U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) supported three different pieces of legislation on the House floor this week that would hold the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable to the veterans it serves, protect veterans and their Second Amendment rights, and empower the VA to hire and retain the best employees in their field.

“After years of mismanagement, it is imperative that there is proper oversight and that the Department of Veterans Affairs is held accountable for its conduct and actions,” Luetkemeyer said. “Two of the bills passed today ensure that VA employees are held accountable and that the Secretary of the VA has the ability to quickly identify staffing shortages and hire or retain high quality employees. The other House-passed bill ensures that VA bureaucrats cannot infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of our veterans. I am proud to support these common-sense, bipartisan pieces of legislation and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to bring these to the floor in a timely manner.”

H.R. 1181, the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act, would prevent VA bureaucrats from infringing upon the Second Amendment rights of our veterans, instead requiring a judicial authority to make that ruling. 

H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act, which would provide the VA secretary increased flexibility to remove, demote, or suspend VA employees, including Senior Executive Service Employees, for performance or misconduct.

H.R. 1367, to improve the authority of the Secretary of the VA to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill would improve the VA’s ability to quickly staff, recruit and retain the best and brightest individuals to ensure our veterans receive the best care.