Bill Overview
Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill modifies policies and procedures of the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) related to whistleblower disclosures and whistleblower retaliation, including by authorizing the transfer of VA funds to be made available for the purpose of addressing whistleblower and retaliation claims in specified circumstances.
Sponsors: Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
Target Audience
Population: People served by and working in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Estimated Size: 19400000
- The bill addresses improvements to the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection within the VA.
- It specifically focuses on whistleblower disclosures and retaliation within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- People working within the VA who may become whistleblowers are directly impacted.
- Department of Veterans Affairs has about 400,000 employees, which includes potential whistleblowers.
- Veterans receiving services may experience indirect impacts due to changes in VA accountability and efficiency.
Reasoning
- The policy is specifically tailored to improve accountability and support for whistleblowers within the Department of Veterans Affairs, focusing directly on employees who might find themselves in such situations.
- Directly impacted are the potential whistleblowers among the nearly 400,000 employees of the VA who fear retaliation or face challenges in disclosing issues.
- While indirect, veterans receiving services at VA facilities might experience benefits from enhanced accountability and efficient operations due to reduced issues of misconduct or malpractices within the VA.
- The policy might not noticeably affect VA employees who have no involvement with whistleblower activities or veterans who have not encountered issues with their service providers.
- The policy budget constraints must be distributed efficiently across the vast number of employees and possibly affected veterans.
- Given the large estimate of 19 million veterans potentially receiving improved services due to better accountability, the distribution and impact of the available budget must be considered carefully to enhance perceived and actual service quality.
Simulated Interviews
VA Hospital Administrator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've always prioritized transparency, but the fear of retaliation was real.
- This policy could encourage more openness and fair handling of issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Veteran Benefits Coordinator (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Efficient claim processes benefit us all but more accountability means less stress on staff.
- I've seen cases where whistleblowers faced unfair treatment, this policy sounds promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
VA Medical Doctor (San Antonio, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've thought about reporting issues, but the potential backlash made me hesitant.
- If this helps protect people like me, I think it's a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Veteran Services Assistant (Miami, FL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It doesn't directly impact my role but improving accountability is always a good thing.
- Veterans deserve the best, and a transparent system helps.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I want a better system that ensures veterans get what they're promised.
- If this policy leads to less hassle at the VA, I'm all for it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
VA Nurse (Denver, CO)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Patient care should be about honesty. Less fear around reporting is necessary.
- I hope protections really do improve under this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Financial Auditor at VA (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If it streamlines operations and strengthens trust, it's positive.
- The whistleblower aspect isn't my direct concern, but it affects overall integrity of service.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Veteran Support Group Leader (New York, NY)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our veterans deserve the best possible support, and this seems like a move in the right direction.
- However, effectiveness depends on implementation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
VA Social Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It can bring some long-needed change in how complaints are handled.
- I hope mental health care can improve with better accountability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Veteran Advocacy Volunteer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Too many stories of blocked transparency. Any move towards fixing that is positive.
- Past experiences make me cautious about sincere implementation, but optimistic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $16000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $21000000)
Year 3: $16000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $21000000)
Year 5: $16000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $21000000)
Year 10: $16000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $21000000)
Year 100: $16000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $21000000)
Key Considerations
- The administrative cost of implementing these changes is significant due to the size of the VA.
- Whistleblower protection may result in a more accountable, transparent, and efficient VA.
- Potential savings depend heavily on effective implementation and oversight.
- The policy's success relies on cultural and procedural changes within the VA.