SES, Clearance Bills Introduced

SES members at the VA would have to change jobs within the department at least every five years and only 30 percent would be eligible to receive top-level performance ratings, under newly offered legislation in the House (HR-473). The bill also would limit the time they can be put on paid administrative leave—which often happens as an agency is deciding to take a disciplinary action—and would reduce their federal annuities–by denying credit for certain years of service–if they are convicted of a crime related to their official duties. Another bill (HR-490) would require the White House to develop a system of continuously monitoring indicators of possible security risks such as arrests by persons holding clearances; improve sharing of relevant information among different levels of government; and require that federal employees, not contractors, review the investigations and interviews conducted in granting or renewing high-level clearances.