Legislation Introduced to Help Bolster VA Hiring Process
Legislation has been introduced in the House that is designed to improve the hiring process at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
VA
Sex Change Operations by the VA
The VA is issuing a proposed rule to remove restrictions on transgender surgery for veterans.
Retroactive Restoration and the TSP Account
A VA employee ordered retroactively restored when his removal was cancelled by the MSPB argues with the agency’s handling of his account with the Thrift Savings Plan.
House Passes Bills Impacting Veterans and VA
The House has passed several bills that would impact veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs in various ways. Here is a summary of these bills.
VA Secretary’s Disney Comments Create a Firestorm
VA Secretary Robert McDonald set off a political firestorm this week when he made comments comparing the wait times at VA hospitals to those at lines for rides at Disney World. Lawmakers are coming out of the woodwork condemning the remarks. Should McDonald resign or is the controversy overblown?
Federal Employee Groups Condemn Provisions of the Veterans First Act
Federal employee advocacy groups sent a letter to Senate leaders this week expressing concerns about the Veterans First Act, saying that it would undermine protections for VA employees who are subject to discipline for misconduct or performance.
Senator Wants Veterans to Stop Sharing Their Meals with Cockroaches
Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) is introducing legislation to clamp down on VA food safety inspections after a whistleblower report highlighted unsanitary conditions at a kitchen facility in a Chicago area VA hospital.
Legislation Introduced to Pay Veterans $20k for Loss of Sexual Organs
The Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has introduced legislation to pay veterans who have suffered a traumatic injury to their reproductive organs $20,000 to be used for adoption fees or other personal expenses.
Lawmakers Make Case for Making it Easier to Fire VA Employees
The Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs sent a letter last week to the Senate VA Committee Chairman making the case for legislation that would make it easier to fire federal employees who work for the VA.
House Budget Committee Proposes Increasing Pension Contributions, Cutting G Fund Interest Rate
The House Budget Committee released its budget proposal for 2017 last week, but details at the time were lacking about what it might mean for federal workers. However, a new report from the Committee gives federal employees a glimpse into what the House budget would mean for them.
