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WASHINGTON – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Member U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) praised full Senate passage of his legislation (S. 290) to make certain that senior Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) executives and health care employees convicted of a felony related to their position at the VA do not receive the same benefits as those who honorably serve our nation’s veterans.

“The VA has failed to demonstrate a willingness to eliminate corruption by holding individuals responsible for their corrupt behavior,” Sen. Moran said. “This legislation will help make certain VA senior executives and health care employees who violate the sacred trust of our nation’s veterans will not be rewarded with unjustly guaranteed benefits or linger on administrative leave at taxpayer expense.”

Additional reforms made by S. 290 include:

  • Limiting paid administrative leave for employees under investigation;
  • Holding VA leaders accountable for department mismanagement, hiring well-qualified people, and addressing employee performance;
  • Preventing employee conflicts of interest;
  • Improving manager training; and
  • Closing the gap on whistleblower protections.

Sen. Moran spoke on the Senate floor on Friday, Dec. 9 to call for unanimous consent to pass S. 290 to provide some measure of justice for veterans abused under the VA’s care. The bill now awaits consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s remarks on YouTube.

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