[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S4681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2997. Mr. BLUMENTHAL submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the bill H.R. 3944, making appropriations for 
military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title II, add the following:

     SEC. 2__. OVERSIGHT OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   STAFFING.

       (a) Deferred Resignation Programs, Voluntary Early 
     Retirement, Reduction in Force, and Similar Actions.--
       (1) Report required.--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 Appropriations and 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on any 
     deferred resignation programs or offers, voluntary early 
     retirement, reduction in force, or any similar actions taken 
     by the Department since January 1, 2025.
       (2) Contents.--
       (A) In general.--The report submitted pursuant to paragraph 
     (1) shall include the number of employees of the Department 
     who accepted an offer pursuant to an action described in 
     paragraph (1) and what each offer entailed, disaggregated by 
     State, veteran status, disabled veteran status, office within 
     the Department, General Schedule or Wage Grade level, and 
     whether the position of the employee has been backfilled.
       (B) SES employees.--For any employee of the Department in 
     the Senior Executive Service who accepted an offer pursuant 
     to an action described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
     list in the report the individual titles and lengths of 
     service at the Department.
       (C) Costs.--The report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) 
     shall set forth the costs to the Department for 
     administration and payouts for each program or action 
     described in subsection (a).
       (b) Staffing Goals and Staffing Levels of Veterans Health 
     Administration.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once every 
     quarter thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee 
     on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Appropriations and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives quarterly updates on staffing goals 
     and current staff levels of the Veterans Health 
     Administration, disaggregated by Veterans Integrated Services 
     Network, including the number of positions filled or removed 
     in each of the following categories and the number of 
     contracted positions in each of the following categories: 
     physicians, dentists, registered nurses, licensed practical 
     nurses, nurse assistants, non-physician providers, medical 
     support assistants, and HUD-VASH case managers.
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