4a2925e7281d3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development Act of 2023</short-title>, the Assistant Secretary shall seek to enter into an arrangement with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (in this subsection the <quote>Council</quote>) to provide ongoing peer review in accordance with paragraph (2).</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2dcf8911c95e47118a9a6ef4888516f2" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pursuant to an arrangement entered into by the Assistant Secretary and the Council pursuant to paragraph (1), the Council shall arrange for the conduct of ongoing peer reviews by members of the Council at regular intervals, but not less frequently than once each year, of investigations, reports, and related matters of the Office selected by the Council.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="ide0b041eea66f4c7982f17db76f1bac05"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The arrangement entered into by the Assistant Secretary and the Council pursuant to paragraph (1) shall ensure that there is a regular rotation of the members of the Council that conducts peer reviews pursuant to paragraph (2).</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="ide1ed8622acfd4a8c9ab44b4bca75f1b6"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing protocols to carry out an arrangement entered into under paragraph (1), the Council shall exclude the Inspector General of the Department from carrying out any peer reviews under the arrangement.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id233fcaa3986e4a1b8c279c2434c51ad2"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to curtail or limit the authority of the Inspector General of the Department to conduct a review, investigation, or other fact finding with respect to the Office or any other element of the Department.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9128957d3e3b4a47a0626cb056fa14e8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (f)(1)(B)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf25d88869f92424e973d184789f62369"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id16ff38c56b8d470385eb1e301b45ca22"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after clause (iv) the following new clause (v):</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDA166A6476574A508C35A9953F178877">
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6a9397f1b89a414aba11cfd75b2570fc" indent="up2"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The findings of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency with respect to the peer reviews carried out under subsection (h) and the response of the Assistant Secretary to such findings.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section> <section id="idfad1a7c7af6a45b58ca6e5e2a76e13b9"><enum>304.</enum><header>Reports on improvements to adherence to recommendations of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8de58953312e4e6593b74ce4c31929e8"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report on improvements to adherence to recommendations of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id99d34595e9514de2b2084d6371422221"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Report required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on recommendations and actions taken by the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to improve the percentage of recommendations issued by the Office to elements of the Department of Veterans Affairs that are adhered to by such elements.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3cb5493f936546bfa5b405da43859231"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2bcc9c81af134a2c920daa7600ccdd98"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A comprehensive review of the reasons that recommendations issued by the Office to elements of the Department are not taken, initiated, or significantly modified by management.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4f0d9c5b8ca24be98d0e4d24b90eef68"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Recommendations for administrative action to enable the Department to better—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide7dd8466bcbd4e4495914cc962f2de00"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">meet the goals of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/41">Public Law 115–41</external-xref>);</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2bdf4172dbe7434b97f8d3f581e11235"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">foster a culture of accountability in the Department; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7ce3d9e512f0479a92b1f8ceea595bc5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protect whistleblowers.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id490067b554624c92970d735b620a2270"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Recommendations for such legislative action as may be necessary to assist the Office in accomplishing Departmental adherence to recommendations of the Office and other statutory functions of the Office.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" id="id613f423e4770401483d78396a7a4015c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review of internal challenges relating to proper processing of accountability proposals</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4d5a52bf4c0546f0856258141d4996c9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Review</header> <subparagraph id="id783ba87b568443e58579c3967cfca971"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete a review of internal challenges within the Department relating to the proper preparation and processing of accountability proposals within the Department.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idc0c75341103946ea8fced62541cd3d8b"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Focus</header><text>The review completed under subparagraph (A) shall focus, at a minimum, on—</text> <clause id="id035034a79de34bff862f3acf0b742b16"><enum>(i)</enum><text>improving the completeness and thoroughness of proposed accountability actions and evidence for adverse actions relating to employees of the Department, at all levels and of a representative range of senior levels, so as to sustain the action as it goes through Departmental review by a Departmental deciding official, relevant internal legal counsel review, or external judicial or other external administrative or legal review, while protecting due process; and</text></clause>
<clause id="id1b19365872ee42a4b1778c101507f345"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>improving the timeliness of the accountability process from the period of the concern being raised to formal issuance of an action, while protecting due process through a variety of efforts to include Departmental reorganization, improved policy and process guidance, improved training, and enhanced or additional information technology systems.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb5e94b24b9a940a393f2dee8e885e9ae"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header> <subparagraph id="idb4955b00320440789955b5cf1243c6be"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the review completed under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb9fe9de3f4fe498e842ae65fdbc47eae"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd52d533f55da4d16b03e74c46420e2d4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The findings of the Secretary with respect to the review completed under paragraph (1).</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5272341b2de542db99491d3d53971420"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of the following:</text> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id26d76b41b1a448c49c05f2aefaa42c5f"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The current average length of Departmental accountability processes.</text></subclause>
<subclause id="idf10f9f29cb2b44bb815049d085a02eca"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Recommendations for improvements to process, human resources, legal, organizational structure, and employee training.</text></subclause> <subclause id="id015f131b8e874ac592bfe7f25e3649a2"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Information technology including those that move processes from paper-based to digital or electronic-based systems. </text></subclause></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id562cef2e644840f68b550ebfe5a8d0df"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A timeline to achieve the improvements recommended under clause (ii)(II).</text></clause> <clause id="idbd18d14b9575424b909b11d6e22b4a13"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Recommendations for such legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers necessary to implement the improvements recommended under clause (ii)(II).</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id02a99d3798e54a17aa1bb06753584a7d"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate. </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="id1659e301bbac4d75a5a81790736b576e"><enum>305.</enum><header>Report on Department of Veterans Affairs actions in response to preliminary observations in Comptroller General of the United States report on Department whistleblower retaliation</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb9637219a5754f2e85dff1519d5dd199"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Initial report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on steps the Department of Veterans Affairs has taken or will take in response to Government Accountability Office report 23–106111 (relating to Department of Veterans Affairs resolution process for whistleblower retaliation claims).</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7118fd73dbc34f2fbff725a1f1d72948"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Subsequent reports</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Comptroller General releases a report subsequent to report 23–106111 described in subsection (a) that pertains to the same topic as such report 23–106111 and relates to the Department in calendar year 2023 or 2024, the Secretary shall submit to the committees described in such subsection a report on the steps the Department has taken or will taken in response to such newly released report.</text></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida542a46f00a4459297a94f19b659e3ce"><enum>306.</enum><header>Modification to responsibilities and authorities of Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id08d173bfb24441938cf925fa793ff6fa"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Movement of responsibilities for tracking policy and governance recommendations from Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to the Office of Enterprise Integration</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id92533bfa9f32411296277091e87d1701"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs assigned by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the function specified in section 308(b)(3) of title 38, United States Code, shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id239021fb832b4792839abef405738e3a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Recording, tracking, reviewing, and confirming implementation of policy, governance, and all related recommendations from audits and investigations carried out by the Inspector General of the Department, the Medical Inspector of the Department, the Special Counsel, and the Comptroller General of the United States, except for such portions of such policy governance and recommendations as pertain to the imposition of disciplinary actions and other corrective actions relating to employees of the Department.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idb57346dab97c4fd2ae98d2da4382f294"><enum>(B)</enum><text>After reviewing such recommendations and confirming such implementation, providing the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, the Under Secretary for Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, each of the other Assistant Secretaries appointed under section 308 of title 38, United States Code, and such other officials of the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate with information, advice, and proposed improvements for individual administration, office, and Departmental correction of deficiencies and challenges identified in recommendations described in subparagraph (A). </text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id641044d278044639937a44fd172793c0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that is 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. </text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7984550090a44886bdce73594fb86d72"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Modified discretion for Assistant Secretary To allow relevant disciplinary actions To proceed</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf666051947eb43a2a98f3db914012a17"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (2) of section 714(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7bf5709fb9c0424981534d2e379eeda7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>; or</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id82b39feb03a44f2c86f3dcd8309095ea"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id6fed41aa519f4374b222c4ac41004a27"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBB3F8FD2DD5442238AA99254BA2DBAB4"> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfa99490844a74eea9ed69fec4f6c4523" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Assistant Secretary otherwise finds that the removal, demotion, or suspension under subsection (a) is consistent with—</text>
<clause id="id69b33fa86c634ba29780b6719d5e1158"><enum>(i)</enum><text>protecting and preserving the ability of the Department to deliver services to veterans and other related beneficiaries under the laws administered by the Secretary in an efficient and effective manner;</text></clause> <clause id="id3c78dc7da7884970930f72d85718fecd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>maintaining a safe environment for veterans, employees of the Department, and visitors;</text></clause>
<clause id="id7b20ee09c2e34fc8a4a7e198bf52f20e"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>eliminating future occurrences of waste, fraud, or abuse; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id423627530e584ac8b8adf001b8133491"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensuring a culture of accountability, whistleblower protection, and due process.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd2d82af61aa147879b12cf00a2250e18"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>Such section is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B8BFF27065F457FA29F1E62D710B48E"> <paragraph commented="no" id="id48c7bea4da0645b0a6ef7254dd66cdb3" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not later than 60 days after the Assistant Secretary makes a finding under paragraph (2)(C) that a removal, demotion, or suspension is consistent, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs notice of such finding along with a justification for the finding.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section>
<enum>IV</enum><header>Improving security, oversight, accountability, and management of Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<section id="id8d878887612f4793a90def366b128212"><enum>401.</enum><header>Plan to consolidate and centralize security operations of Department of Veterans Affairs to improve management, clarify accountability, and strengthen effectiveness</header>
<subsection id="idfdb350c170bf4ec18033c2b2a7c41308"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Plan required</header><text>Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan to reorganize and consolidate all security functions of the Department of Veterans Affairs under a single Under Secretary or Assistant Secretary to—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6eb91f0757f141538514c1b1e590bf42"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improve security for veterans, employees of the Department, and visitors to facilities of the Department;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0e1938c8c0294252a9d2e2897e5fa325"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">strengthen management;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf89d5f07aaeb4842a701a3a82f6d00e2"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">clearly define roles and responsibilities; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id96255185ee09478d8cae850ab1525d2d"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">strengthen accountability and effectiveness.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id79af7f8e8d36406c9ccfd2fcf5fbdb18"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Security functions</header><text>The security functions described in subsection (a) shall include operational, budgetary, and hiring and management control for the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idb4b210449fc54dbdbe477400ebfeeeb5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The police officers of the Department, including all levels of seniority.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd7122ac3c59e4f4ab992b810f5df4750"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Department perimeter security.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0a36b99e5ae54153bccaaaf6f478c2f2"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Department building security, including doors, locks, and common access card (CAC) access.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id94b03c9bb045455583e5bbe0bcee76ab"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cameras.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd05e0a70bcc7471db87cf45b3e50fdbe"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Veteran security.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7dc6abe01bd24584b81648634dfaecce"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Visitor security.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id50fe45905ff04939a38b216942307ae0"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Unauthorized intruder security.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id3ae72dfd0b2a4d4fabc7d863fd475bff"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Coordination with relevant local, State, and Federal law enforcement entities. </text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd391e035a58a43bda7693eb533fbf900"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination of Department security with physical security aspects of applicable facilities managed by the General Services Administration.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idcfab848b3abb484d9e88cc80774fa770"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Security inspections or standards for privately leased commercial property which the Department leases.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id97f195a504fb4092931ececd16158f04"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Construction specifications for security, security system contracts, security services contracts, including for guards. </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idae39150be43e4e5e8edc64d27616325d"><enum>(12)</enum><text>Such other authorities and matters as the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate. </text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id277b2cf5d69b43adb30d746f50d5a8a7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida50becdf6e6244e9a969b240574cf446"><enum>(1)</enum> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id36a75a97d7b44d208c8e94c088bf49ca"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A discussion of the view of the Secretary on the need to recreate the Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security, and Preparedness or another office or entity within a part of the Department rather than have that office combined with the Assistant Secretary of Human Resources and Administration, which occurred as a result of the enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/41">Public Law 115–41</external-xref>). </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idb185aa3714aa48d39bc3c4adace38229" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary shall provide the view pursuant to subparagraph (A) notwithstanding the fact that section 308(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, limits the number of authorized Assistant Secretaries.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id1305f3ffaecf4d459561090cfdfadf9c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Information on the steps taken and planned to be taken to include those recommendations required pursuant to this Act and the timeline to implement the open recommendations from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General report 17–01007–01 (relating to inadequate governance of the Department police program at medical facilities).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idcf7b3aba4d824574b640804fb5a1421e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Steps taken or planned to be taken to improve the recruitment, retention, and equipping of all security related personnel of the Department, including any legislative action required to implement such changes. </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id127ec74967904970a1d9399c8a96811f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The opinion of the Secretary, including with respect to support or lack of support, and reasoning therein for consolidating under one office and chain of command the following offices and entities of the Department, which currently perform some security function, including how a lack of consolidation will lead to increased effectiveness, efficiency, and security:</text>
<subparagraph id="id07b26b91df8c4a5886c7c97601f889bc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Department of Veterans Affairs Integrated Operations Center.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idf14ad19f3e5848ddb0af03af8da80bc8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Office of Security and Law Enforcement.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idf45b310fcf794667bafd6bba12ed1bd7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Department of Veterans Affairs Police Operations and Oversight.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idcfe58bc063884ecfa87d8cf299cdcc07"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Infrastructure Protection, Policy.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idae2ef88f156848bf94b6a3798a8e0363"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Office of the Chief of Police and all Regional Directors of Police.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id7ae74d5046df4d7f9e901c874cbc0924"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Office of Identity, Credential and Access Management.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idab4bcd0f87e7497987414ac9d477566e"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Access and Identity Management.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id224a6fce872f4337a7c9f409f440e58e"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Access Management.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ide4eee8bf8d2a421681ef18623a2480ea"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Information Technology Safety and Physical Security-Business Relations.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id163d8081d5bc4603bf0f6caf26d822c0"><enum>(J)</enum><text>Facilities Planning.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id80f90f2611c548d8b0c411b0a29c5bd0"><enum>(K)</enum><text>Facilities Standards Service.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ide3786f59657c43a5adbe7b11423cfa8f"><enum>(L)</enum><text>Human Resource Operations.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id959fc407a51944d9b2ca9106d3ae7a14"><enum>(M)</enum><text>National Personnel Security.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idf804e429b7184522aadc6115c41d07c2"><enum>(N)</enum><text>Mission Support.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id6f5d86608ac249b88d6bf1ca5538d4e7"><enum>(O)</enum><text>Office of Security and Preparedness personnel security and suitability functions. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="id0e7f5e1b5733474a9b43a16bfcec6c86"><enum>402.</enum><header>Report on enterprise risk management efforts of Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id58e69e5b837340cea921f902a129afbf"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Report required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the enterprise risk management offices, strategies, and activities of the Department.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide05c9533c0f140e3a4c78989252834ed"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0715a6d0cdac4f6fb485a35226ff49c7"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Where the various enterprise risk management offices currently reside within the Department.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id6c45eda35e3c4bb7ade7e99b6999cc1c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Which office and official position is the lead responsible and accountable official for all enterprise risk management activities of the Department and to whom the heads of the offices described in paragraph (1) report. </text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id016ed05e6aed44039cf63b1e851ffab9"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The duties of the heads of the offices described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a07aa5cdf9e411c93871d545404537d"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of employees who conduct work relating to enterprise risk management, disaggregated by authorized, funded, and vacant.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcf6b6071de494f72acd65f0f5fea839e"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Information about the various budgets to support the work described in paragraph (4).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id11a955c9e2cc4a5d881537b06d4db6a3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The current metrics, goals, and performance of the enterprise risk management activities of the Department. </text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idddcec18414094412bffc8d996b88766f"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The plans of the Secretary to improve—</text>
<subparagraph id="idbb6f2b744f564f7aa838b2d8af292314"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the risk management activities of the Department, including through following recommendations of the Inspector General of the Department, the Comptroller General of the United States, and other such relevant privacy and public sector organizations who conduct strong risk management activities; </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idead32b4df0af41969f323a38fd25ce84"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the management and performance of such work; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idd6bf7466583a44068277045f548960e3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such other matters the Secretary considers relevant and appropriate to improve the enterprise risk management work of the Department. </text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5d9cecbdd6604f818b73c939eea66f03"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such recommendations as the Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action to support the efforts of the Department relating to enterprise risk management.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="idafd835e5bff241409df70387dcd38393"><enum>403.</enum><header>Modification of reporting requirement for Secretary of Veterans Affairs annual report on implementation of recommendations of Comptroller General of the United States pertaining to Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1b7de9e6ce3248a8a818763dac0744b4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7008 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/116/315">Public Law 116–315</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide09e125afc1a4cd1858e5d8ab580cf35"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by inserting <quote>, high risk recommendations, and duplication and cost-savings recommendations</quote> after <quote>priority recommendations</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id116ac4268b1c4d80b340736ca3039a8e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2ce610b318294c569c59989122b817c8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>open priority recommendations of the Comptroller General</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>open recommendations described in subsection (a)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id49839b3c190548f59c507184083ee280"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>open priority recommendation of the Comptroller General</quote> and inserting <quote>open recommendation described in subsection (a)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9218cba0c66649b5bf674d23940e1858"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">priority</header-in-text></quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id721862cb449f460592dd4930cc1c5d08"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 7008 and inserting the following new item:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id686AA96ACADA4F33A9AFF057FB241314"> <toc> <toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 7008. Annual report by Secretary of Veterans Affairs on implementation of recommendations of Comptroller General of the United States pertaining to Department of Veterans Affairs.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="id584191210e0e4facb1c5e06e9e9590f8"><enum>404.</enum><header>Annual Hatch Act training program at Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf678bd8f7e434451bac9fa0c281df354"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 104, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE6988FB33BEF46448C2C35258626759F">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddb6b7cd195b344c2adc43f40d607dcc0"><enum>729B.</enum><header>Annual training for senior leaders on political activities</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id58a1fe4dcb964354869d9627e04a0940"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Required participation in training program</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4410c3a972c74450a609d075e5ac2829"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall require each covered employee to participate each year in the training program developed pursuant to subsection (b).</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc0ba35f0cf39411380047bab4acb7173"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered employees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of paragraph (1), a covered employee is an employee of the Department who is—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb2b6ed42477c4f4598f987b3885e7866"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a political appointee;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id551103b5c6f3466f8eb8e63d32a91a6a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a senior executive;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7a9015fa836e4eb098ac18fb8625f4d8"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a senior manager; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5bffd3dd900a44d3b3162f122f716abe"><enum>(D)</enum><text>such other category of employee as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id282caf59f3ad4d099fc89ed6a6d0bb9d"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Development of training program required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development Act of 2023</short-title>, the Secretary shall, acting through the General Counsel of the Department and in coordination with the Special Counsel, complete development of a standardized training program for covered employees described in subsection (a)(2) regarding the requirements of subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/73">chapter 73</external-xref> of title 5 (often referred to as the <quote>Hatch Act</quote>).</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide29c8f547a4d47998ebaf6e787bfc471"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Compliance for political appointees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The training program developed pursuant to subsection (b) shall cover compliance matters for all political appointees of the Department, regardless of level of seniority.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id34575aa2e27041b08f4f287a56d99fb8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Updates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Special Counsel, update the training program developed pursuant to subsection (b).</text></subsection> <subsection id="id36fc41fac49c4aef9f7e8fb4814747f3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Annual reports</header><text>Not later than June 30 of each calendar year, beginning with the first June 30 that occurs more than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, in conjunction with each report submitted pursuant to section 323(f)(1)(A) of this title a report on the training program developed under subsection (b). Each such report such include an indication of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id8520098297e549b6b75013645553a8cc"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The percentage of all covered employees described in subsection (a)(2) that received training as part of the program developed pursuant to subsection (b).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id3620a1a93a0c461b84ad0878c37a2bd0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The actions the Secretary is taking to increase the percentage indicated pursuant to paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1711e20b56de4adf8905c1a89322c8af"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definition of political appointee</header><text>In this section, the term <term>political appointee</term> has the meaning given such term in section 106(f) of title 49, United States Code.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection id="id338288b63d6f4c91a09fb75c4d413fbf"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notice to Congress</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of completion of the training program developed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 729B of such title, as added by subsection (a), and delivery of the first training pursuant to subsection (a) of such section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives—</text>
<paragraph id="id9930d736037e47788b94bccbfad843fb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>notice that the development of the program pursuant to such subsection (b) has been completed and that the first training has been delivered pursuant to such subsection (a);</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8c6e5133717b40f996a580e00313436d"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the percentage of individuals compliant or not compliant with the requirements of the Secretary under such subsection (a); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idc65791862d864a5283ec3176a28d6dc5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>copies of any materials being developed for the program, including training documents used in training sessions conducted under such subsection (a).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idCDA17DEE24FF45B5A102C6242E9A0378"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title, as amended by section 104, is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 729A the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2C3557BB611C4273B7D1CF5F927695AC">
<toc>
<toc-entry level="section" idref="iddb6b7cd195b344c2adc43f40d607dcc0">729B. Annual training for senior leaders on political activities.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="idb217ec69b8254167b5455d32f3effa8f"><enum>405.</enum><header>Independent study regarding management structures of Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="idb428707b20c245859a76010317958303"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Agreement</header>
<paragraph id="idc292d4c8b1ee4f809d84581b90a74915"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Public Administration (in this section referred to as the <quote>National Academy</quote>) for the National Academy to conduct the study and review under subsection (b) and submit the report under subsection (c).</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4ec248e02bf2476d84b8f66367c656f9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Timing</header><text>The Secretary shall seek to enter into the agreement described in paragraph (1) by not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idee5cc2d13cf442b3975e60db07332add"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study and review</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida09191e90fd049e08ab8e2899f6fa066"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Under an agreement between the Secretary and the National Academy entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the National Academy shall conduct a study and review of the management structures within the Department.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0ebc27598c5e415da9c53ed62e0ea63c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In carrying out the study and review pursuant to paragraph (1), the National Academy shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="id268c7f923795447aa99d491049c6c938"><enum>(A)</enum><text>examine alternatives and develop recommendations for improving the management of the Department;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7b046f34e00441d8add922c19436bcbb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>develop recommendations relating to office creation, restructuring, movement, or consolidation to improve the management of the Department, including with respect to performance and accountability;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67f7b2b8b49341ae89088fa4d758080f"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">review previous management reports and recommendations; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1554de3773014931b6ed0904b441b8f2"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">review best practices of other Federal agencies and State governments and ascertain if such best practices may be applicable to the Department. </text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2a9c06b0fb264e6e8e5599164f318c4c"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In conducting the study and review pursuant to paragraph (1), the National Academy shall consult with the Secretary, relevant employees of the Department, and such persons outside of the Department as the National Academy considers appropriate and have an interest in the affairs of the Department. </text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idf0a0f6c3fd464622942605c403f9c72f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Academy shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that contains—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbe6f513df09f426a98a78d34471b406a"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the findings of the National Academy with respect to the study and review conducted under subsection (b), including the recommendations developed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) of such subsection; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc5c8f097068340ea86be4ba2fd4fd954"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such other recommendations as the National Academy believes are necessary and relevant to the study and review.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="ida44463f917a844389ada383deaf777fd"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Views of the Secretary</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the National Academy submits the report required by subsection (c), the Secretary shall submit to the committees described in such subsection the views of the Secretary regarding the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida39b89d358e04f559a7f5def80e7c3ad"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The study and review conducted under subsection (b).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id433b7cf6a77d4fd3ae03c2eb8b93b032"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The findings of the National Academy reported pursuant to subsection (c)(1).</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce96f896947f429cb5e374ec96f52d64"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each of the recommendations made by the National Academy in the report.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida82445cf40204df8a0c447ec5efd597d"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The intent of the Secretary to implement such recommendations.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id41ecb47cddcd4076981639971b0e33ab"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A timeline for such implementation.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaa9245b3c07f4d23b9cc5386bbf15f80"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whether implementing such recommendations would require legislative action.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id66366a104ed44301a84b74ee4d8614e4"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Not implementing the recommendations described in paragraph (3) and the reason for such decision. </text></paragraph></subsection></section>