Polk Times

Rep. Scott Franklin introduced a new bill, the Personnel Integrity in Veterans Affairs Act, aimed at ensuring transparency in how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) records disciplinary actions against VA staff accused of inappropriate behavior. In a statement, Rep. Franklin emphasized the importance of holding VA staff accountable, stating, “VA staff must not be allowed to hide behind settlement agreements and other bureaucratic loopholes to avoid scrutiny and evade accountability for misconduct.”

During a House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) hearing in 2016, it was revealed that the VA frequently opts for settlement agreements with resigning employees or those facing disciplinary actions, rather than following established personnel procedures. The review of over 200 settlements between July 2014 and 2016 showed that 72% included monetary compensation, with an average disbursement of over $24,000 to employees. Shockingly, in 96% of cases, the disciplinary actions taken against employees did not appear in their permanent record.

The bill introduced by Rep. Franklin aims to address these loopholes and prevent the mishandling of misconduct cases within the VA. Rep. Franklin highlighted the need for accountability, stating, “Striking deals to ‘save time’ sweeps potential wrongdoing under the rug and can prevent a full account of the facts.”

The House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) was recently made aware of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct within the VA, leading to further concerns about the internal investigations process. Following requests for information and documents related to the alleged misconduct, the VA reassigned the perpetrator and other staff involved. Subsequently, several VA staff members implicated in the incidents either resigned or retired.

Rep. Franklin is scheduled to testify on the Personnel Integrity in Veterans Affairs Act during a House Committee on Veterans Affairs legislative hearing on Thursday, March 21 at 4:30 PM.

For more information on the bill, visit the official link: [Franklin Introduces New Personnel Accountability Measure for VA Staff](https://franklin.house.gov/2024/3/franklin-introduces-new-personnel-accountability-measure-for-va-staff)