Washington, D.C.– The House passed legislation, the VA Accountability Act, in a bipartisan vote, to expand the ability of the Veteran Affairs (VA) Department to hold employees responsible for poor performance or misconduct. Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) voted in favor of the legislation that also protects VA whistleblowers against retaliation, modifies the performance review process, and limits the length of time VA employees may be placed on paid leave.

“The bottom line is our veterans deserve better and more timely care,” said Paulsen. “Our VA system needs bold leadership and the ability to bring in the best people suited to serve the needs of our veterans. Allowing the VA secretary to remove and replace employees who are putting veterans at risk is a step in the right direction toward permanently fixing these problems.”  

Since the news broke last year that 35 veterans had died waiting for care at the Phoenix VA, two officials at that location have been on paid leave pending an investigation for more than 15 months. In all, only three employees were terminated in the VA system as a result of the scandal that uncovered secret ‘wait lists’ at facilities across the country. In addition, senior VA officials have stated the process for removing employees is often too difficult and lengthy.

The VA Accountability Act is supported by a number of veterans groups including the Concerned Veterans for America, American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. 

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