FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 1997
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs today passed legislation that will enable the Veterans Administration to downsize and realign its physician and dentist workforce without disruptive reductions in force. Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) is a co-sponsor of this bill.
"The bill will exempt certain retirement-eligible VA physicians and dentists from early retirement penalties if they retire between July 1, 1997 and September 30, 1997," Peterson said. "The physicians and dentists who are eligible for this are those that work at facilities where their positions aren't needed any more, and there are no other appropriate positions at that facility. In addition, eligible retirees must be determined by the applicable VA facility director."
This bill would avoid imposing any additional costs on the Government by requiring VA to reimburse the Federal retirement fund for any increased costs to the fund attributable to early retirements under the bill.
"The VA still intends to ensure that veterans are able to receive care when and where they need it," Peterson continued. "All this bill does is encourage providers to retire early rather than remain in jobs that would otherwise be discontinued simply to build up their annuities."