Timothy Kennedy (D-NY)
VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026," aims to stop the downgrading of law enforcement positions within the Department of Veterans Affairs. It prohibits any official or agency from proposing or carrying out a downgrade for any covered VA position. The law also prevents the use of Federal funds for such downgrades. Additionally, it includes provisions to reverse any downgrades that occurred between October 1, 2025, and the date the Act is enacted. Affected employees would be returned to their previous status and receive any pay they were entitled to.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill directly protects the job status and pay of law enforcement professionals within the VA system.
- Scored +5
Does this help veterans get medical care?
By protecting law enforcement positions, the bill supports the safety and security of the VA healthcare environment for veterans.
- Scored +5
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
Maintaining specialized law enforcement staff contributes to the overall security and benefit administration for veterans.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Law Enforcement Positions: The bill prohibits officials or agencies from initiating a position downgrade for law enforcement functions, whether the role is permanent, temporary, full-time, part-time, or intermittent (Section 2(a) and 2(c)(1)).
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Restoration of Status and Pay: Any position downgraded between October 1, 2025, and the date of enactment will be returned to its prior status (Section 2(b)).
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Financial Recovery for Employees: Employees who occupied positions subjected to a downgrade during the specified period will receive all pay they otherwise would have been entitled to (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill directly protects the job status and pay of law enforcement professionals within the VA system. Would union members be better off under this? — It provides protections for job classification and retroactive pay for affected employees.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — By protecting law enforcement positions, the bill supports the safety and security of the VA healthcare environment for veterans.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Maintaining specialized law enforcement staff contributes to the overall security and benefit administration for veterans.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill stabilizes law enforcement staffing within the VA by preventing grade downgrades.
- 6/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/15/2026
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 3/25/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 3/24/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- 3/19/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House
John LarsonDemocrat · Connecticut