,,ib  ,union ,calendar ,no4 #ag  #aaeth 
,,congress  #ast ,session  ,h4 ,r4 #acfg
  ,report ,no4 #aae-ce1 ,part ,i  ,,in  
,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives    
,march #f1 #bjag ,mr4 ,wenstrup         
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs1 and in addition to 
the ,committee on ,oversight and        
,government ,reform1 for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the ,speaker1
 in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the           
jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
,march #aj1 #bjag ,additional sponsors3 
,miss ,gonzlez-,coln of ,puerto ,rico1  
,mr4 ,dunn1 ,mr4 ,sessions1 and ,ms4    
,sinema  ,march #aj1 #bjag ,reported    
from the ,committee on ,veterans'       
,affairs  ,march #aj1 #bjag ,the        
,committee on ,oversight and ,government
 ,reform discharged2 committed to the   
,committee of the ,whole ,house on the  
,state of the ,union and ordered to be  
printed  ,a ,,bill  ,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      
,information on hiring effectiveness4   
,sec4 #ab4 ,employment of students and  
recent graduates4 ,sec4 #ac4 ,exit      

surveys4  #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 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 one-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 ,states4  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 two years 
as specified in the agreement2 and      
7iii7 that1 during the two-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 seven   
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 #ij days 
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 ,the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs may noncompetitively appoint a
 qualified former employee to any       
position within the competitive service 
or any excepted service position under  
chapter #gd of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 at the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs that is one grade    
higher than the grade 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       

position at the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs within two 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 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 both4
  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 shall        
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 shall
 ensure that applicants described in    
subsection 7b7 are considered for such  
position2 and  7#b7 shall use the       
database established under subsection   
7a7 to assist in filling such position4 
7d7 ,report ,not later than one 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 in a manner
 that the ,secretary determines         
appropriate in light of budget1 travel1 
and other constraints4  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 one   
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 ,affairs4     
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 
,any other matters the ,comptroller     
,general determines appropriate4  7c7   
,report ,not later than one year 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 ,information
 on hiring effectiveness  7a7 ,in       
general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans    
,affairs shall measure and collect      
information on indicators of hiring     
effectiveness as follows3  7#a7 ,with   
respect to recruiting and hiring-- 7,a7 
the ability to reach and recruit        
well-qualified talent from diverse      
talent pools1 including sources of      
candidates for mission-critical         
occupations2  7,b7 the use and impact of
 special hiring authorities and         
flexibilities to recruit most qualified 
applicants1 including the use of student
 internships as a talent pool for       
permanent hires2  7,c7 the use and      
impact of special hiring authorities and
 flexibilities to recruit diverse       
candidates1 including veteran1 minority 
and disabled candidates2  7,d7 the use  

and impact of special hiring authorities
 and flexibilities to recruit candidates
 for mission-critical occupations and   
occupations with shortages2  7,e7 the   
age1 educational level1 and source of   
applicants2  7,f7 the length of time    
between the date on which a position is 
advertised and the date on which a first
 offer of employment is made2  7,g7 the 
length of time between the date on which
 a first offer of employment for a      
position is made and the date on which a
 new hire starts in that position2  7,h7
 the number of internal and external    
applicants for positions2 and  7,i7 the 
number of offers accepted compared to   
the number of offers made for permanent 
positions4  7#b7 ,with respect to the   
hiring authority-- 7,a7 the satisfaction
 of the hiring authority with--  7i7 the
 quality of new hires2  7ii7 the match  
between the skills of newly hired       
individuals and the needs of the        
,department2  7iii7 the hiring process  
and hiring outcomes after the first year

 of the employment of a new hire2 and   
7iv7 the length of time that elapses to 
fill a position and for a new hire to   
begin working in a new position2 and    
7,b7 mission-critical deficiencies      
filled by new hires and the connection  
between mission-critical deficiencies   
and annual agency performance4  7#c7    
,satisfaction of employment applicants  
with the hiring process1 including with 
respect to the clarity of job           
announcement1 reasons for withdrawal of 
applications1 user-friendliness of the  
application process1 communication      
regarding status of application1 and    
timeliness of hiring decision4  7#d7    
,with respect to a newly hired          
employee-- 7,a7 the satisfaction of the 
employee with the hiring process as     
described in paragraph 7#c72  7,b7 the  
satisfaction with the process of joining
 and becoming oriented with the         
,department1 including with respect to  
the timeliness of such process after the
 hiring decision1 the orientation       

process1 and being provided with timely 
and useful new employee information and 
assistance after the hire is made but   
before the new hire starts in that      
position and after the new hire has     
begun2  7,c7 attrition and reasons for  
leaving2  7,d7 investment in training   
and development for the employee during 
the first year of employment2 and  7,e7 
significant barriers to the effective   
recruitment1 selection1 joining and     
becoming oriented with the ,department1 
and retention of employees4  7b7        
,disaggregation of data ,to the extent  
practicable and in a manner which       
protects personally identifiable        
information of applicants and employees1
 the ,secretary shall collect and report
 data collected under subsection 7a7    
disaggregated by facility or ,veterans  
,integrated ,service ,network4  7c7     
,reports  7#a7 ,in general ,on an annual
 basis1 the ,secretary shall submit to  
the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs  
of the ,house of ,representatives and   

the ,senate a report of the information 
collected under subsection 7a74  7#b7   
,availability of recruiting and hiring  
information ,on an annual basis1 the    
,secretary shall make publicly available
 the information collected under        
subsection 7a7 in a consistent and      
machine-readable format to allow for a  
comparison of hiring effectiveness and  
experience by ,veterans ,integrated     
,service ,network or comparable public  
or private sector organization4  #ab4   
,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
 or  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 
programs4  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  #ac4 ,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 that1 to the extent possible1    
data collected under subsection 7a7 is  

anonymized and personally identifiable  
information is removed4  7d7 ,sharing of
 survey data ,the ,secretary shall      
ensure that the results of the survey   
required by subsection 7a7 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 one 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 number
 of employees who took the exit survey  
under subsection 7a74  ,march #aj1 #bjag
 ,reported from the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs ,march #aj1 #bjag   
,the ,committee on ,oversight and       
,government ,reform discharged2         
committed to the ,committee of the      
,whole ,house on the ,state of the      
,union and ordered to be printed