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By: FEDweek StaffThe VA has said that it has carried out many of the personnel flexibilities contained in a law enacted earlier this year to enhance benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals from military burn pits, and will largely have them in place by year’s end.
VA told a Senate hearing that it has moved first on recruitment and retention provisions including removing restrictions on hiring housekeeping aids, removing limits on awards and bonuses, increasing the numbers of employees who can be hired under expedited procedures for post-secondary students and college graduates, and increasing amounts for student loan reimbursements and recruitment, relocation and retention incentives.
The department said it is on track to complete implementation of provisions related to special salary rates, critical pay positions and critical skill incentives by the end of the calendar year; an authority to buy out service contracts for physicians, nurse anesthetists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners in exchange for employment at rural or high rural facilities by April; and rural recruitment and hiring plan for its Veterans Health Administration in early 2024.
Meanwhile, the House has passed HR-5721, to expand special hiring authorities in VA research facilities to research-related occupations including statisticians, economists and data scientists; increase the time and salary limits on those performing research at the VA under rotational programs; loosen restrictions on VA researchers conducting outside research with the department’s approval; and widen a career development grant program for medical research at outside institutions.
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