; or (C) suspend the covered individual. (b) Pay of certain demoted individuals (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any covered individual subject to a demotion under subsection (a)(2) shall, beginning on the date of such demotion, receive the annual rate of pay applicable to such grade. (2) (A) A covered individual so demoted may not be placed on administrative leave during the period during which an appeal (if any) under this section is ongoing, and may only receive pay if the covered individual reports for duty or is approved to use accrued unused annual, sick, family medical, military, or court leave. (B) If a covered individual so demoted does not report for duty or receive approval to use accrued unused leave, such covered individual shall not receive pay or other benefits pursuant to subsection (d)(5). (c) Procedure (1) (A) The aggregate period for notice, response, and final decision in a removal, demotion, or suspension under this section may not exceed 15 business days. (B) The period for the response of a covered individual to a notice of a proposed removal, demotion, or suspension under this section shall be 7 business days. (C) Paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of section 7513 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply with respect to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this section. (D) The procedures in this subsection shall supersede any collective bargaining agreement to the extent that such agreement is inconsistent with such procedures. (2) The Secretary shall issue a final decision with respect to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this section not later than 15 business days after the Secretary provides notice, including a file containing all the evidence in support of the proposed action, to the covered individual of the removal, demotion, or suspension. The decision shall be in writing and shall include the specific reasons therefor. (3) The procedures under chapter 43 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this