[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2777-H2778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VA POLICE IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2429) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the
staffing, transparency, and accountability of the law enforcement
operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2429
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 ``VA Police Improvement and
Accountability Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSPARENCY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
OPERATIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Provision of Information.--Section 902 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(e)(1) The Secretary shall publish on the internet
website of each facility of the Department the following
information with respect to the facility:
``(A) Summaries and statistics covering the previous five-
year period regarding--
``(i) arrests made by and tickets issued by Department
police officers;
``(ii) prosecutions, ticketing, and other actions relating
to such arrests;
``(iii) the use of force and weapons discharge by
Department police officers; and
``(iv) complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions
regarding Department police officers.
``(B) Contact information for employees of the Department
and the public to directly contact the police force of the
facility, including for an individual (or the representative,
attorney, or authorized agent of the individual) to request
information regarding the arrest, ticketing, detainment, use
of force, or other police matters pertaining to that
individual.
``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that each police force of
a facility of the Department is able to provide to an
individual who contacts the police force pursuant to
paragraph (1)(B) the information described in such
paragraph.''.
(b) Use of Body Worn Cameras by Department Police
Officers.--
(1) Requirement.--Subsection (a) of such section 902 is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall require
Department police officers to use cameras worn on the
individual police officer's person that record and store
audio and video (commonly known as `body worn cameras').''.
(2) Guidance.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue, and
make publicly available, guidance on the use of body worn
cameras by Department police officers pursuant to section
902(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by
paragraph (1).
(3) Consultation.--The Secretary shall issue the guidance
under paragraph (2) in consultation with veterans service
organizations, civil rights organizations, law enforcement
organizations, law enforcement accreditation organizations,
privacy rights organizations, and other relevant
organizations or experts.
(c) Data and Reporting on Police Incidents.--Section 902 of
title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a),
is further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(f) Police Incidents.--(1)(A) The Secretary shall track
and analyze the following information regarding the police
force of the Department:
``(i) Arrests made by and tickets issued by Department
police officers.
``(ii) Prosecutions, ticketing, and other actions relating
to such arrests.
``(iii) The use of force and weapons discharge.
``(iv) Complaints, investigations, and disciplinary
actions.
``(B) The Secretary shall carry out subparagraph (A) by
implementing one or more Department-wide data systems.
``(2)(A) Beginning not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall
ensure that each incident described in subparagraph (C) is
promptly reported to the Assistant Secretary with
responsibility for operations, preparedness, security, and
law enforcement functions.
``(B) The Assistant Secretary shall, in a timely manner--
``(i) review each incident described in subparagraph (C)(i)
that is reported under subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) investigate each incident described in subparagraph
(C)(ii) that is reported under subparagraph (A).
``(C) An incident described in this subparagraph is either
of the following:
``(i) An incident, including an allegation, of the use of
force by a Department police officer.
``(ii) An incident, including an allegation, of the use of
force by a Department police officer that results in any
person receiving medical attention.''.
(d) Plan on Police Staffing.--The Secretary shall develop a
plan that establishes minimum standards for police staffing
at each facility of the Department, including with respect
to--
(1) the number of Department police officers assigned to
each facility; and
(2) the pay grades for such officers.
(e) Report on Implementation.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the
implementation of this section and the amendments made by
this section. The report shall include the following:
[[Page H2778]]
(1) With respect to the staffing needs of the Department
police force--
(A) identification of the amount of turnover among
Department police officers;
(B) how the compensation for Department police officers
affects such turnover;
(C) a comparison of such compensation with the compensation
provided to specialty police units, such as police units at
medical facilities and other police units in the same
locality pay area; and
(D) the plan developed under subsection (d), including--
(i) estimates on the costs to carry out the plan; and
(ii) any recommendations for legislative actions required
to carry out the plan.
(2) With respect to body worn cameras, a review of the
implementation and use of body worn cameras by Department
police officers, including under pilot programs carried out
by the Secretary during the five-year period preceding the
date of the report.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``body worn camera'' means a camera worn on an
individual police officer's person that records and stores
audio and video.
(2) The term ``Department police officer'' means an
employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs described in
section 902(a) of title 38, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
insert extraneous material on H.R. 2429.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 2429, the VA Police
Improvement and Accountability Act, introduced by former Committee on
Veterans' Affairs member Representative Rice from New York.
This bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Representative Radewagen
would improve the transparency and accountability of the VA police.
Specifically, the legislation would require the VA police to publish
online information about arrests and use of force, as well as establish
a consistent way for the public to obtain more detailed information
about those incidents.
Importantly, this bill would also require VA to have its police use
body-worn cameras, publish guidance on the use of such cameras, improve
tracking and analysis of arrests and other police actions, and develop
a staffing plan that adequately supports every VA facility's needs.
Together, these improvements will build accountability and trust
between the VA police and anyone who walks through VA facility doors
across the country.
H.R. 2429 was reported favorably by the committee, and I ask my
colleagues to join me in supporting the VA Police Improvement and
Accountability Act.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2429, the VA Police
Improvement and Accountability Act.
This bill represents months of bipartisan work by the committee. I
thank my colleagues for their efforts.
This bill would increase transparency and accountability in the VA
police force by requiring each officer to wear a body-worn camera. It
would also require VA to make police statistics public and available
and report on police actions, including arrests and use of force.
Madam Speaker, 2 years ago, the VA began modernizing its police
force. This legislation would support the VA's ongoing efforts.
Veterans deserve safe environments in which to seek the care and
benefits they have earned. I believe this legislation and the VA work
will help provide those safe environments.
Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
New York (Miss Rice), my good friend, a former member of the Veterans'
Affairs Committee, and the lead Democratic cosponsor.
Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my
bipartisan bill, the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act, H.R.
2429. This bill takes important steps to strengthen oversight and
accountability for VA police and law enforcement operations.
A number of shortcomings with VA's law enforcement operations were
identified in a hearing held by the House Committee on Veterans'
Affairs last Congress. Inadequate policing procedures and a lack of
true oversight for the Department's police force were two of the
pressing issues raised at the hearing.
Challenges with management and oversight of VA police were also
revealed in subsequent reports issued by the VA Office of Inspector
General and the Government Accountability Office. These challenges
include insufficient officer staffing, inappropriate conduct, and other
concerning issues at VA facilities across the country.
On Long Island, I have worked with one of my constituents who was
horribly mistreated by the Northport VA police. Our veterans deserve
much better from an agency that is always supposed to be on their side.
My bill aims to address these pressing issues with the VA police by
requiring the VA police to implement the use of body cameras, improve
data collection and reporting on police incidents at VA facilities, and
enact other important measures to strengthen oversight and transparency
for VA's police program.
Madam Speaker, I thank my Republican co-lead, Representative
Radewagen, for joining me on this bill. I also thank Chairman Takano
and Ranking Member Bost for helping to bring H.R. 2429 to the floor
today.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan
legislation to help us better serve and protect our Nation's veterans.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the
bill of the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice).
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2429.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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