Strengthening Whistleblower Protections At the Department of Veterans Affairs Act

Floor Speech

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8510, as amended.

Following the access scandal of 2014, Congress enacted the VA Accountability Act. The Accountability Act is meant to make it easier for VA to hold bad employees responsible for their actions. The law also created a new VA office intended to protect whistleblowers and conduct investigations.

Unfortunately, this office has never lived up to the standard that whistleblowers deserve. In 2021, 80 percent of the OAWP recommendations for discipline were ignored by the VA. It is time to refocus their mission.

H.R. 8510, as amended, would require VA employees with complaints to be referred to the Office of Special Counsel. The OSC is an independent office which has the authority to receive, manage, and investigate allegations of whistleblower retaliation at the VA.

The OSC has a respected history of conducting objective investigations. As such, I am convinced that the OSC will do a better job of holding senior VA employees accountable than the OAWP.

This bill was drafted with valuable input from stakeholders and enjoys broad support.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased that Congressman Pappas and Congressman Mann have come together to author this important bipartisan proposal, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann), my good friend, who has worked so hard on this issue.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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