A bill that recently passed the House aims to increase accountability for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employees, reports Stars and Stripes.
Here are seven things to know about the legislation.
1. The House passed the VA Accountability First Act of 2017, or H.R. 1259, in a 237-178 vote Thursday, according to the report.
2. Under the bill, VA secretary David Shulkin, MD, would be able to "quickly fire, demote or suspend VA employees and recoup bonuses," reports Stars and Stripes.
3. The VA Accountability First Act of 2017 would also not allow VA employees as much time to appeal corrective measures against them, according to the report. The Merit Systems Protection Board would also have to make faster decisions on appeals.
4. Additionally, the VA secretary could regain bonuses "if employees performed poorly on the job" and regain relocation costs "if employees were found to have committed fraud, waste or malfeasance," according to the report.
5. Commenting on H.R. 1259, bill sponsor Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., said, "The lack of accountability at the VA isn't just a failure to our heroes, it's dangerous," reports Stars and Stripes.
6. The American Federation of Government Employees, a union representing hundreds of thousands of VA employees, has opposed H.R. 1259.
7. The bill must still gain Senate approval.