H.R. 3185: Personnel Integrity in Veterans Affairs Act of 2025

This bill, titled the "Personnel Integrity in Veterans Affairs Act of 2025," aims to amend existing laws regarding the handling of personnel investigations involving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees. Here are the key provisions of the bill:

Submission of Performance Plans

The bill requires that the Secretary of the VA submit an annual performance plan for political appointees to the Veterans’ Affairs Committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives within 30 days after completing the performance review.

Notation Requirements for Personnel Investigations

One of the main sections of the bill introduces a requirement about notations in the personnel records of VA employees who are investigated:

• If a VA employee resigns, retires, or leaves the job before an ongoing personnel investigation is finished, the investigation must continue until it is complete.
• Once the investigation is concluded, the Secretary must make a permanent notation about the investigation in the employee's official personnel record within 40 days.

Consideration During Investigations

The bill states that the Secretary cannot consider an employee's resignation or departure from the VA when conducting a personnel investigation into that employee.

Notification and Responses

Before making any permanent notation in an employee's personnel record, the Secretary is required to:

• Notify the employee in writing within 5 days of completing the investigation and provide them a copy of any adverse findings.
• Allow the employee at least 30 days to respond in writing, including providing evidence to dispute the adverse finding.
• Provide a written decision to the employee explaining the reasons for any notations made in their record.

Appeals Process

Employees have the right to appeal the Secretary's decision to include a notation in their personnel record. Appeals can be made to:

• The Merit Systems Protection Board.
• A Disciplinary Appeals Board.

Notation of Appeals

If an employee appeals a notation made against them:

• The Secretary must indicate that an appeal is pending in the employee's personnel record within 2 weeks of the appeal being filed.
• If the Secretary wins the appeal, the notation will remain; if the employee wins, both the notation and the adverse finding will be removed from their record.

Definitions

The bill defines terms relevant to its provisions, including:

• Covered employee: This includes employees in various roles within the VA.
• Eligible personnel investigation: Defined as investigations that occur within 60 days after an employee's resignation and include various types of inquiries into performance or misconduct.

Clerical Amendments

The bill also includes a clerical amendment for the table of contents in the relevant chapter of the U.S. Code to reflect this new section regarding notations in personnel records.

Relevant Companies

None found