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Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36) voted today to pass the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act (S. 1094), bipartisan legislation that will streamline the process to remove, demote or suspend VA employees who have failed to effectively serve our veterans.  This legislation, which now goes to the President’s desk for his signature, will also expand protections for whistleblowers, bar the VA from removing an employee who has an open complaint and give the VA Secretary the authority to appoint permanent medical directors who can provide the steady leadership that VA hospitals and their patients need.

“Each year, we hold veterans town hall meetings across the 36th District of Texas to bring the VA directly to our local veterans,” said Rep. Babin.  “At these events, we often hear firsthand about the specific problems these men and women face with the VA.  While the vast majority of VA employees are trying to do their best, there are far too many bad actors that need to be fired. This bill brings real accountability to the VA and it will change the culture at the VA to ensure the interests of our veterans are always being put first.  As a veteran myself and the father of a decorated Navy SEAL, I was proud to support this bill to help see that our veterans get the quality care they have earned and deserve.”

Rep. Babin has also supported the following bills to better serve our nation’s veterans:

EXPANDING AND IMPROVING VETERANS BENEFITS AND SERVICES

✓ Provide Full-Benefit COLA Increase for Veterans (Voted YES on H.R. 1259)
✓ Streamline and Modernize Appeals Process (Voted YES on H.R. 2288)
✓ Expand Health Care Access for Elderly Veterans (Voted YES on H.R. 1005)
✓ Improve VA’s care for PTSD and traumatic brain industry (Voted YES on H.R. 1162)
✓ Enhance Timeliness for VA Compensation Exams (Voted YES on H.R. 1725)
✓ Ensure Blue Water Navy Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Receive Care (Cosponsored H.R. 299)
✓ Prioritize VA Funding for Veterans Not Bureaucrats (Introduced House Amend. 186)

HOLDING VA BUREAUCRATS ACCOUNTABLE AND PUTTING VETERANS FIRST

✓ Empower VA to fire bad employees (Voted YES on H.R. 1259)
✓ End the Abuse of VA Waitlists (Voted YES on H.R. 467)
✓ Ensure Failing VA Employees are Identified and Held Accountable (Voted YES on H.R. 27)
✓ Enable Congressional Caseworkers to Better Help Veterans (Voted YES on H.R. 512)
✓ Improve VA’s Ability to Hire High-Quality Employees (Voted YES on H.R. 1367)

IMPROVING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, JOBS AND WELLBEING FOR VETERANS

✓ Boost and Prioritize Veteran Hiring (Voted YES on H.R. 974)
✓ Protect Second Amendment Rights of Veterans (Voted YES on H.R. 1181)
✓ Allow Veterans to Qualify for Premium Health Care Assistance Tax Credits (Voted YES on H.R. 2372)
✓ Enable Veterans to Use GI Benefits for Apprenticeship Programs (Cosponsored H.R. 2551)
✓ Expedite Hiring of Qualified Veterans for Border Patrol Jobs (P.L. 114-68)

MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR CURRENT SERVICE MEMBERS

✓ Provide Biggest Pay Raise For Our Troops in Six Years (P.L. 114-328)
✓ Fully Fund Troop Training and Readiness (Voted YES on H.R. 5293)
✓ Ensure Robust and Responsible Funding for the VA (Voted YES on H.R. 4974)
✓ Support Full Repeal of Military Sequestration Cuts (Cosponsor H.R. 1441)