Amendment reforms and improves the VA Inspector General's ability to report on problems and problem employees at the VA; requires the IG to release reports including employee misconduct to the public and explain what changes the VA has requested; requires the IG to identify a manager responsible for fixing an identified problem; makes it easier to fire an identified employee; and targets the bonuses of employees that fail to solve problems.

1. Adds SEC. 11. ACCOUNTABILITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS at the end of the bill

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 11. ACCOUNTABILITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 8, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

   Inserted: "Sec. 727. Accountability of Secretary to Inspector General

   Inserted: "(a) Submission of Reports.--(1) At the same time as the Inspector General of the Department submits to the Secretary a covered report, the Inspector General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of such covered report.

   Inserted: "(2) The Inspector General shall include in each covered report submitted under paragraph (1)--

   Inserted: "(A) an explanation of any changes to the covered report recommended by the Secretary during the period in which the Inspector General was preparing the covered report; and

   Inserted: "(B) a list of the names of each responsible manager.

   Inserted: "(3) The Inspector General may not make public the names of responsible managers submitted under paragraph (2)(B).

   Inserted: "(b) Performance of Responsible Managers.--(1) The Secretary shall--

   Inserted: "(A) promptly notify each responsible manager of a covered issue by not later than seven days after the date on which the Inspector General submits a covered report to the Secretary;

   Inserted: "(B) direct such manager to resolve such issue; and

   Inserted: "(C) provide such manager with appropriate counseling and a mitigation plan with respect to resolving such issue.

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   Inserted: "(2) The Secretary shall ensure that any performance review of a responsible manager includes an evaluation of whether the manager took appropriate actions during the period covered by the review to respond to a covered issue.

   Inserted: "(3) The Secretary may not pay to a responsible manager any bonus or award under chapter 45 or 53 of title 5 or any other bonus or award authorized under such title or this title if a covered issue is unresolved.

   Inserted: "(c) Role of Inspector General.--Any authority of the Inspector General provided under this section is in addition to any responsibility or authority provided to the Inspector General in the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).

   Inserted: "(d) Definitions.--In this section:

   Inserted: "(1) The term 'covered issue' means, with respect to a responsible manager, an issue described in a covered report for which the manager is or was responsible.

   Inserted: "(2) The term 'covered report' means a report by the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs that recommends actions to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (or other official or employee of the Department) to address an issue in the Department with respect to public health or safety relating to misconduct, or alleged misconduct, by an employee of the Department.

   Inserted: "(3) The term 'responsible manager' means an individual who--

   Inserted: "(A) is an employee of the Department;

   Inserted: "(B) is or was responsible for an issue included in a covered report; and

   Inserted: "(C) in being so responsible, is or was employed in a management position, regardless of whether the employee is in the competitive civil service, Senior Executive Service, or other type of civil service.".

   Inserted: (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter, as amended by section 8, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 725 the following new item:

   Inserted: "727. Accountability of Secretary to Inspector General.".

   Original wording

   Add at the end the following new section:

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As printed