#aaeth ,,congress  #ast ,session  ,h4   
,r4 #acfg  ,,an ,,act  ,to improve the  
authority of the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs to hire and retain physicians 
and other employees of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs1 and for other    
purposes4  #a4 ,table of contents ,the  
table of contents for this ,act is as   
follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,table of contents4  
,sec4 #b4 ,modification to annual       
determination of staffing shortages in  
,veterans ,health ,administration4 ,sec4
 #c4 ,executive management fellowship   
program4 ,sec4 #d4 ,accountability of   
leaders for managing the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4 #e4           
,modification to veterans preference4   
,sec4 #f4 ,reemployment of former       
employees4 ,sec4 #g4 ,recruiting        
database4 ,sec4 #h4 ,human resources    
academy4 ,sec4 #i4 ,promotional         
opportunities for technical experts4    
,sec4 #aj4 ,comptroller ,general study  
on succession planning4 ,sec4 #aa4      
,employment of students and recent      

graduates4 ,sec4 #ab4 ,exit surveys4    
,sec4 #ac4 ,encouraging transition of   
military medical professionals into     
employment with ,veterans ,health       
,administration4 ,sec4 #ad4 ,plan to    
hire directors of medical centers of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 ,sec4
 #ae4 ,recruitment of physicians in     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  #b4 
,modification to annual determination of
 staffing shortages in ,veterans ,health
 ,administration ,section #gdab7;a7 of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended--  7#a7 by striking the five    
occupations and inserting at a minimum1 
the five clinical occupations and the   
five nonclinical occupations2 and  7#b7 
by striking throughout the ,department  
and inserting with respect to each      
medical center of the ,department14  #c4
 ,executive management fellowship       
program  7a7 ,fellowship program        
,chapter #g of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following new subchapter3   

,,iii ,executive ,management ,fellowship
 ,program  #gda4 ,executive ,management 
,fellowship ,program  7a7 ,fellowship   
program ,there is in the ,department an 
,executive ,management ,fellowship      
,program4 ,the purpose of the program   
shall be to provide--  7#a7 eligible    
employees of the ,veterans ,benefits    
,administration and the ,veterans       
,health ,administration with training   
and experience in the private sector2   
and  7#b7 eligible employees of a       
private-sector entity with training and 
experience in the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 ,fellowship    
7#a7 ,a fellowship provided under this  
section is a #a-year fellowship during  
which-- 7,a7 with respect to a          
,department participant1 the participant
 receives training and experience at a  
private-sector entity that is engaged in
 the administration and delivery of     
health care or other services similar to
 the benefits administered by the       
,secretary2 and  7,b7 with respect to a 

private-sector participant1 the         
participant receives training and       
experience at the ,veterans ,benefits   
,administration or the ,veterans ,health
 ,administration4  7#b7 ,the ,secretary 
shall enter into such agreements with   
private-sector entities as are necessary
 to carry out this section4  7c7        
,selection of recipients  7#a7 ,in      
,august of each year1 the ,secretary    
shall select-- 7,a7 not fewer than #ah  
and not more than #cj eligible employees
 of the ,veterans ,benefits             
,administration and the ,veterans       
,health ,administration to receive a    
fellowship under this section2 and  7,b7
 not fewer than #ah and not more than   
#cj eligible employees of private-sector
 entities to receive a fellowship under 
this section4  7#b7 ,to the extent      
practicable1 the ,secretary shall select
 eligible employees under subparagraphs 
7,a7 and 7,b7 of paragraph 7#a7 from    
among eligible employees who are        
veterans in a manner that is reflective 

of the demographics of the veteran      
population of the ,united ,states and   
that whenever practicable provides a    
preference to such employees who        
represent or service rural areas4  7d7  
,eligible employees ,for the purposes of
 this section1 an eligible employee is--
 7#a7 with respect to an employee of the
 ,veterans ,benefits ,administration or 
the ,veterans ,health ,administration1  
an employee who--  7,a7 is compensated  
at a rate of basic pay not less than the
 minimum rate of basic pay payable for  
grade ,,gs-#ad of the ,general ,schedule
 and not more than either the minimum   
rate of basic pay payable to a member of
 the ,senior ,executive ,service under  
section #echb of title #e1 ,united      
,states ,code1 or the minimum rate of   
basic pay payable pursuant to chapter   
#gd of this title1 as the case may be2  
7,b7 enters into an agreement with the  
,secretary under subsection 7e72 and    
7,c7 submits to the ,secretary an       
application containing such information 

and assurances as the ,secretary may    
require2 and  7#b7 with respect to an   
employee of a private-sector entity1 an 
employee who--  7,a7 is employed in a   
position whose duties and               
responsibilities are commensurate with  
an employee of the ,department described
 in paragraph 7#a72  7,b7 enters into an
 agreement with the ,secretary under    
subsection 7e72 and  7,c7 submits to the
 ,secretary an application containing   
such information and assurances as the  
,secretary may require4  7e7 ,agreements
  7#a7 ,an agreement between the        
,secretary and a ,department participant
 shall be in writing1 shall be signed by
 the participant1 and shall include the 
following provisions3  7,a7 ,the        
,secretary's agreement to provide the   
participant with a fellowship under this
 section2  7,b7 ,the participant's      
agreement--  7i7 to accept the          
fellowship2  7ii7 after completion of   
the fellowship1 to serve as a full-time 
employee in the ,veterans ,benefits     

,administration or the ,veterans ,health
 ,administration for at least #b years  
as specified in the agreement2 and      
7iii7 that1 during the #b-year period   
beginning on the last day of the        
fellowship1 the participant will not    
accept employment in the same industry  
as the industry of the private-sector   
entity at which the participant accepts 
the fellowship4  7,c7 ,a provision that 
any financial obligation of the ,united 
,states arising out of an agreement     
entered into under this subchapter1 and 
any obligation of the participant which 
is conditioned on such agreement1 is    
contingent upon funds being             
appropriated4  7,d7 ,a statement of the 
damages to which the ,united ,states is 
entitled under this subchapter for the  
participant's breach of the agreement4  
7,e7 ,such other terms as the ,secretary
 determines are required to be included 
in the agreement4  7#b7 ,an agreement   
between the ,secretary and a            
private-sector participant shall be in  

writing1 shall be signed by the         
participant1 and shall include the      
following provisions3 7,a7 ,the         
,secretary's agreement to provide the   
participant with a fellowship under this
 section4  7,b7 ,the participant's      
agreement to accept the fellowship4     
7,c7 ,such other terms as the ,secretary
 determines are required to be included 
in the agreement4  7f7 ,treatment of    
recipients  7#a7 ,a ,department         
participant shall be considered an      
employee of the ,department for all     
purposes1 including for purposes of     
receiving a salary and benefits1 and    
shall remain eligible for all promotion 
and incentive programs otherwise        
available to such an employee4  7#b7 ,a 
private-sector participant shall be     
considered an employee of the           
private-sector entity that employs the  
participant for all purposes1 including 
for purposes of receiving a salary and  
benefits1 and during the fellowship     
shall be treated as a contractor of the 

,department4  7g7 ,reports ,not later   
than #fj days after completing a        
fellowship under this section1 a        
recipient of the fellowship shall submit
 to the ,secretary a report on the      
fellowship4 ,each such report shall     
describe the duties of the recipient    
during the fellowship and any           
recommendations of the recipient for the
 application by the ,secretary of       
industry processes1 technologies1 and   
best practices4 ,not later than #g days 
after receiving each such report1 the   
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and ,house of               
,representatives such report without    
change4  7h7 ,definitions ,in this      
section3  7#a7 ,the term ,department    
participant means an employee of the    
,veterans ,benefits ,administration or  
the ,veterans ,health ,administration   
who is participating in the fellowship  
under this section4  7#b7 ,the term     
private-sector entity includes an entity

 operating under a public-private       
partnership4  7#c7 ,the term            
private-sector participant means an     
employee of a private-sector entity who 
is participating in the fellowship under
 this section4  4  7b7 ,deadline for    
implementation ,not later than #a year  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs shall implement the ,executive 
,management ,fellowship ,program        
required under section #gda of title    
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by 
subsection 7a74  7c7 ,clerical amendment
 ,the table of sections at the beginning
 of chapter #g of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following new items3        
,subchapter ,,iii--,executive           
,management ,fellowship ,program #gda4  
,executive ,management ,fellowship      
,program4  4  #d4 ,accountability of    
leaders for managing the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,in general     
,chapter #g of title #ch1 ,united       

,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
after section #gag the following new    
section3  #gai4 ,annual performance plan
 for political appointees  7a7 ,in      
general ,the ,secretary shall conduct an
 annual performance plan for each       
political appointee of the ,department  
that is similar to the annual           
performance plan conducted for an       
employee of the ,department who is      
appointed as a career appointee 7as that
 term is defined in section             
#cacb7;a77#d7 of title #e7 within the   
,senior ,executive ,service at the      
,department4  7b7 ,elements of plan     
,each annual performance plan conducted 
under subsection 7a7 with respect to a  
political appointee of the ,department  
shall include an assessment of whether  
the appointee is meeting the following  
goals3  7#a7 ,recruiting1 selecting1 and
 retaining well-qualified individuals   
for employment at the ,department4  7#b7
 ,engaging and motivating employees4    
7#c7 ,training and developing employees 

and preparing those employees for future
 leadership roles within the            
,department4  7#d7 ,holding each        
employee of the ,department that is a   
manager accountable for addressing      
issues relating to performance1 in      
particular issues relating to the       
performance of employees that report to 
the manager4  7c7 ,definition of        
political appointee ,in this section1   
the term political appointee means an   
employee of the ,department who holds-- 
7#a7 a position which has been excepted 
from the competitive service by reason  
of its confidential1 policy-determining1
 policy-making1 or policy-advocating    
character2 or  7#b7 a position in the   
,senior ,executive ,service as a        
noncareer appointee 7as such term is    
defined in section #cacb7;a7 of title   
#e74  4  7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the   
table of sections at the beginning of   
chapter #g of such title is amended by  
inserting after the item relating to    
section #gag the following new item3    

#gai4 ,annual performance plan for      
political appointees4  4  #e4           
,modification to veterans preference    
7a7 ,active duty requirement ,section   
#bajh7a77;,b7 and 7,d7 of title #e1     
,united ,states ,code1 are amended by   
striking consecutive in each instance it
 appears and inserting cumulative4  7b7 
,expansion of eligibility of retired    
veterans ,section #bajh7d7 of title #e1 
,united ,states ,code1 is amended to    
read as follows3  7#d7 preference       
eligible includes a retired member of   
the armed forces2 and  4  #f4           
,reemployment of former employees  7a7  
,in general ,notwithstanding sections   
#ccji through #ccah of title #e1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 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 employee4  7b7 
,limitation ,the ,secretary may not     
appoint a qualified former employee to a
 position that is more than one grade   
7or equivalent7 higher than the position
 at the ,department most recently       
occupied by the employee4  7c7          
,definition of qualified former employee
 ,for purposes of this section1 the term
 qualified former employee means any    
individual who--  7#a7 formerly occupied
 any career or career conditional       
position at the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs within #b years before        
applying for reemployment at the        
,department2  7#b7 voluntarily left such
 position1 or was subject to a reduction
 in force1 and had a satisfactory       
performance record while occupying such 
position2 and  7#c7 since leaving such  
position has maintained licensing       
requirements1 related to the position1  
if any1 and gained skill1 knowledge1 or 
other factors related to the position4  

#g4 ,recruiting database  7a7           
,establishment ,the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall establish a    
single database that lists--  7#a7 each 
vacant position in the ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs that the ,secretary  
determines is critical to the mission of
 the ,department1 difficult to fill1 or 
both2 and  7#b7 each vacant position in 
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
for a mental health professional4  7b7  
,qualified applicant ,if the ,secretary 
determines that an applicant for a      
vacant position listed in the database  
established under subsection 7a7 is     
qualified for such position but does not
 select the applicant for such position1
 the ,secretary1 at the election of the 
applicant1 may consider the applicant   
for other similar vacant positions      
listed in the database for which the    
applicant is qualified4  7c7 ,prolonged 
vacancies ,if the ,secretary does not   
fill a vacant position listed in the    
database established under subsection   

7a7 after a period determined           
appropriate by the ,secretary1 the      
,secretary--  7#a7 may ensure that      
applicants described in subsection 7b7  
are considered for such position2 and   
7#b7 may use the database established   
under subsection 7a7 to assist in       
filling such position4  7d7 ,report ,not
 later than #a year after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary shall submit to ,congress a  
report on the use and efficacy of the   
database established under subsection   
7a74  #h4 ,human resources academy  7a7 
,in general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall provide to human        
resources professionals of the ,veterans
 ,health ,administration of the         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
training on how to best recruit and     
retain employees of the ,veterans       
,health ,administration1 including with 
respect to any recruitment and retention
 matters that are unique to the         
,veterans ,health ,administration       

pursuant to chapter #gd of title #ch1   
,united ,states ,code1 or other         
provisions of law4 ,the ,secretary shall
 provide such training virtually4  7b7  
,amount of training ,the ,secretary     
shall ensure that each human resources  
professional of the ,veterans ,health   
,administration receives the training   
described in subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 as   
soon as practicable after being hired by
 the ,secretary as a human resource     
professional2 and  7#b7 annually        
thereafter4  7c7 ,certification ,the    
,secretary shall require that each human
 resources professional of the ,veterans
 ,health ,administration1 upon the      
completion of the training described in 
subsection 7a71 certifies that the      
professional received the training and  
understands the information provided by 
the training4  7d7 ,annual report ,the  
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate an annual report on the training

 described in subsection 7a71 including 
the cost of providing such training and 
the number of human resources           
professionals who received such training
 during the year covered by the report4 
#i4 ,promotional opportunities for      
technical experts ,not later than #a    
year after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans  
,affairs shall establish a promotional  
track system for employees of the       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs that  
the ,secretary determines are technical 
experts pursuant to regulations         
prescribed by the ,secretary for        
purposes of carrying out this section4  
,such system shall--  7#a7 provide any  
such employee the opportunity to advance
 within the ,department without being   
required to transition to a management  
position2 and  7#b7 for purposes of     
achieving career advancement--  7,a7    
provide for the establishment of new    
positions within the ,department2 and   
7,b7 notwithstanding any other provision

 of law1 provide for increases in pay   
for any such employee4  #aj4            
,comptroller ,general study on          
succession planning  7a7 ,study ,the    
,comptroller ,general of the ,united    
,states shall conduct a study on each of
 the following3 7#a7 ,the succession    
planning at each medical facility of the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1     
including each medical center1          
domiciliary facility1 outpatient clinic1
 community-based outpatient clinic1 and 
vet center4  7#b7 ,the succession       
planning at the ,veterans ,benefits     
,administration and the ,national       
,cemetery ,administration of the        
,department4  7b7 ,elements ,the study  
under subsection 7a7 shall include1 for 
each entity studied under the study1 the
 following3  7#a7 ,a determination of   
the mission-critical positions within   
the entity and the vacancy risk of such 
positions4  7#b7 ,an analysis of the    
future needs for mission-critical       
positions and gaps within the existing  

talent pool of the entity4  7#c7 ,a     
description of strategies to close skill
 gaps through the use of training for   
existing staff1 targeted recruitment1   
and hiring4  7#d7 ,a plan to regularly  
evaluate progress of staff and update   
existing succession plans using clear   
and measurable metrics and benchmarks4  
7#e7 ,a demonstration of the capacity of
 the entity to execute succession plans 
with successful succession management   
strategies4  7#f7 ,an analysis of       
succession planning and hiring as it    
relates to rural areas4  7#g7 ,any other
 matters the ,comptroller ,general      
determines appropriate4  7c7 ,report    
,not later than #b years after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,comptroller ,general shall submit to   
the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs  
of the ,house of ,representatives and   
the ,senate a report containing each    
study conducted under subsection 7a74   
#aa4 ,employment of students and recent 
graduates  7a7 ,in general ,the         

,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
prescribe regulations to allow for      
excepted service appointments of        
students and recent graduates leading to
 conversion to career or career         
conditional employment of a student or  
recent graduate of a qualifying         
educational institution1 as defined by  
the ,department4  7b7 ,applicability    
,the conversion authority described in  
subsection 7a7 shall be applicable to   
individuals in good standing who--  7#a7
 are employed in a qualifying internship
 or fellowship program at the           
,department2  7#b7 are employed in the  
,department in a volunteer capacity and 
performing substantive duties comparable
 to those of individuals in internship  
or fellowship programs and meet the     
required number of hours for conversion2
  7#c7 are employed in the ,department  
under a contract or agreement with an   
external nonprofit organization and     
performing substantive duties comparable
 to those of individuals in internship  

or fellowship programs2  7#d7 have      
received educational assistance under   
chapter #cc of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code2 or  7#e7 graduated from a
 qualifying educational institution1 as 
defined by the ,department1 and have not
 reached #cj years of age4  7c7         
,uniformity ,for the purposes of        
subsections 7b77#b7 and 7b77#c71 hours  
of work performed by an individual      
employed shall be considered equal to   
those performed by an individual        
employed in a qualifying internship or  
fellowship program by the ,department4  
#ab4 ,exit surveys  7a7 ,in general ,the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
develop and carry out a standardized    
exit survey to be voluntarily completed 
by career and noncareer employees and   
executives of the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs who voluntarily      
separate from the ,department4 ,such    
exit survey shall be developed in       
consultation with an appropriate        
non-,department entity with experience  

developing such surveys4  7b7 ,survey   
content ,the survey shall include1 at a 
minimum--  7#a7 reasons for leaving the 
,department2  7#b7 efforts made by the  
supervisor of the employee to retain the
 individual2  7#c7 the extent of job    
satisfaction and engagement during the  
employment2  7#d7 the intent of employee
 to either remain employed within the   
,federal ,government or to leave        
employment with the ,federal            
,government2 and  7#e7 such other       
matters as the ,secretary determines    
appropriate4  7c7 ,anonymity of survey  
content ,the ,secretary shall ensure    
that data collected under subsection 7a7
 is anonymized1 including through the   
use of a location that allows for       
privacy1 is not directly visible by     
another employee1 and does not require  
the departing employee to input any     
personally identifiable data4  7d7      
,sharing of survey data ,the ,secretary 
shall ensure that the results of the    
survey required by subsection 7a7 are   

aggregated at the ,veterans ,integrated 
,service ,network level and are shared  
on an annual basis with directors and   
managers of facilities of the           
,department and the ,veterans           
,integrated ,service ,networks4  7e7    
,report ,not later than #a year after   
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary 
shall submit to the ,committees on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives and the ,senate a      
report containing the aggregate results 
of the exit survey under subsection 7a7 
covering the year prior to the report4  
,the report shall include--  7#a7 an    
analysis of the most common reasons     
employees choose to leave the           
,department2  7#b7 steps the ,secretary 
is taking to improve retention1         
particularly for mission-critical       
occupations2  7#c7 the demographic      
characteristics of employees choosing to
 leave the ,department2  7#d7 any       
legislative barriers to improving       

employee retention2 and  7#e7 the total 
number of employees who voluntarily     
separated from the ,department and the  
number and percentage of whom took the  
exit survey under subsection 7a74  #ac4 
,encouraging transition of military     
medical professionals into employment   
with ,veterans ,health ,administration  
,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall establish a program to encourage  
an individual who serves in the ,armed  
,forces with a military occupational    
specialty relating to the provision of  
health care to seek employment with the 
,veterans ,health ,administration when  
the individual has been discharged or   
released from service in the ,armed     
,forces or is contemplating separating  
from such service4  #ad4 ,plan to hire  
directors of medical centers of         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,plan ,not later than #abj days after   
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
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
 plan4 ,the ,secretary shall prioritize 
the hiring of such directors for the    
medical centers that have not had a     
permanent director for the longest      
periods4  7b7 ,matters included ,the    
plan developed under subsection 7a7     
shall include the following3  7#a7 ,a   
deadline to hire the directors of the   
medical centers of the ,department as   
described in such subsection4  7#b7     
,identification of the possible         
impediments to such hiring4  7#c7       
,identification of opportunities to     
promote and train candidates from within
 the ,department to senior executive    
positions in the ,department1 including 
as directors of medical centers4  7c7   
,submission ,not later than #abj days   
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the
 ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of  

the ,house of ,representatives and the  
,senate the plan developed under        
subsection 7a74  7d7 ,semiannual reports
 ,not later than #ahj days after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act1 and 
each #ahj-;day period thereafter until  
,january #a1 #bjah1 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 report4  
#ae4 ,recruitment of physicians in      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,section #gdjb7;b77#a7 of   
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended--  7#a7 by inserting or to be   
offered a contingent appointment to such
 position1 after position12 and  7#b7 by
 striking subparagraph 7,b7 and         
inserting the following new subparagraph
 7,b73  7,b7  7i7 have completed a      
residency program satisfactory to the   
,secretary2 or  7ii7 with respect to an 

offer for a contingent appointment upon 
the completion of a post-graduate       
training program1 complete such a       
residency program by not later than #b  
years after the date of such offer2 and 
4  7b7 ,oversight of graduate medical   
education programs ,the ,secretary      
shall-- 7#a7 ensure that a recruiter or 
other similar official of each ,veterans
 ,integrated ,service ,network visits1  
not less than annually1 each allopathic 
and osteopathic teaching institution    
with a graduate medical education       
program within the ,network to recruit  
individuals to be appointed to positions
 in the ,veterans ,health               
,administration2 and  7#b7 submit to    
,congress an annual report on the       
implementation of paragraph 7#a71       
including the success of such recruiting
 efforts4  ,passed the ,house of        
,representatives ,march #ag1            
#bjag4;,clerk4