S. 423: Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025

The "Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025" aims to establish clearer processes and improve oversight of the budgeting for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Below are the main components of this legislation:

Quarterly Budget Briefings

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to provide quarterly briefings to specific congressional committees. These briefings will begin in the first quarter after the bill's enactment and will continue for three years. The briefings will cover:

• The current budget situation of the VA.
• Any shortfalls in funding that the Department may be experiencing.
• Plans to address or mitigate these shortfalls if they occur.

The relevant congressional committees include:

• The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• The Senate Committee on Appropriations
• The House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations

Limitations on Incentives for Senior Executives

The bill also addresses incentives provided to employees in top positions (Senior Executive Service) within the VA. It states that:

• Critical skill incentives generally cannot be provided to Senior Executive Service employees working in the Central Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Incentives may only be offered to such employees under specific conditions, including:
• The approval of designated high-ranking officials, such as the Under Secretaries for Benefits, Health, and Memorial Affairs, among others.
• Incentives must be awarded on an individual basis rather than to a group.
• If a Senior Executive spends part of their role at other VA facilities, they may be evaluated differently for incentive purposes, allowing for some potential eligibility based on their time spent at those facilities.

Furthermore, the Secretary will need to issue an annual report about the employees who received these incentives to both the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees, ensuring transparency and oversight.

Definitions

Some definitions have been established to clarify terms used in the bill:

• Shortfall: A situation where the appropriated funds needed by the VA exceed the amount requested by the President in the federal budget.
• Senior Executive Service position: As defined by existing law, this refers to high-level, career positions within the federal government.

Overall Purpose

The Act is designed to enhance transparency and accountability in the budgeting process for veterans' services, ensuring that Congress is regularly informed of any challenges and outlaying strategies to address them.

Relevant Companies

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