[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 124 (Monday, July 24, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H6172-H6173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BONUS TRANSPARENCY ACT
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1690) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report
regarding performance awards and bonuses awarded to certain high-level
employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1690
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans
Affairs Bonus Transparency Act''.
SEC. 2. ANNUAL REPORT ON PERFORMANCE AWARDS AND BONUSES
AWARDED TO CERTAIN HIGH-LEVEL EMPLOYEES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by inserting after section 717 the following new
section:
``Sec. 718. Annual report on performance awards and bonuses
awarded to certain high-level employees
``(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the end of
each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report that contains,
for the most recent fiscal year ending before the submittal
of the report, a description of the performance awards and
bonuses awarded to Regional Office Directors of the
Department, Directors of Medical Centers of the Department,
Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks, and any
other individual employed in a senior executive position.
``(b) Elements.--Each report submitted under subsection (a)
shall include the following with respect to each performance
award or bonus awarded to an individual described in such
subsection:
``(1) The amount of each award or bonus.
``(2) The job title of the individual awarded the award or
bonus.
``(3) The location where the individual awarded the award
or bonus works.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
``(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee
on Appropriations of the Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
``(2) The term `individual' means--
``(A) a career appointee (as that term is defined in
section 3132(a)(4) of title 5); or
``(B) any individual who occupies an administrative or
executive position and who was appointed under section
7306(a) or section 7401(1) of this title.
``(3) The term `senior executive position' means--
``(A) with respect to a career appointee (as that term is
defined in section 3132(a)(4) of title 5), a Senior Executive
Service position (as such term is defined in section
3132(a)(2) of title 5); and
``(B) with respect to an individual appointed under section
7306(a) or section 7401(1) of this title, an administrative
or executive position.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 717 the following new
item:
``718. Annual report on performance awards and bonuses awarded to
certain high-level employees.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1690, as amended, the
Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act.
This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit
an annual report to specified congressional committees on the
performance awards and bonuses presented to Senior Executive Service
employees, SES employees.
I believe that, if you do excellent work, you should receive a bonus.
I also believe such a bonus should be justified and that there should
be some level of transparency regarding those who receive a bonus.
Mr. Speaker, I support Congresswoman Tenney's bill, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2006, the VA Procurement
Efficiency and Transparency Act.
This legislation will require VA to record any costs or savings it
incurs as a result of using competitive procedures. The reporting
requirement is limited to contracts reported in the Federal procurement
data system and will ensure increased transparency in the VA.
It also requires VA to use standardized contracting templates
throughout the entire VA. This will create an efficient system for VA
contracting officers so they are not wasting man-hours developing
multiple documents to award VA contracts.
Anyone who has been a Member of Congress and has dealt with VA
contracts knows how difficult, confusing, and just, quite honestly,
frustrating this is. So having standardized forms will improve
oversight of these contracts so that all VA employees and contractors
follow the same requirements for the same type of contract.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this smart legislation,
efficiency in government, and help provide care in a more timely
manner.
Mr. Speaker, I urge its support, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney) who is the author of the bill.
Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank Chairman Roe and
Ranking Member Walz for prioritizing bipartisanship and putting our
veterans ahead of politics. This committee's work is a testament to
what we can achieve here in Congress when we put aside politics and
focus on results.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency
Act requires the VA to submit a report to Congress at the end of each
fiscal year listing the bonuses that were awarded to senior-level
executives within the department.
In 2015, VA employees received more than $177 million in bonuses,
which was 24 percent more than they had received in 2014. The average
bonus for a senior executive was $10,000.
I have no doubt that the men and women of the VA serve our veterans
admirably each day. In fact, I know that they do. In my own district, I
have spoken with veterans who are grateful for the compassionate care
they receive from the VA hospital in Syracuse as well as local VA
clinics in Binghamton and Rome.
VA employees should be fairly compensated for their work and awarded
for their achievements in service to our Nation's veterans.
It is also clear to me that there is more work to be done. Just
recently, an audit of several VA facilities in
[[Page H6173]]
North Carolina and Virginia revealed that wait times continue to be
misrepresented and that nearly 14,000 veterans were denied access to
timely care. The audit also found that veterans were waiting an average
of 26 days to see mental health specialists, while the VA falsely
reported average wait times of 6 days.
In light of such news, the American people are right to wonder who at
the VA may be receiving a bonus this year. They are also right to be
concerned about the nature and conditions of such bonuses.
H.R. 1690 would add a simple reporting requirement to existing law
that will streamline the oversight of bonuses at the VA. It requires
the agency to proactively provide information to Congress that details
the amount of each bonus awarded to senior executives as well as the
job titles of the individuals and the location of their employment.
Because of the patterns of mismanagement at the VA, veterans must
know how bonuses are being awarded at the agency, and Congress deserves
to receive this information in as timely a manner as possible without
having to request it each year. This bill increases transparency over
the bonus process without placing an undue burden on the agency.
It is an honor to represent a district that is home to more than
55,000 veterans. I owe it to each of them every day to make sure that
the VA is accountable and transparent. Our Nation's veterans deserve
the very best healthcare for their service and sacrifice to our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for their
support, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1690.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, sometimes we sing from the same
song sheet, and sometimes we don't sing from the same song sheet.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I was in the Lutheran hymnal and not the Baptist. I
apologize to the gentlewoman, and the next time I ask my 10-year-old to
not be on his phone, I will be duly chastised.
Mr. Speaker, I do rise in support of H.R. 1690. The gentlewoman is
right. It is smart. The public demands transparency. Make sure that
there is an accountability in this, and make sure that we are tracking.
So I thank the gentlewoman for her tolerance of us getting ahead of
ourselves.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of
legislation also, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all
Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1690, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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