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Merit Systems Protection Board Empowerment Act of 2020 This bill reauthorizes the Merit Systems Protection Board through FY2025 and modifies certain requirements relating to the administration of cases involving whistleblowers. Specifically, it requires cases involving alleged retaliation against whistleblowers to be heard by the board, an administrative law judge, or a designated board employee who has received training regarding the protections afforded whistleblowers under law.

Merit Systems Protection Board Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes the Merit Systems Protection Board through FY2024 and modifies its authority. Specifically, the bill requires the board to establish and collect a filing fee to be paid by any individual filing a claim or appeal. The bill requires the board to make a decision in a matter after receiving the written representations of the parties and after an opportunity for a hearing, and the bill authorizes the board to grant a motion for summary judgment. With respect to an appeal from a performance or conduct-based adverse action, the bill prohibits the board from mitigating the personnel action unless it is so disproportionate as to be without justification. Further, the bill requires that all decisions of the agency be supported by substantial evidence. In addition, the bill limits furlough appeals and provides for the reappointment of board members (currently, board members may not be reappointed). The bill also makes the board the arbiter of appeals involving the removal, demotion, or suspension of an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This bill revises the continuation of service provision for Merit Systems Protection Board members. If a member is the sole member appointed to the board on the date such member's term would expire, the member may not continue to serve on and after the earlier of (1) the date on which another member is appointed and has qualified, or (2) the date that is two years after the date on which the member's term would otherwise expire.

Interim Stay Authority To Protect Whistleblowers Act This bill authorizes the general counsel of the Merit Systems Protection Board to temporarily act as a member of the board when dealing with matters related to the staying of certain personnel actions, and it authorizes a single member of the board to carry out certain board duties in the event of a lack of quorum.

MSPB Temporary Term Extension Act This bill extends for one year the term of office of an individual who is currently serving as a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation Act of 2019 or the MERIT Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions related to federal employment, including the furlough and removal of federal employees, the calculation of federal employee retirement benefits, and the length of the probationary employment period. Specifically, the bill repeals the process for taking action against a federal employee for unacceptable performance, accelerates the process for removal or suspension based on performance or actions, and prohibits grievances based on adverse personnel actions and reductions in force. The bill also authorizes an agency to remove a senior executive from the civil service for performance-related reasons, and it revises provisions covering performance- or conduct-related actions against senior executives. The bill authorizes agencies to furlough employees for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the service, and it prohibits appeals to the Merit Systems Protection Board based on short-term furloughs or furloughs due to a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown). Additionally, the bill limits the retirement benefits of a federal employee who is removed due to a felony conviction related to their official duties by prohibiting felonious service from being taken into account when calculating the employee's annuity. The bill also authorizes an agency to order the repayment of a bonus or award when performance or conduct issues are discovered and such bonus or award would not have been paid had such issues been known when they were made. Lastly, the bill extends from one year to two years the probationary period for competitive service appointments and members of the Senior Executive Service.

Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2019 or FEAA This bill provides additional statutory authority for federal agencies to discipline employees. Specifically, agencies may remove or demote (i.e., reduce the grade or pay of) employees for performance or misconduct without proving that the adverse action promotes the efficiency of the service. The bill provides a statutory definition of the term "misconduct." An adverse action may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board. The bill sets forth requirements and procedures for such appeals.

Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendments Act This bill extends federal employee protections against adverse personnel actions, including the right to appeal such actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board, to additional categories of employees at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Specifically, it extends such protections to any officer or employee of the USPS who is not represented by a bargaining representative and is in a supervisory, professional, technical, clerical, administrative, or managerial position covered by the Executive and Administrative Schedule.

This bill permits the Merit Systems Protection Board to review an agency's determination that an employee (or applicant) is ineligible to hold a sensitive position that does not require a security clearance or access to classified information.

Protecting Our Democracy Act This bill addresses issues involving (1) abuses of presidential power; (2) checks and balances, accountability, and transparency; and (3) foreign interference in elections. Specifically, regarding abuses of presidential power, the bill * requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the President to submit to Congress specified materials relating to certain pardons; * prohibits self-pardons by the President; * suspends the statute of limitations for any federal offense committed by a sitting President or Vice President; * prohibits the acceptance of foreign or domestic emoluments, authorizes civil actions by Congress concerning foreign emoluments, and requires the President to make certain disclosures; and * sets forth provisions regarding enforcement authority of the Office of Government Ethics and Office of Special Counsel jurisdiction. To address checks and balances, accountability, and transparency, the bill, among other things * authorizes specified actions to enforce congressional subpoenas, * requires appropriations to be made available for obligation in a timely manner, * imposes limits on presidential declarations of emergencies, * requires DOJ to maintain a log of communications between it and the White House regarding certain investigations, * requires cause for removal of inspectors general, * increases whistleblower protections, * reauthorizes the Merit Systems Protection Board, and * establishes penalties for political appointees who engage in prohibited political activities. To protect against foreign interference in elections, the bill * requires federal campaign reporting of foreign contacts, * requires federal campaigns to establish a foreign contacts compliance policy, and * specifies that foreign donations to political campaigns and candidates of nonpublic information relating to a candidate are prohibited.

Protecting Our Democracy Act This bill addresses issues involving (1) abuses of presidential power; (2) checks and balances, accountability, and transparency; and (3) foreign interference in elections. Specifically, regarding abuses of presidential power, the bill * requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the President to submit to Congress specified materials relating to certain pardons; * prohibits self-pardons by the President; * suspends the statute of limitations for any federal offense committed by a sitting President or Vice President; * prohibits the acceptance of foreign or domestic emoluments, authorizes civil actions by Congress concerning foreign emoluments, and requires the President to make certain disclosures; and * sets forth provisions regarding enforcement authority of the Office of Government Ethics and Office of Special Counsel jurisdiction. To address checks and balances, accountability, and transparency, the bill, among other things * authorizes specified actions to enforce congressional subpoenas, * requires appropriations to be made available for obligation in a timely manner, * imposes limits on presidential declarations of emergencies, * requires DOJ to maintain a log of communications between it and the White House regarding certain investigations, * requires cause for removal of inspectors general, * increases whistleblower protections, * reauthorizes the Merit Systems Protection Board, and * establishes penalties for political appointees who engage in prohibited political activities. To protect against foreign interference in elections, the bill * requires federal campaign reporting of foreign contacts, * requires federal campaigns to establish a foreign contacts compliance policy, and * specifies that foreign donations to political campaigns and candidates of nonpublic information relating to a candidate are prohibited.

Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation Act of 2019 or the MERIT Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions related to federal employment, including the furlough and removal of federal employees, the calculation of federal employee retirement benefits, and the length of the probationary employment period. Specifically, the bill repeals the process for taking action against a federal employee for unacceptable performance, accelerates the process for removal or suspension based on performance or actions, and prohibits grievances based on adverse personnel actions and reductions in force. The bill also authorizes an agency to remove a senior executive from the civil service for performance-related reasons, and it revises provisions covering performance- or conduct-related actions against senior executives. The bill authorizes agencies to furlough employees for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the service, and it prohibits appeals to the Merit Systems Protection Board based on short-term furloughs or furloughs due to a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown). Additionally, the bill limits the retirement benefits of a federal employee who is removed due to a felony conviction related to their official duties by prohibiting felonious service from being taken into account when calculating the employee's annuity. The bill also authorizes an agency to order the repayment of a bonus or award when performance or conduct issues are discovered and such bonus or award would not have been paid had such issues been known when they were made. Lastly, the bill extends from one year to two years the probationary period for competitive service appointments and members of the Senior Executive Service.

Department of Education Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act This bill authorizes the Department of Education to suspend, demote, or remove certain employees for poor performance or misconduct. It establishes requirements and procedures with respect to such adverse personnel actions, including the following: * appeal rights, * whistle-blower protections, * grievances arising from an adverse personnel action, * recoupment of relocation expenses, and * recoupment of bonuses and awards.

Protecting the Employment Rights of Servicemembers Act This bill updates employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services by making arbitration requirements unenforceable unless the parties consent to such arbitration in relation to employment or reemployment claims.

Refuge System Protection Act This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ), at the request of the Department of the Interior, to bring in a district court a civil action against any individual or entity that destroys, causes the loss of, causes Interior to make risk mitigation efforts with respect to, or injures any resource that is within the boundaries of any land or water that is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bill also authorizes DOJ, at the request of Interior, to bring in a district court an in rem action against any instrumentality (e.g., a vessel, vehicle, or aircraft) that destroys, causes the loss of, causes Interior to make risk mitigation efforts with respect to, or injures any such system resource. Among others, it shall be an affirmative defense in either type of action that the destruction of, loss of, risk mitigation regarding, or injury to a system resource was caused by an otherwise legal act or omission that occurred outside the boundaries of the resource. In either type of action, the court may award response costs and damages.

Refuge System Protection Act This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ), at the request of the Department of the Interior, to bring in a district court a civil action against any individual or entity that destroys, causes the loss of, causes Interior to make risk mitigation efforts with respect to, or injures any resource that is within the boundaries any land or water that is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bill also authorizes DOJ, at the request of Interior, to bring in a district court an in rem action against any instrumentality (e.g., a vessel, vehicle, or aircraft) that destroys, causes the loss of, causes Interior to make risk mitigation efforts with respect to, or injures any such system resource. Among others, it shall be an affirmative defense in either type of action that the destruction of, loss of, risk mitigation regarding, or injury to a system resource was caused by an otherwise legal act or omission that occurred outside the boundaries of the resource. In either type of action, the court may award response costs and damages. .