Partnership for Public Service Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Improve the VA Hiring Process

March 17, 2017

WASHINGTON – Partnership for Public Service President and CEO Max Stier released the statement below following House passage of H.R. 1367:

“The ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit, hire and retain highly-qualified and engaged employees directly affects the support and care it provides our nation’s veterans. Unfortunately, the department continues to struggle in attracting and retaining top talent. H.R. 1367 would, if enacted into law, give the VA the tools needed to fill mission-critical positions, including the medical professionals who provide direct care for veterans. We applaud Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R- Ohio), Rep. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), and Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR) for their commitment to a robust, accountable and high-performing VA workforce.

The package of reforms passed today will, if enacted, improve hiring at the VA by expanding the agency’s entry-level talent pipeline and making it easier for qualified former employees to rejoin the department, among other meaningful reforms. The bill would also enhance accountability and leadership development by requiring annual performance plans for political leaders and providing opportunities for employees to learn best practices from the private sector. Taken together, these reforms will greatly improve how the VA hires, retains and develops the talent it needs.”

For 15 years, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to making the federal government more effective for the American people. The Partnership has worked closely with Rep. Wenstrup and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to help the department meet its talent needs, including appearing several times before the committee and advocating for significant reforms to the VA personnel system.

###