; or (2) a position in the Senior Executive Service as a noncareer appointee (as such term is defined in section 3132(a) of title 5). . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 717 the following new item: 719. Annual performance plan for political appointees. . 5. Modification to veterans preference (a) Active duty requirement Section 2108(1)(B) and (D) of title 5, United States Code, are amended by striking consecutive in each instance it appears and inserting cumulative . (b) Expansion of eligibility of retired veterans Section 2108(4) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (4) preference eligible includes a retired member of the armed forces; and . 6. Reemployment of former employees (a) In general Notwithstanding sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may noncompetitively appoint a qualified former career or career conditional employee to any position within the competitive service at the Department of Veterans Affairs that is one grade or equivalent higher than the grade or equivalent of the position at the Department most recently occupied by the employee. (b) Limitation The Secretary may not appoint a qualified former employee to a position that is more than one grade (or equivalent) higher than the position at the Department most recently occupied by the employee. (c) Definition of qualified former employee For purposes of this section, the term qualified former employee means any individual who— (1) formerly occupied any career or career conditional position at the Department of Veterans Affairs within 2 years before applying for reemployment at the Department; (2) voluntarily left such position, or was subject to a reduction in force, and had a satisfactory performance record while occupying such position