House passes Kirkpatrick’s VA whistleblower protection amendment

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives has passed an amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., to protect whistleblowers who help uncover problems and wrongdoing at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It was included in the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act, H.R. 5620, which passed the House today in a bipartisan vote of 310-116.

“We owe whistleblowers our thanks for shining a light on serious misconduct and systemic failures like those at the Phoenix VA,” Kirkpatrick said. “Employees who come forward with critical information deserve to do so without fear of retribution. My amendment aims to protect these whistleblowers and to swiftly expose misconduct.”

Kirkpatrick’s amendment added language to H.R. 5620 to create an independent VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, which would report directly to the VA Secretary. The office would staff an anonymous hotline and refer whistleblower complaints to the appropriate office or entity for investigation, and investigate allegations of misconduct, retaliation or poor performance of senior executives and supervisors.

The Office of Special Counsel strongly supports Kirkpatrick’s amendment, saying it “will best advance the interest of VA whistleblowers and the Veterans served by the Department.”Read the OSC’s full letter here.

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