Should the Department of Veterans Affairs limit executive bonuses?

Government Operations (e.g., Election Laws) Labor, Jobs, and Commerce
Protecting Regular Order (PRO) Veterans Act (S. 423)
This bill Became Law
Bill Summary

S. 423 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide quarterly budget updates outlining any funding issues and any planned corrections. The bill also limits the eligibility for Senior Executive Service and VA officials within central roles to receive “critical skill incentive” bonuses, meant to retain employees with specialized skills, allowing certain approvals when authorized. Additionally, the VA is required to provide an annual report that records the officials who received these special bonuses. Sponsor: Sen. Dan Sullivan (Republican, Alaska)
View full bill text ➔

How do you feel?

You can still save your opinion to your scorecard, but since the vote has already taken place, your opinion won't be sent to your lawmakers.
Oppose Support

Opponents say

•    "During oversight visits across the country, we have consistently heard from VA police officers, medical supply technicians, housekeepers, and other VA staff about the need for VA to better retain quality employees. Instead of using all of the critical skill incentives to do this, VA inappropriately used the money to line the pockets of VA executives to the detriment of VA’s workforce and the veterans they serve." Source: Rep. Mike Bost (Republican, Illinois)


•    "It defies logic and reason that the agency could cut an additional 83,000 employees, beyond the 2,400 or more they have already terminated, without healthcare and benefits being interrupted. Veterans are being let go, veterans services are under attack, and this Administration needs to provide the American people with real answers. 30% of VA's employees are veterans—they chose to continue to serve this nation by helping their fellow veterans. Now this administration is choosing to show thanks by firing them. This is not how we honor someone's service." Source: Rep. Mark Takano (Democrat, California)

Proponents say

•    "Telling Congress we have to provide $3 billion to the VA in a matter of days or our constituents won't get their benefits - without any accountability or reforms - is a shocking failure in leadership and management. It is incumbent upon the Secretary to appear before the committee and answer questions, but remarkably, he declined to do so. This is not a great victory as some are spinning it. The VA has a duty to provide congressional oversight committees with high-quality, in-person briefings explaining these shortfalls in the future, earlier than just a month in advance. In light of this budgetary fiasco and the millions of dollars’ worth of bonuses improperly distributed to VA executives, I’ve put forward commonsense legislation to require the VA to abide by a basic level of accountability and oversight." Source: Sen. Dan Sullivan (Republican, Alaska)


•    "The PRO Veterans Act, with its requirements for regular budget briefings, will offer much-needed visibility into the VA’s financial health, helping to prevent budget shortfalls that could disrupt services. By codifying the Veterans Experience Office with the VA, we are taking a significant step towards improving trust and ensuring that veterans’ voices are at the heart of policy and decision-making." Source: Coleman Nee, National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

Further Reading
−  Less Information

IssueVoter is a non-partisan civic engagement platform.

Sign up to make your voice count before laws pass and keep your lawmaker accountable.

  • Get alerts about bills before they pass.
  • See summaries, pros/cons, and recent news for each bill.
  • Send your opinion in 1-click.
  • Track your rep’s activity year-round.
  • Make a more informed decision at election time.
Register