March 10, 2025
Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Kim, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To make veteran Federal employees who were involuntarily dismissed without cause eligible for reinstatement, to require reports from Executive agencies on the number of veteran employees fired from such agencies, and for other purposes.
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 Protect Veteran Jobs Act
.
Sec. 2. Reinstatement eligibility for veteran Federal employees; Executive agency reports on removal of veterans
(a) Eligibility for reinstatement
Any individual who is a veteran and who was involuntarily removed or otherwise dismissed without cause from a position in the civil service during the period beginning on January 20, 2025, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be eligible for reinstatement to such position or any other position in the civil service for which the individual is qualified.
(b) Reports required
(1) In general
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter until January 20, 2029, the head of each Executive agency shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on former employees of such agency who are veterans and were removed or otherwise dismissed from the agency.
(2) Elements
Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A)
The total number of former employees of the agency who are veterans and were removed or otherwise dismissed from the agency during the period covered by the report.
(B)
The reason for each such removal or dismissal.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2) Civil service
The term civil service has the meaning given that term in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code.
(3) Executive agency
The term Executive agency has the meaning given that term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
(4) Veteran
The term veteran has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.