SEA Act of 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2772) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for requirements relating to the reassignment of Department of Veterans Affairs senior executive employees, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2772, as amended, the VA Senior Executive Accountability Act, or SEA Act. This bill would provide needed transparency of the Department of Veterans Affairs' reassignment of members of the Senior Executive Service. Specifically, the bill would require the Secretary to personally approve of a reassignment of VA's approximately 350 SES employees.

It would also require VA to report to Congress identifying those employees who are reassigned and the cost associated with reassignments.

I thank Representative Taylor for his thoughtful legislation. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2772.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Taylor), the author of this bill and a Navy SEAL.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 2772, the VA Senior Executive Accountability Act.

This bipartisan bill brings transparency and accountability to senior VA leadership.

Mr. Speaker, my area has the fastest growing veterans population in the Nation. Our OIF, our OEF, and our women's veterans population is rapidly growing.

Recently, our main VA hospital was rated at a one-star out of a five- star rating. In making a change, the VA simply swapped out the underperforming leadership with another VA hospital.

This, Mr. Speaker, is unacceptable.

My bill would require the VA to issue reports on any reassignment of VA leadership and how much the cost is. Additionally, the Secretary of the VA would have to personally sign off on the reassignment.

Mr. Speaker, veterans need to trust that they are getting the best care possible. They need to trust that they will have transparency. They need to trust that there will be accountability.

I want to thank the chairman, the ranking member, and all those on the committee for their work, their dedication, and their commitment to upholding our sacred responsibility of care for those who upheld their own sacred responsibility to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2772, the VA Senior Executive Accountability Act. Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill that has received bipartisan support as it moved through regular order of our committee.

This bill requires that any reassignment of a senior executive at the VA have the Secretary's written approval. It also requires an annual report to Congress to help us in our oversight ability.

I have dealt with this issue myself in Minnesota and know firsthand how important this is.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Taylor and our vice ranking member, Mr. Takano, for developing this legislation. I support and encourage Members to join in its support.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close at this time.

Mr. Speaker, again, commonsense bill, bipartisan, does the right thing, and, as the gentleman so clearly explained, providing that trust to our veterans is absolutely critical. I believe this will do that. I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 2772.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2772 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the Tillis substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2772) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for requirements relating to the reassignment of Department of Veterans Affairs senior executive employees, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.