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S. 2431Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2021

Sponsored by Margaret Wood HassanSen. Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH)
Introduced July 22, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 5:36 AM UTC

The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make sure every VA employee receives training, created by the VA Inspector General, on how to report fraud, waste, abuse, and other wrongdoing, how to respond to IG requests, and how to cooperate with the Office of Inspector General. The training must be completed within one year for current staff and within one year of hiring for new staff, and it is delivered through the department’s talent‑management system. The law also mandates periodic email notices to keep employees informed about their responsibilities and how to access the training.

Key Provisions

  • Mandates that all VA employees undergo IG‑developed training on reporting wrongdoing and cooperating with the Office of Inspector General
  • Current employees must finish the training within one year of the law’s enactment; new hires must finish within one year of starting work
  • Specifies training content: IG’s role and authority, reporting mechanisms, anti‑retaliation protections, and ways to improve VA programs
  • Places responsibility on the Inspector General to design and update the training as needed
  • Requires the training to be delivered via the VA’s talent‑management system and kept separate from other statutory training
  • Requires the Inspector General to be allowed to send email notices at least twice a year about employee duties, training availability, access instructions, and contact information

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions
SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

December 15, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 22, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 22, 2021

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

November 17, 2021

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

December 15, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 22, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2431

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 22, 2021

Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Boozman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require the employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive training developed by the Inspector General of the Department on reporting wrongdoing to, responding to requests from, and cooperating with the Office of Inspector General, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2021.

2.

Department of Veterans Affairs employee training regarding Office of Inspector General

(a)

Training

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall require each employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive training that the Inspector General of the Department shall develop on the reporting of wrongdoing to, responding to requests from, and cooperating with the Office of Inspector General.

(b)

Employees

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall require—

(1)

each employee of the Department who was employed by the Department on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act undergo the training required by subsection (a) not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(2)

each employee of the Department who begins employment with the Department on or after the date of the enactment of this Act undergo the training required by subsection (a) not later than one year after the date on which the employment begins.

(c)

Elements

Training developed and required under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

Definition of the role, responsibilities, and legal authority of the Inspector General of the Department and the duties of employees of the Department for engaging with the Office of the Inspector General.

(2)

Identification of the circumstances and mechanisms for reporting fraud, waste, abuse, and other wrongdoing to the Inspector General, including making confidential complaints to the Inspector General.

(3)

Identification of the prohibitions and remedies that help to protect Department employees from retaliation when reporting wrongdoing to the Inspector General.

(4)

Recognition of opportunities to engage with staff of the Office of the Inspector General to improve Department programs, operations, and services.

(d)

Design and update

The Inspector General of the Department shall design, and update as the Inspector General considers appropriate, the training developed and required by subsection (a).

(e)

System

The Secretary shall provide, via the talent management system of the Department, or successor system, the training developed and required under subsection (a).

(f)

Relation to certain training

The Secretary shall ensure that training developed and required under subsection (a) is separate and distinct from training provided under section 733 of title 38, United States Code.

(g)

Notice to employees

The Secretary shall ensure that the Inspector General is afforded the opportunity, not less frequently than twice each year and as frequently as the Inspector General considers appropriate under extraordinary circumstances, to use the electronic mail system of the Department to notify all authorized users of such system of the following:

(1)

The roles and responsibilities of the employees of the Department when engaging with the Office of the Inspector General.

(2)

The availability of training provided under subsection (a).

(3)

How to access training provided under subsection (a).

(4)

Information about how to contact the Office of the Inspector General, including a link to any website-based reporting form of the Office.