Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7319

VA: Recouping Bonuses and Moving Costs from Former Employees

VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

This bill allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to demand that former employees pay back bonuses, awards, or moving expenses. Currently, the VA has the power to take this money back from current workers, but this change would extend that power to people who have already left the agency.
If the VA Secretary decides an employee received money they shouldn't have, the person has 180 days to pay it back. If they don't pay within that time, the government can treat the amount as a debt and use standard collection methods to get the money back.
The goal of this policy is to ensure that taxpayer money is handled responsibly. It prevents employees from avoiding repayment by simply quitting their jobs before the government can finish an investigation or order a refund.
The bill specifically states that the VA cannot waive these debts. This means if a former employee is ordered to pay back a bonus or relocation fee, the agency is legally required to try and collect the full amount without making exceptions.

3 milestones3 actions

Mar 2, 2026House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Feb 2, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced in House

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act

Bill NumberHR 7319

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionReferred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

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R: 1

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

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