,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #bdbe  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #d1 #bjad ,mr4   
,begi* 7= himself & ,mr4 ,pryor7        
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
require ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
to c>ry out a pilot program to r$uce !  
%ortage ( psy*iatri/s 9 ! ,vet]ans      
,heal? ,adm9i/ration ( ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs by repay+ loans =     
c]ta9 psy*iatri/s1 to c>ry out a pilot  
program to provide h\s+ all[ances to    
heal? c>e provid]s ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal?  
,adm9i/ration :o accept assignm5t at    
rural & highly rural cl9ics1 & = o!r    
purposes4  #a4  ,%ort title  ,?is ,act  
may be cit$ z ! ,ensur+ ,vet]ans'       
,resili5cy ,act4  #b4  ,pilot program on
 repaym5t ( educational loans = c]ta9   
psy*iatri/s ( ,vet]ans ,heal?           
,adm9i/ration  7a7 ,9 g5]al  ,!         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all c>ry 
out a pilot program to repay loans (    

individuals describ$ 9 subsection 7b7   
t--  7#a7 7 us$ by su* individuals to   
f9ance ! educational exp5ses ( su*      
individuals relat+ to psy*iatric m$ic9e1
 includ+ education lead+ to-- 7,a7 an   
und]graduate degree2  7,b7 a degree (   
doctor ( m$ic9e2 or  7,c7 a degree (    
doctor ( o/eopa?y2 &  7#b7 7 obta9$ f   
any ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,a gov]nm5tal      
entity4  7,b7 ,a private f9ancial       
in/itution4  7,c7 ,an in/itution ( high]
 education4  7,d7 ,any o!r entity z     
specifi$ ! ,secret>y = purposes ( !     
pilot program4  7b7  ,eligible          
individuals  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to  
p>agraph 7#b71 an individual eligible = 
p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program is an    
individual :o--  7,a7 ei!r--  7i7 is    
lic5s$ or eligible = lic5sure to        
practice psy*iatric m$ic9e 9 ! ,vet]ans 
,heal? ,adm9i/ration ( ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs2 or  7ii7 is enroll$ 9
 ! f9al ye> ( a resid5cy program lead+  
to a specialty qualification 9          
psy*iatric m$ic9e t is approv$ by !     

,accr$itation ,c\ncil = ,graduate       
,m$ical ,education2 &  7,b7 demon/rates 
a commitm5t to a long-t]m c>e] z a      
psy*iatri/ 9 ! ,vet]ans ,heal?          
,adm9i/ration1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4
  7#b7 ,prohibition on simultane\s      
eligibility ,an individual :o is        
p>ticipat+ 9 any o!r program ( ! ,f$]al 
,gov]nm5t t repays ! educational loans (
 ! individual is n eligible to          
p>ticipate 9 ! pilot program4  7c7      
,selection  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y  
%all select n less ?an #aj individuals  
describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 to p>ticipate 
9 ! pilot program = ea* ye> 9 :i* !     
,secret>y c>ries out ! pilot program4   
7#b7 ,rural or highly rural areas ,( !  
individuals select$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 n 
less ?an five %all be individuals :o    
practice psy*iatric m$ic9e 9 a rural    
area or highly rural area or demon/rate 
a commitm5t to practice psy*iatric      
m$ic9e 9 su* an area4  7d7 ,p]iod (     
obligat$ s]vice ,! ,secret>y %all ent]  
into an agreem5t ) ea* individual       

select$ "u subsection 7c7 9 :i* su*     
individual agrees to s]ve a p]iod (     
obligat$ s]vice = ! ,vet]ans ,heal?     
,adm9i/ration 9 ! field ( psy*iatric    
m$ic9e1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y =      
purposes ( ! pilot program1 9 ex*ange = 
! repaym5t ( ! loan or loans ( su*      
individual "u ! pilot program4  7e7     
,loan ,repaym5ts  7#a7 ,9 g5]al         
,subject to p>agraph 7#b71 a loan       
repaym5t "u ?is section may consi/ (    
paym5t ( ! pr9cipal1 int]e/1 & relat$   
exp5ses ( a loan obta9$ by an individual
 :o is p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program =   
all educational exp5ses 7includ+        
tuition1 fees1 books1 & laboratory      
exp5ses7 ( su* individual relat+ to     
education describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a74
  7#b7 ,limit  ,! am\nt paid by !       
,secret>y "u ! pilot program = ea* ye> (
 obligat$ s]vice agre$ to by an         
individual "u subsection 7d7 may n exce$
 #fj1jjj4  7f7 ,brea*  7#a7 ,liability  
,an individual :o p>ticipates 9 ! pilot 
program & fails to satisfy ! p]iod (    

obligat$ s]vice "u subsection 7d7 %all  
be liable to ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 9 lieu (  
su* obligat$ s]vice1 = ! am\nt t has be5
 paid to or on behalf ( ! individual "u 
! pilot program1 r$uc$ by ! proportion t
 ! numb] ( days s]v$ = completion ( !   
p]iod ( obligat$ s]vice be>s to ! total 
numb] ( days 9 ! p]iod ( obligat$ s]vice
 ( su* individual4  7#b7 ,repaym5t p]iod
 ,any am\nt ( damages t ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
is entitl$ to recov] "u ?is subsection  
%all be paid to ! ,unit$ ,/ates n lat]  
?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! brea* ( !    
agreem5t4  7g7 ,report  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n
 lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date on :i* ! 
pilot program t]m9ates "u subsection    
7i71 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !       
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! pilot program4  7#b7        
,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by p>agraph  
7#a7 %all include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,an    
assessm5t ( ! ov]all effect ( ! pilot   
program on ! psy*iatric work=ce %ortage 

( ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration4  7,b7
 ,a curr5t assessm5t ( ! long-t]m       
/ability ( ! psy*iatric work=ce ( !     
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration4  7,c7    
,/rategies ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal?          
,adm9i/ration to improve & increase !   
ability ( ! ,adm9i/ration to promote !  
physical & m5tal resili5cy ( all        
vet]ans4  7h7  ,regulations  ,!         
,secret>y %all prescribe regulations to 
c>ry out ?is section1 includ+ /&>ds =   
qualifi$ loans & au?oriz$ payees & o!r  
t]ms & conditions = ! mak+ ( loan       
repaym5ts4  7i7 ,t]m9ation ,! au?ority  
to c>ry out ! pilot program %all expire 
on ! date t is ?ree ye>s aft] ! date on 
:i* ! ,secret>y comm5ces ! pilot        
program4  #c4  ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( !   
,unit$ ,/ates /udy on pay disp>ities (  
psy*iatri/s ( ,vet]ans ,heal?           
,adm9i/ration  7a7  ,/udy  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,comptroll]      
,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all conduct a 
/udy ( pay disp>ities among psy*iatri/s 

( ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration ( !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7#b7    
,elem5ts ,! /udy conduct$ "u p>agraph   
7#a7 %all include--  7,a7 an exam9ation 
( laws1 regulations1 practices1 &       
policies1 includ+ sal>y flexibilities1 t
 contribute to pay disp>ities describ$ 9
 p>agraph 7#a72 &  7,b7 recomm5dations )
 respect to legislative or adm9i/rative 
actions to improve equity 9 pay among   
psy*iatri/s ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal?         
,adm9i/ration4  7b7 ,report ,n lat] ?an 
"o ye> aft] ! date on :i* ! ,comptroll] 
,g5]al completes ! /udy "u subsection   
7a71 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al %all submit to
 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! 
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! results ( ! /udy4  #d4      
,pilot program on h\s+ all[ances = heal?
 c>e provid]s ( ,vet]ans ,heal?         
,adm9i/ration accept+ assignm5t at rural
 & highly rural community-bas$ outpati5t
 cl9ics  7a7 ,pilot program au?oriz$ ,! 
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs may c>ry  

out a pilot program to assess !         
feasibility & advisability ( provid+ a  
h\s+ all[ance to heal? c>e provid]s ( ! 
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration ( !       
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs :o accept 
assignm5t at rural or highly rural      
community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ics z a     
means ( enc\rag+ su* heal? c>e provid]s 
to accept assignm5t to su* cl9ics4  7b7 
,eligibility ,an individual is eligible 
= p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program if !   
individual-- 7#a7 is a heal? c>e        
provid]2  7#b7 is1 or agrees to become1 
an employee ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal?         
,adm9i/ration on a full-"t basis 9 a    
heal? c>e position designat$ by !       
,secret>y = purposes ( ! pilot program2 
&  7#c7 accepts an assignm5t 9 su*      
position = a t]m ( n less ?an #cf mon?s 
at a rural or highly rural              
community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ic select$  
by ! ,secret>y = purposes ( ! pilot     
program4  7c7 ,conditions on paym5t (   
h\s+ all[ance ,except z provid$ 9       
subsection 7d77#c71 an individual may be

 provid$ a h\s+ all[ance "u ! pilot     
program only :ile-- 7#a7 9 good /&+ z a 
heal? c>e provid] )9 ! ,vet]ans ,heal?  
,adm9i/ration2 &  7#b7 assign$ z a heal?
 c>e provid] at a rural or highly rural 
community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ic4  7d7    
,am\nt ( h\s+ all[ance  7#a7 ,mon?ly    
am\nt dur+ initial t]m ,dur+ ! fir/ #cf 
mon?s ( p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program1 
! h\s+ all[ance provid$ a heal? c>e     
provid] p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program    
%all be provid$ on a mon?ly basis at a  
rate t is equival5t to ! mon?ly rate (  
basic all[ance = h\s+ 7,,bah7 payable "u
 section #djc ( title #cg1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 to memb]s ( ! uni=m$ s]vices ^: 
grade1 dep5d5cy /atus1 & geographic     
location mo/ closely equals1 z det]m9$  
by ! ,secret>y1 ! grade ( su* provid] "u
 section #gdjd ( title #ch1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 & ! dep5d5cy /atus &      
geographic location ( su* provid]4  7#b7
 ,mon?ly am\nt = c]ta9 provid]s =       
additional t]m ,if ^u completion ( !    
fir/ #cf mon?s 9 ! pilot program a heal?

 c>e provid] accepts cont9u+            
p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program at a     
rural or highly rural community-bas$    
outpati5t cl9ic = a t]m ( n less ?an #ab
 additional mon?s1 ! h\s+ all[ance      
provid$ ! heal? c>e provid] "u ! pilot  
program %all be provid$ on a mon?ly     
basis = su* additional mon?s at a rate  
det]m9$ 9 accordance ) p>agraph 7#a74   
7#c7 ,bonus am\nt  7,a7 ,completion (   
initial t]m ,any heal? c>e provid] :o   
successfully completes #cf mon?s (      
p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program %all be  
paid ^u completion ( p>ticipation 9 !   
pilot program an am\nt equal to ?ree    
mon?s ( ! mon?ly rate ( h\s+ all[ance   
provid$ ! heal? c>e provid] "u p>agraph 
7#a7 dur+ ! la/ mon? be=e ! provid]'s   
completion ( p>ticipation 9 ! pilot     
program4  7,b7 ,completion ( additional 
"o-ye> t]m ,any heal? c>e provid] :o    
successfully completes #dh mon?s (      
p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program %all be  
paid ^u completion ( p>ticipation 9 !   
pilot program an am\nt equal to #ab     

mon?s ( ! mon?ly rate ( h\s+ all[ance   
provid$ ! heal? c>e provid] "u p>agraph 
7#b7 dur+ ! la/ mon? be=e ! provid]'s   
completion ( p>ticipation 9 ! pilot     
program4  7,c7 ,completion ( additional 
two-ye> t]m ,any heal? c>e provid] :o   
successfully completes #fj mon?s (      
p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program %all be  
paid ^u completion ( p>ticipation 9 !   
pilot program an am\nt equal to #ac     
mon?s ( ! mon?ly rate ( h\s+ all[ance   
provid$ ! heal? c>e provid] "u p>agraph 
7#b7 dur+ ! la/ mon? be=e ! provid]'s   
completion ( p>ticipation 9 ! pilot     
program4  7,d7 ,no requirem5t to rema9  
on assignm5t ,an am\nt payable "u ?is   
p>agraph %all be paid :e!r or n ! heal? 
c>e provid] conc]n$ rema9s 9 an         
assignm5t at a rural or highly rural    
community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ic4  7e7    
,supplem5tal nature ( all[ance ,any h\s+
 all[ance provid$ "u ! pilot program    
%all be 9 addition to any pay 7includ+  
basic pay1 special pay1 & retirem5t or  
o!r bonus pay7 payable to p]sonnel ( !  

,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration p]sonnel  
"u *apt] #gd ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code1 or any o!r provision ( law4  7f7 
,annual reports  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat]  
?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act & n less frequ5tly ?an once ea*
 ye> !reaft] :ile ! pilot program is 9  
effect1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !    
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! pilot program4  7#b7        
,elem5ts ,ea* report submitt$ "u        
p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! foll[+3    
7,a7 ,a curr5t description ( ! pilot    
program1 includ+ ! curr5t numb] (       
p>ticipants 9 ! pilot program & ! am\nts
 ( h\s+ all[ance be+ provid$ su*        
p>ticipants4  7,b7 ,a curr5t assessm5t (
 ! value ( ! h\s+ all[ance "u ! pilot   
program 9 enc\rag+ heal? c>e provid]s 9 
accept+ assignm5t to rural & highly     
rural community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ics4  
7g7 ,fund+ ,am\nts = h\s+ all[ances "u !
 pilot program %all be d]iv$ f am\nts   

available = ! ,vet]ans ,heal?           
,adm9i/ration = ,m$ical ,s]vices4  7h7  
,sunset  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,no individual   
may comm5ce p>ticipation 9 ! pilot      
program on or aft] ! date t is five ye>s
 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4   
7#b7 ,cont9uation ( on-go+ provision (  
all[ance ,no?+ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 %all be  
con/ru$ to prohibit ! ,secret>y f       
provid+ h\s+ all[ances "u ! pilot       
program to individuals :o comm5ce       
p>ticipation 9 ! pilot program be=e !   
date t is five ye>s aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7i7 ,rural or     
highly rural community-,bas$ outpati5t  
cl9ic def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m rural 
or highly rural community-bas$ outpati5t
 cl9ic means a community-bas$ outpati5t 
cl9ic ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration 
t pr$om9antly s]ves vet]ans :o live 9   
rural areas & highly rural areas4  #e4  
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,highly   
rural area ,! t]m highly rural area     
means an area locat$ 9 a c\nty or simil>
 community t has less ?an sev5          

individuals resid+ 9 t c\nty or         
community p] squ>e mile4  7#b7 ,rural   
area ,! t]m rural area means an area t  
is n an urbaniz$ area or a highly rural 
area4  7#c7 ,urbaniz$ area ,! t]m       
urbaniz$ area has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m by 
! ,director ( ! ,bureau ( ! ,c5sus4