CRAMER: Vote on Veterans Accountability Act Sets Right Tone for New Congress

Listen to Audio Here

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Cramer said passing a bill creating more accountability and transparency for Veterans Administration (VA) employees sets the right tone for the first day of the 115th Congress. 

The Ensuring VA Accountability Act requires all reprimands and admonishments to remain in VA employees’ files as long as they are employed by the Department. Under current policy of the VA’s tiered system of disciplinary actions for VA personnel, an “admonishment” can only remain in an employee’s file for two years, and a “reprimand” can only remain on an employee’s file for three years, after which they are permanently removed.

“Our vote today puts the VA and other agencies on notice that the 115th Congress is placing a high priority on returning accountability to the work of the federal government,” said Cramer.  “This common-sense measure ensures our veterans are receiving care from responsible employees at the VA, and retains reports of misconduct in employee records so they can be handled with transparency.”