H.R. 559: MERIT Act of 2017
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H.R. 559: MERIT Act of 2017
115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-13 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 11.
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Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-13 · official record
- Who proposed it: Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
- Where it stands now: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 11. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
MERIT Act of 2017
Plain summary
Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation Act of 2017 or the MERIT Act of 2017 This bill establishes an alternative mechanism for the expedited removal by agency heads of federal employees for performance or misconduct by: (1) limiting an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to appeals made not later than 7 days after the date of such removal; and (2) making inapplicable to removals employee protections affording employees at least 30 days advance written notice of the proposed action and a reasonable time to answer the proposal orally and in writing, representation by an attorney, and a written decision. Upon receipt of an appeal, the MSPB shall issue a decision not later than 30 days after the date of the appeal. In any case in which an MSPB judge cannot issue a decision in accordance with such 30-day requirement, the removal is final. The MSPB: (1) shall uphold the decision of the agency head to remove an employee if the decision is supported by substantial evidence; and (2) may not stay any removal unless the basis for the appeal of such removal is related to certain prohibited personnel practices.
Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
What a vote does
A “Yea” vote
If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.
A “Nay” vote
If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.
PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).
What does this mean? (plain words)
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The strongest published arguments
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11] · 60 cosponsors
Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 559, MERIT Act of 2018 (2018-09-07)
Cosponsors on this site
Austin Scott (R-GA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Andy Barr (R-KY), Brian Babin (R-TX), Jodey C. Arrington (R-TX), Trent Kelly (R-MS), J. French Hill (R-AR), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Neal P. Dunn (R-FL), Jim Banks (R-IN), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Andy Harris (R-MD), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), Roger Williams (R-TX), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Scott Perry (R-PA), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Ted Budd (R-NC)
Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11] reported raising $263,729 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.
No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.
Words on this page, explained (1)
- Bill
- A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr559.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>
Record fed-us-cong115-hr559 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115