; (ii) an assessment of any additional incentives, including any legislative action to carry out those incentives, to incentivize employees of the Veterans Health Administration to participate in the Program; and (iii) any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate. (B) Combination of report with existing reports The report required under subparagraph (A) may be submitted as part of another workforce-related report submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs to Congress. III Whistleblower protections and employee accountability 301. Strengthening whistleblower protections at Department of Veterans Affairs (a) General Counsel of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Subsection (e) of section 323 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (e) General Counsel (1) There is in the Office a General Counsel who shall be the chief legal officer of the Office and provides legal assistance to the Assistant Secretary concerning the programs and policies of the Office. (2) The Assistant Secretary shall appoint the General Counsel of the Office, who shall be a career appointee in the Senior Executive Service and shall report to the Assistant Secretary. (3) In accordance with subsection (d), the Assistant Secretary may hire staff for the General Counsel of the Office to provide such legal assistance pursuant to paragraph (1). (4) The Office shall not be established as an element of the Office of the General Counsel of the Department and the Assistant Secretary may not report to the General Counsel of the Department. . (b) Modifications and additional functions of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Subsection (c)(1) of such section is amended— (1) in subparagraph (C), by inserting and allegations of whistleblower retaliation after disclosures