H.R. 7319

119 HR 7319 IH: VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-02-02
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7319  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   February 2, 2026   Mr. Self  (for himself and  Mr. Ciscomani ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Veterans' Affairs    A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recoup amounts of awards, bonuses, and relocation expenses paid to former employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs under certain conditions.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act  .
2.
Authority to recoup awards, bonuses, and relocation expenses paid to former Department of Veterans Affairs employees under certain conditions
(a)
Awards and bonuses
Section 721 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by inserting  , or a former employee of the Department,  after  an employee of the Department ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(c)
Authority To collect from former employees
(1)
If the Director upholds an order of the Secretary under subsection (a) with respect to an individual who is a former employee of the Department, and such individual does not repay the amount of the award or bonus subject to the order within 180 days after the date of the final decision of the Director under subsection (b) with respect to the order, the Secretary may recover such amount from the former employee in the same manner as any other debt due to the United States.
(2)
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to permit the Secretary to waive the recovery of such amount under section 5302 of this title.
 .
(b)
Relocation expenses
Section 723 of such title is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by inserting  , or a former employee of the Department,  after  an employee of the Department ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(c)
Authority To collect from former employees
(1)
If the Director upholds an order of the Secretary under subsection (a) with respect to an individual who is a former employee of the Department, and such individual does not repay the amount of the award or bonus subject to the order within 180 days after the date of the final decision of the Director under subsection (b) with respect to the order, the Secretary may recover such amount from the former employee in the same manner as any other debt due to the United States.
(2)
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to permit the Secretary to waive the recovery of such amount under section 5302 of this title.
 .