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

June 17, 2016

WASHINGTON – Partnership for Public Service President and CEO Max Stier released the following statement commending Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) for introducing H.R. 5526

“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 has struggled to attract and retain top talent. H.R. 5526 would give the VA the tools needed to fill mission-critical positions, including physicians and nurses. We applaud Rep. Wenstrup for his leadership in protecting America’s veterans and for his commitment to a robust and high-performing VA workforce.

The package of reforms introduced today will improve hiring at the VA by offering market-based pay for senior executives in medical positions, expanding the agency’s ability to use internships as an entry-level talent pipeline, and creating a recruiting database to track and fill key jobs across the department, among other significant provisions. The bill also enhances accountability and leadership development by requiring annual performance plans for political leaders and by 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 engaged regularly with the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs as part of its oversight of the department’s talent needs, including the committee’s March 2016 hearing on this draft legislation where Stier testified on behalf of the Partnership.

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