,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #dcad  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #ab1        
#bjai,mr4 ,higg9s ( ,l\isiana 7= himself
 & ,mr4 ,ma/7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2  
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs1 & 9 addition to !   
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices1 = a p]iod 
to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 
9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*         
provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! 
committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d  
title #aj1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
au?orize ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se to appo9t
 (fic]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces z directors (   
m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4        
,reorganization ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs m$ical c5t] directors  7a7     
,reorganization ,*apt] #ee ( title #aj1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ 
aft] section #aajd ! foll[+ new section3
  #aajd;a4 ,appo9tm5t ( directors (     
m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs  7a7 ,appo9tm5t by ,secret>y ( 

,def5se ,! ,secret>y ( ,def5se %all     
appo9t ! director ( ea* m$ical c5t] ( ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7b7     
,qualifications ,! ,secret>y ( ,def5se1 
9 consultation ) ! ,secret>ies ( !      
milit>y dep>tm5ts1 %all e/abli% ! common
 qualifications & core compet5cies      
requir$ = an (fic] ( ! arm$ =ces to s]ve
 z a director "u ?is section4  7c7      
,functions & responsibilities ,ea*      
director "u ?is section %all h !        
functions & responsibilities ( a        
director ( a m$ical c5t] ( ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs "u title #ch1 & any  
o!r functions or responsibilities z !   
,secret>y ( ,def5se may assign4  7d7    
,tra9+ ( (fic]s ,! ,secret>y ( ,def5se  
%all provide tra9+ to (fic]s ( ! arm$   
=ces to s]ve z directors "u ?is section 
?r\gh ! jo9t m$ical executive skills    
developm5t program e/abli%$ "u ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,def5se ,in/ruction #fjjj4ae 7or any 
successor in/ruction74  4  7b7 ,con=m+  
am5dm5ts  7#a7 ,title #ch ,title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7,a7 9  

section #gdja7d71 by /rik+ ,directors ( 
m$ical c5t]s & directors & ins]t+       
,directors2 &  7,b7 9 section #gdjb7;b71
 by /rik+ ,c5t]1 9 ! head+ ( p>agraph   
7#d74  7#b7 ,,va ,*oice & ,quality      
,employm5t ,act ( #bjag ,section #baj ( 
! ,,va ,*oice & ,quality ,employm5t ,act
 ( #bjag 7,public ,law #aae-df2 #aca    
,/at4 #ife2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #gdja note7 is
 repeal$4  7c7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table
 ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #ee (   
title #aj1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$
 by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to section
 #aajd ! foll[+ new item3  #aajd;a4     
,appo9tm5t ( directors ( m$ical c5t]s ( 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  4  7d7
 ,effective date ,?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts 
made by ?is ,act %all apply ) respect to
 a director ( a m$ical c5t] ( !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs appo9t$ on
 or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4