VA Hiring Integrity Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 10556 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 10556

To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the appointment or retention of Department of Veterans Affairs employees who knowingly committed fraud involving Federal funds.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 24, 2026

Mr. Gosar (for himself, Mr. Alford, Mr. Baird, Mr. Bean of Florida, Mr. Bergman, Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Bost, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Cloud, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Fine, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Fry, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Luttrell, Mr. Mann, Mr. McDowell, Mr. McGuire, Mr. Messmer, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Moore of North Carolina, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Norman, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Rose, Mr. Self, Mr. Sessions, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Van Orden, and Mr. Wittman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the appointment or retention of Department of Veterans Affairs employees who knowingly committed fraud involving Federal funds.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``VA Hiring Integrity Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON THE APPOINTMENT AND RETENTION OF DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES WHO KNOWINGLY COMMITTED FRAUD INVOLVING FEDERAL FUNDS.

(a) Health Care Positions.--Section 7402 of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection: ``(g)(1) A person may not be appointed or retained in the Administration to a position listed in section 7401(1) of this title if the person knowingly engages in conduct resulting in-- ``(A) a criminal conviction for fraud, theft, embezzlement, bribery, kickbacks, false statements, conspiracy to commit such offenses, or similar crimes involving Federal funds; ``(B) a final civil judgement establishing liability under sections 3729 through 3731 of title 31, United States Code (commonly known as the `False Claims Act'); ``(C) exclusion from participation in Federal health care programs pursuant to section 1128 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7), as recorded in the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities maintained by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services; or ``(D) a determination by the Secretary that the person knowingly participated in a scheme to improperly obtain, retain, divert, misuse, or conceal Federal funds, benefits, grants, contracts, reimbursements, or other Federal assistance. ``(2)(A) Any person subject to a determination by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(D) is entitled to advance notice of the determination and a file that includes all evidence on which the Secretary based such determination. ``(B) The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, shall establish an internal grievance process through which a person subject to a determination by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(D) may contest such determination. Any such determination that is not contested by the person subject to such determination shall be final and conclusive. ``(3) If a person elects to contest a determination by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(D) through the internal grievance process required under paragraph (2)-- ``(A) the person shall be entitled to representation by an attorney or other representative selected by the person; and ``(B) the decision of the Assistant Secretary with respect to the determination pursuant to such internal grievance process shall be final and conclusive.''. (b) Additional Employees.--Section 7408 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(c) The Secretary may not appoint or retain any person as an additional employee under this section if such person knowingly engaged in conduct that resulted in-- ``(1) a criminal conviction for fraud, theft, embezzlement, bribery, kickbacks, false statements, conspiracy to commit such offenses, or similar crimes involving Federal funds; ``(2) a final civil judgement establishing liability under sections 3729 through 3731 of title 31, United States Code (commonly known as the `False Claims Act'); or ``(3) exclusion from participation in Federal health care programs pursuant to section 1128 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7), as recorded in the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities maintained by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services; and''. <all>