,i  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #chgd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #bh1        
#bjag,mr4 ,kilm] 7= himself1 ,mr4       
,r5acci1 ,mr4 ,amodei1 ,mrs4 ,brooks (  
,indiana1 ,mr4 ,c>bajal1 ,mr4 ,joyce (  
,ohio1 ,mr4 ,kelly ( ,p5nsylvania1 ,mr4 
,kri%namoor?i1 ,mr4 ,m\lton1 ,mr4       
,norcross1 ,mr4 ,pet]s1 ,miss ,rice (   
,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,s*neid]1 ,mr4 ,ne:\se1
 ,mr4 ,web/] ( ,florida1 ,mrs4 ,murphy (
 ,florida1 ,mr4 ,wel*1 ,mr4 ,b>letta1   
,mr4 ,ru!r=d1 ,mr4 ,valadao1 & ,mr4     
,b>r7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to direct !       
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to c>ry   
out a pilot program on physical security
 at ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical
 facilities1 to direct ! ,secret>y to   
make c]ta9 improvem5ts relat+ to        
inspections ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs m$ical facilities & improv+ c>e
 = wom51 to direct ! ,secret>y to       
evaluate ! organizational /ructure ( !  

,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration1 & = o!r  
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,acc\ntability = ,quality  
,,va ,heal?c>e ,act4  #b4 ,pilot program
 on physical security at ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical facilities  7a7
 ,9 g5]al ,beg9n+ n lat] ?an #ij days   
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act !   
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all c>ry 
out a pilot program to enhance !        
physical security ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs m$ical facilities4 ,at !      
m$ical facilities select$ = ! pilot     
program1 ! ,secret>y %all--  7#a7 ensure
 t al>m sy/ems effectively notify       
relevant /aff 9 ! police comm& & control
 c5t]s & ! unit nurs+ /ations ( !       
facility2 &  7#b7 require relevant      
m$ical c5t] /akehold]s to coord9ate &   
consult on-- 7,a7 plans = new & r5ovat$ 
units2 &  7,b7 any *anges to physical   
security features1 includ+ clos$-circuit
 television cam]as4  7b7 ,locations ,!  
,secret>y %all select five m$ical       
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t to p>ticipate 9

 ! pilot program4  7c7 ,t]m9ation ,!    
pilot program %all t]m9ate on ! date t  
is two ye>s aft] ! date on :i* ! pilot  
program comm5ces4  7d7 ,report ,n lat]  
?an #cj days aft] ! t]m9ation ( ! pilot 
program "u subsection 7c71 ! ,secret>y  
%all submit to ,congress a report on !  
pilot program4  #c4 ,report on ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs improvem5t (       
facility alignm5t  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] 
?an #ij days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( 
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all submit to ,congress a     
report on ! f9d+s & recomm5dations ( !  
report ( ! ,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability     
,(fice entitl$ ,,va ,real ,prop]ty3 ,,va
 ,%\ld ,improve ,its ,ef=ts to ,align   
,facilities ) ,vet]ans' ,ne$s4 ,! report
 submitt$ by ! ,secret>y %all include ! 
plan ( ! ,secret>y1 includ+ a "t frame =
 completion1 to specifically address !  
foll[+ recomm5dations3  7#a7 ,to address
 id5tifi$ limitations to ! /rategic     
capital inve/m5t plann+ process1 includ+
 limitations to scor+ & approval &      

access to in=mation4  7#b7 ,to assess ! 
value ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
,integrat$ ,plann+ facility ma/] plans z
 a facility-plann+ tool1 & bas$ on      
conclusions conta9$ 9 ! ,gov]nm5t       
,acc\ntability ,(fice report1 ei!r      
discont9ue ! developm5t ( su* ma/] plans
 or address ! limitations ( su* ma/]    
plans4  7#c7 ,to develop & di/ribute    
guidance = ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice  
,networks & facilities us+ be/ practices
 on h[ to effectively communicate )     
/akehold]s ab\t alignm5t *ange4  7#d7   
,to develop & implem5t a me*anism to    
evaluate ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice    
,network & facility communication ef=ts 
) /akehold]s to ensure t su*            
communication ef=ts are work+ z int5d$ &
 align ) guidance & be/ practices4  7b7 
,public availability ,^u submittal ( !  
report "u subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y   
%all make ! report publicly available on
 an int]net website ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  #d4 
,update ( h&book to improve leas+       
projects ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !   

date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & n less  
?an once e five-ye> p]iod !reaft]1 !    
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
update ! h&book ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs titl$ ,plann+ & ,activat+     
,community ,bas$ ,outpati5t ,cl9ics1 or 
a successor h&book1 to reflect curr5t   
policies1 be/ practices1 & cl>ify !     
roles & responsibilities ( ! p]sonnel ( 
! ,dep>tm5t involv$ 9 ! leas+ projects (
 ! ,dep>tm5t4  #e4 ,improvem5t (        
inspections ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs m$ical facilities & improvem5t 
( c>e = wom5 provid$ by ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress 
makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs has policies 9 place
 to help ensure ! privacy1 safety1 &    
dignity ( wom5 vet]ans :5 !y receive c>e
 at its m$ical facilities4  7#b7 ,a     
,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability ,(fice report  
f\nd _m in/ances ( noncompliance ) su*  
policies4  7#c7 ,wom5 vet]ans are !     
fa/e/ gr[+ cohort )9 ! vet]an community4
  7#d7 ,wom5 s]ve 9 e bran* ( ! ,arm$   

,=ces & repres5t ne>ly #ae p]c5t ( !    
memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces curr5tly s]v+ on 
active duty & #ah p]c5t ( memb]s ( !    
,national ,gu>d & res]ve compon5ts4     
7#e7 ,! numb] ( wom5 vet]ans us+ !      
m$ical c>e provid$ by ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs is expect$ to increase
 dramatically4  7b7 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x
 is ! s5se ( ,congress t-- 7#a7 female  
vet]ans are put at risk by a sy/em t is 
curr5tly design$ = m52 &  7#b7 !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %\ld foll[
 ?r\gh ) commitm5ts to ensure female    
vet]ans c access s]vices tailor$ to _!  
ne$s4  7c7 ,improvem5t ( inspections (  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical    
facilities & improvem5t ( c>e = wom5    
provid$ by ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
  7#a7 ,improvem5t ( inspections process
 ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all  
/r5g!n ! environm5t ( c>e inspections   
process & ov]sight ( su* process by--   
7,a7 exp&+ ! li/ ( requirem5ts t        
facility /aff inspect = compliance to   
align ) ! policy ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal?    

,adm9i/ration2  7,b7 ensur+ t all pati5t
 c>e areas ( ,dep>tm5t m$ical facilities
 are inspect$ z requir$2  7,c7 cl>ify+ !
 roles & responsibilities ( ,dep>tm5t   
m$ical facility /aff responsible =      
id5tify+ & address+ compliance2 &  7,d7 
e/abli%+ a process to v]ify t           
noncompliance in=mation report$ by      
facilities to ! ,vet]ans ,heal?         
,adm9i/ration c5tral (fice is accurate &
 complete4  7#b7 ,improvem5t ( c>e =    
wom5  7,a7 ,monitor+ ( g5d]-specific c>e
 s]vices ,to improve c>e = wom5 vet]ans1
 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all   
monitor wom5 vet]ans' access to         
g5d]-specific c>e s]vices "u curr5t &   
future community c>e contracts or       
agreem5ts4 ,su* monitor+ %all include an
 exam9ation ( appo9tm5t s*$ul+ &        
completion times1 driv+ times to        
appo9tm5ts1 & reasons appo9tm5ts c\ld n 
be s*$ul$ ) community provid]s4  7,b7   
,def9itions ,9 ?is subp>agraph3 7i7 ,!  
t]m g5d]-specific c>e s]vices means     
mammography1 mat]nity c>e1 & gynecology4

  7ii7 ,! t]m community c>e contract or 
agreem5t means an agreem5t describ$ 9   
section #aja7;d7 ( ! ,vet]ans ,access1  
,*oice1 & ,acc\ntability ,act ( #bjad   
7,public ,law #aac-adf71 or o!r contract
 or agreem5t "u :i* ! ,secret>y furni%es
 hospital c>e & m$ical treatm5t to      
vet]ans at non-,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs heal? c>e facilities4  #f4     
,improvem5t ( deliv]y ( c>e at ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical facilities  
7a7 ,wait times ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans 
,affairs %all cle>ly id5tify measures = 
wait times = m$ical appo9tm5ts 9        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical    
facilities 9 a mann] t r$uces !         
likelihood ( an individual mis9t]pret+  
su* measures4  7b7 ,s*$ul+ ,! ,secret>y 
%all ensure t ! t]m pati5t indicat$ date
 is cle>ly def9$ = purposes ( ! s*$ul+  
policy ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration
 & 9 relat$ tra9+ docum5ts4 ,! ,secret>y
 %all take su* /eps z may be necess>y to
 ensure su* t]m is correctly implem5t$  
by employees :o p]=m s*$ul+ functions4  

7c7 ,/aff availability  7#a7            
,allocation2 s*$ul+ ,! ,secret>y %all   
develop a policy requir+ ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical facilities to  
r\t9ely assess ! s*$ul+ ne$s & res\rces 
requir$ to ensure t employees ( su*     
facilities are allocat$ 9 su* a mann] z 
to adequately respond to ! dem& = s*$ul+
 m$ical appo9tm5ts4  7#b7 ,recruitm5t & 
ret5tion ,! ,secret>y %all develop a    
/rategy to improve recruitm5t & ret5tion
 ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs m$ical 
provid]s & employees :o p]=m s*$ul+     
functions = ,dep>tm5t m$ical facilities4
 ,su* /rategy %all be design$ to ensure 
adequate /aff+ ( ,dep>tm5t m$ical       
facilities & %all emphasize recruitm5t &
 ret5tion 9 facilities locat$ 9 rural   
areas4  7d7 ,telephone access ,!        
,secret>y %all-- 7#a7 ensure t all      
,dep>tm5t m$ical facilities provide     
ov]sight ( telephone access & implem5t !
 be/ practices outl9$ 9 ! ,dep>tm5t     
#bjae ,telephone ,access & ,contact     
,managem5t ,improvem5t ,guide1 or a     

successor guide2 &  7#b7 id5tify m$ical 
facilities t are us+ outdat$ telephone  
te*nology & replace su* te*nology ) new 
sy/ems design$ to improve telephone     
s]vice & access to heal? c>e4  #g4      
,evaluations ( organizational /ructure (
 ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration &        
realignm5t ( ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice
 ,networks  7a7 ,organizational         
,/ructure  7#a7 ,process ,! ,secret>y ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,"u     
,secret>y = ,heal?1 %all implem5t a     
process to consi/5tly evaluate reviews  
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#c74  7#b7 ,matt]s 
includ$ ,! process "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all
 include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,id5tification (
 ! (ficials & ! (fices ( ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,vet]ans ,affairs responsible = evaluat+
 & approv+1 & ensur+ ! implem5tation (1 
recomm5dations made by reviews describ$ 
9 p>agraph 7#c71 includ+--  7i7 ! roles 
( ea* su* (ficial & (fice2 &  7ii7 a    
description ( h[ decisions are made &   
docum5t$ to approve su* implem5tation4  
7,b7 ,a description ( h[ recomm5dations 

made by reviews describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#c7
 %\ld be evaluat$4  7,c7 ,a description 
( h[ timel9es %\ld be e/abli%$ to ensure
 recomm5dations are evaluat$ & implem5t$
 9 a timely mann] & metrics to assess ! 
progress made ) respect to su*          
implem5tation4  7#c7 ,reviews describ$  
,! reviews describ$ 9 ?is p>agraph are  
reviews ( ! organizational /ructure ( ! 
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration conduct$  
by ! ,secret>y1 ! ,inspector ,g5]al ( ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 !        
,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ! 
,commission on ,c>e e/abli%$ by section 
#bjb ( ! ,vet]ans ,access1 ,*oice1 &    
,acc\ntability ,act ( #bjad 7,public    
,law #aac-adf2 #abh ,/at4 #aggc71 or by 
an indep5d5t entity1 z det]m9$          
appropriate by ! ,secret>y4  7#d7 ,fir/ 
use ,! ,"u ,secret>y %all use ! process 
"u p>agraph 7#a7 to evaluate ! results (
 ! evaluation conduct$ "u subsection    
7b77#a74 ,! ,"u ,secret>y %all make any 
requir$ improvem5ts to su* process bas$ 
on ! lessons le>n$ by ! ,"u ,secret>y   

result+ f su* use4  7b7 ,vet]ans        
,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks  7#a7      
,evaluation ,consi/5t ) ! report ( !    
,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
titl$ ,,va ,heal? ,c>e3 ,processes to   
,evaluate1 ,implem5t1 & ,monitor        
,organizational ,/ructure ,*anges ,ne$$ 
7,,gao-#af-hjc71 ! ,secret>y1 act+ ?r\gh
 ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,heal?1 %all conduct 
an evaluation ( all ! ,vet]ans          
,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks1 includ+ ) 
respect to--  7,a7 ! implem5tation by ! 
,secret>y ( realignm5ts to su*          
,networks2 &  7,b7 id5tify+ defici5cies 
to su* ,networks t require corrective   
action4  7#b7 ,assessm5t & implem5tation
 ,9 accordance ) subsection 7a77#d71 !  
,"u ,secret>y %all use ! process        
implem5t$ "u subsection 7a7 to assess ! 
results ( ! evaluation conduct$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a7 & to implem5t *anges & o!r
 actions to improve ! ,vet]ans          
,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks4  7c7      
,report ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date
 ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,"u         

,secret>y %all submit to ,congress a    
report t includes a description (--     
7#a7 ! process implem5t$ "u subsection  
7a77#a72  7#b7 ! defici5cies id5tifi$ "u
 p>agraph 7#a7 ( subsection 7b72 &  7#c7
 h[ ! ,"u ,secret>y w c>ry out p>agraph 
7#b7 ( su* subsection4  7d7 ,prohibition
 on new appropriations ,no additional   
funds are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to 
c>ry out ?is section1 & ?is section %all
 be c>ri$ out us+ am\nts o!rwise made   
available = su* purposes4  #h4 ,annual  
report reg>d+ ! recruitm5t1 hir+1 &     
ret5tion ( nurses = ! ,vet]ans ,heal?   
,adm9i/ration  7a7 ,report requir$ ,n   
lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act & annually !reaft]1 !       
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
publi% & submit to ! ,committees on     
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives a report reg>d+ ef=ts 
to recruit1 hire1 & reta9 nurses = !    
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration4  7b7     
,elem5ts ,! report "u subsection 7a7    
%all include details relat+ to-- 7#a7   

ef=ts to recruit1 hire1 & reta9 nurses  
at ea* m$ical facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t2   
7#b7 res\rces provid$ by ! ,secret>y to 
recruit1 hire1 & reta9 nurses = !       
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration2 &  7#c7  
recomm5dations = legislation ! ,secret>y
 consid]s appropriate4  #i4 ,re9/atem5t 
( report+ requirem5t reg>d+ ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,heal? ,pr(essionals
 ,educational ,assi/ance ,program       
,section #cjjc7;a77#a7 ( ! ,f$]al       
,reports ,elim9ation & ,sunset ,act (   
#aiie 7,public ,law #ajd-ff2 #ca        
,u4,s4,c4 #aaac note7 %all n apply to ! 
report requir$ "u section #gfcb ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4