Joyce Bill to Strengthen Oversight and Accountability at the VA Passes House

WASHINGTON D.C. – Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Steve Womack (AR-03), and Chris Pappas’ (NH-01) bipartisan legislation to strengthen oversight and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2023 requires VA employees to complete training from VA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) so that staff are fully informed on how to report waste, fraud, and abuse, and participate in whistleblower processes and investigations.  

“Oversight and accountability at the VA should be a top priority to guarantee every resource is available to the men and women who selflessly served our country,” said Congressman Joyce. “This bipartisan bill will ensure this happens by requiring training for VA employees on cooperating with the Office of Inspector General as well as reporting waste, fraud, and abuse. With its passage in the House, we are one step closer to ensuring our veterans are better served and taxpayer money is well spent.”

VA’s OIG works to improve the efficiency and integrity of VA operations. The VA OIG’s effectiveness depends on the participation of VA employees; early and accurate reporting by staff can save patients’ lives, ensure veterans receive benefits and services, and recoup billions of dollars. In 2021, VA Secretary Denis McDonough signed a directive requiring all VA employees complete an OIG training, but future secretaries could roll back this requirement.  

The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2023 would: 

• Require every current and future VA employee to participate in a training from VA’s OIG about reporting to and cooperating with the OIG.  
• Ensure that the VA’s OIG training includes information about:
  • Mechanisms for reporting fraud, waste, abuse, and other wrongdoing at the VA. 
  • Protections for VA employees who report wrongdoing to the OIG.  
  • Opportunities to strengthen OIG programs, operations, and services to ensure the OIG can provide effective oversight, reduce fraud, and protect taxpayer dollars.