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House Bill 1131
115th Congress(2017-2018)
VA Health Center Management Stability and Improvement Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Feb 16, 2017
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Introduced in House 
Feb 16, 2017
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Introduced in House(Feb 16, 2017)
Feb 16, 2017
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Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
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H. R. 1131 (Introduced-in-House)


115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1131


To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a plan to hire directors of the medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 16, 2017

Mr. Bost (for himself, Mr. Costa, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Swalwell of California, Mr. Shuster, Mrs. Dingell, Mrs. Hartzler, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. O'Halleran, Mr. Bergman, Ms. Gabbard, Miss González-Colón of Puerto Rico, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, and Mr. Lowenthal) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a plan to hire directors of the medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “VA Health Center Management Stability and Improvement Act”.

SEC. 2. Findings.

Congress finds the following:

(1) According to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, several medical centers of the Department are managed by acting or temporary directors.

(2) Some of these medical centers have not been managed by a permanent director for a long period.

(3) Pursuant to section 317.903 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, a member of the senior executive service who is detailed to a temporary position in a department or agency of the Federal Government may not serve in that position for periods longer than 120-day increments, and no member of the senior executive service may be detailed to an unclassified position for a period longer than 240 days.

(4) The inability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit qualified, permanent candidates as directors of medical centers, combined with the policies described in paragraph (3), leads to frequent turnover of directors at the medical centers which impedes the ability of system management to engage in long-term planning and other functions necessary to improve service delivery to veterans.

(5) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should develop a comprehensive plan to recruit permanent directors at each medical center that lacks a permanent director.

SEC. 3. Plan to hire directors of medical centers of Department of Veterans Affairs.

(a) Plan.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement a plan to hire highly qualified directors for each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs that lacks a permanent director as of the date of the plan. The Secretary shall prioritize the hiring of such directors for the medical centers that have not had a permanent director for the longest periods.

(b) Matters included.—The plan developed under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) A deadline to hire the directors of the medical centers of the Department as described in such subsection.

(2) Identification of the possible impediments to such hiring.

(3) Identification of opportunities to promote and train candidates from within the Department to senior executive positions in the Department, including as directors of medical centers.

(c) Submission.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate the plan developed under subsection (a).

(d) Semiannual reports.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and each 180-day period thereafter until January 1, 2018, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a list of each medical center of the Department that lacks a permanent director as of the date of the report.