Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran backs bill to improve VA staffing

Aniyah Robinson | KSN News

Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas has co-sponsored a bipartisan bill aimed at improving staffing for the Department of Veterans Affairs, both nationally and locally.

Moran, a Republican, and Sen. Angus King of Maine announced the Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act on Wednesday. King is an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

The bill would require the VA to develop a long-term workforce strategy and improve staff productivity.

Moran said the legislation will provide veterans, their spouses, dependents and survivors with timely, high-quality healthcare and benefits.

“Veterans deserve a VA workforce that is adequately staffed to deliver the healthcare and benefits they have earned through service,” Moran said in a press release. “By creating a mandatory workforce strategy focused on improved outcomes, this legislation will help the department more effectively recruit, retain and manage its workforce.”

The legislation also requires the VA to notify Congress ahead of major staffing changes or layoffs with a detailed justification.