Authority to recoup awards, bonuses, and relocation expenses paid to former Department of Veterans Affairs employees under certain conditions

(a) Awards and bonuses Section 721 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting, or a former employee of the Department, after an employee of the Department; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Authority To collect from former employees (1) If the Director upholds an order of the Secretary under subsection (a) with respect to an individual who is a former employee of the Department, and such individual does not repay the amount of the award or bonus subject to the order within 180 days after the date of the final decision of the Director under subsection (b) with respect to the order, the Secretary may recover such amount from the former employee in the same manner as any other debt due to the United States. (2) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to permit the Secretary to waive the recovery of such amount under section 5302 of this title.. (b) Relocation expenses Section 723 of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting, or a former employee of the Department, after an employee of the Department; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Authority To collect from former employees (1) If the Director upholds an order of the Secretary under subsection (a) with respect to an individual who is a former employee of the Department, and such individual does not repay the amount of the award or bonus subject to the order within 180 days after the date of the final decision of the Director under subsection (b) with respect to the order, the Secretary may recover such amount from the former employee in the same manner as any other debt due to the United States. (2) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to permit the Secretary to waive the recovery of such amount under section 5302 of this title..