,,ii  #aagth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #daef  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,may #e1       
#bjbb,mr4 ,tester 7for himself and ,mr4 
,boozman7 introduced the following bill2
 which was read twice and referred to   
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs   
,a ,,bill  ,to improve the workforce of 
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1  
and for other purposes4  #a4 ,short     
title2 table of contents  7a7 ,short    
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,,va ,workforce ,improvement1 ,support1 
and ,expansion 7,,wise7 ,act of #bjbb4  
7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of    
contents for this ,act is as follows3   
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of        
contents4,,title ,i--,training1         
recruitment1 and retention of health    
care employees,sec4 #aja4 ,national     
rural recruitment and hiring plan for   
,veterans ,health ,administration4,sec4 
#ajb4 ,rural health quality and access  
fellowship program for ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #ajc4          

,authority to buy out service contracts 
for health care professionals in        
exchange for employment at rural or     
highly rural facilities of ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #ajd4       
,payment of licensure exam costs for    
recipients of scholarships from         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 
#aje4 ,improvement of workforce training
 and team models to meet the needs of   
older veterans4,sec4 #ajf4              
,qualifications for human resources     
positions within the ,department of     
,veterans ,affairs and plan to recruit  
and retain human resources              
employees4,sec4 #ajg4 ,study on         
improving recruitment and retention at  
community living centers of ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #ajh4       
,limitation on transfer of directors of 
medical centers of ,department of       
,veterans ,affairs to different         
positions4,,title ,,ii--,accountability1
 oversight1 and personnel               
matters,subtitle ,a--,matters relating  

to pay,sec4 #bja4 ,increased pay cap for
 directors of medical centers and       
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,networks
 of ,department of ,veterans            
,affairs4,sec4 #bjb4 ,waiver of pay     
limitation for employees of the         
,veterans ,health ,administration       
performing mission critical work4,sec4  
#bjc4 ,elimination of performance pay   
elements for physicians1 podiatrists1   
and dentists and elimination of total   
compensation cap4,sec4 #bjd4 ,increase  
of maximum amount of incentive pay for  
,department pharmacist executives4,sec4 
#bje4 ,elimination of pay cap for       
certain employees of ,veterans ,health  
,administration4,sec4 #bjf4             
,modification of special pay authority  
for nurse executives4,subtitle          
,b--,improvement of recruitment and     
hiring,sec4 #baa4 ,oversight of direct  
hire authority and hiring flexibility of
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4
 #bab4 ,expansion of emergency hiring   
authorities for ,department of ,veterans

 ,affairs4,sec4 #bac4 ,waiver of certain
 licensure requirements4,sec4 #bad4     
,expansion of opportunities for         
housekeeping aides4,subtitle ,c--,other 
personnel matters,sec4 #bba4 ,expansion 
of annual leave options for employees of
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs      
during public health emergency4,sec4    
#bbb4 ,expansion of reimbursement of    
continuing professional education       
fees4,sec4 #bbc4 ,inclusion of police   
officers of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs as law enforcement             
officers4,sec4 #bbd4 ,department of     
,veterans ,affairs personnel            
transparency4,sec4 #bbe4 ,comptroller   
,general report assessing human         
resources modernization within ,veterans
 ,health ,administration4,,title        
,,iii--,assistance with ,national       
emergencies,sec4 #cja4 ,update of web   
portal to identify veterans who had     
medical occupations as members of the   
,armed ,forces4,sec4 #cjb4 ,program on  
provision to ,states of information on  

veterans with medical skills obtained   
during service in the ,armed            
,forces4,sec4 #cjc4 ,program on training
 of intermediate care technicians of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 
#cjd4 ,notification of opportunities for
 veterans4  ,i ,training1 recruitment1  
and retention of health care employees  
#aja4 ,national rural recruitment and   
hiring plan for ,veterans ,health       
,administration  7a7 ,in general ,not   
later than #ah months after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 in    
collaboration with the directors of each
 community-based outpatient clinic and  
medical center of the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs1 shall develop and   
implement a national rural recruitment  
and hiring plan for the ,veterans       
,health ,administration to-- 7#a7       
recruit health care professionals for   
rural and highly rural community-based  
outpatient clinics and rural and highly 
rural medical centers of the            

,department2  7#b7 determine which such 
clinics or centers have a staffing      
shortage of health care professionals2  
7#c7 develop best practices and         
techniques for recruiting health care   
professionals for such clinics and      
centers2  7#d7 not less frequently than 
annually1 provide virtually based1      
on-demand training to human resources   
professionals of the ,veterans ,health  
,administration on the best practices   
and techniques developed under paragraph
 7#c72 and  7#e7 provide recruitment    
resources1 such as pamphlets and        
marketing material to-- 7,a7 ,veterans  
,integrated ,service ,networks of the   
,department2  7,b7 rural and highly     
rural community-based outpatient clinics
 of the ,department2 and  7,c7 rural and
 highly rural medical centers of the    
,department4  7b7 ,annual report ,not   
later than #ah months after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act1 and annually
 thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit
 to the ,committee on ,veterans'        

,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report    
that includes-- 7#a7 the plan developed 
and implemented under subsection 7a72   
and  7#b7 an assessment of the outcomes 
related to recruitment and retention of 
employees of the ,veterans ,health      
,administration at rural and highly     
rural facilities of the ,department4    
7c7 ,definitions ,in this section1 the  
terms rural and highly rural have the   
meanings given those terms under the    
rural-urban commuting areas coding      
system of the ,department of            
,agriculture4  #ajb4 ,rural health      
quality and access fellowship program   
for ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
7a7 ,in general ,section #gcjb of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7f7 7#a7 ,in carrying out  
this section1 the ,secretary shall      
establish a fellowship program1 to be   
known as the ,rural ,health ,quality and

 ,access ,fellowship program1 to provide
 fellowships to health care             
professionals at the post-graduate level
 who serve on a short-term basis as     
post-graduate health professions        
trainees at a rural or highly rural     
community-based outpatient clinic or    
rural or highly rural medical center of 
the ,department4  7#b7 ,not less        
frequently than annually1 the ,secretary
 shall submit to the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 on the program under paragraph 7#a74   
7#c7 ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,the term
 health care professional means an      
individual who qualifies as an appointee
 under section #gdjb of this title4     
7,b7 ,the terms rural and highly rural  
have the meanings given those terms     
under the rural-urban commuting areas   
coding system of the ,department of     
,agriculture4  4  7b7 ,initial report   
,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   

shall submit the initial report required
 under section #gcjb7;f77#b7 of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by 
subsection 7a71 not later than #ah      
months after the date of the enactment  
of this ,act4  #ajc4 ,authority to buy  
out service contracts for health care   
professionals in exchange for employment
 at rural or highly rural facilities of 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,for any covered health care
 professional to whom the ,secretary of 
,veterans ,affairs has offered          
employment with the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary may  
buy out the non-,department service     
contract of such individual in exchange 
for such individual agreeing to be      
employed at a rural or highly rural     
facility of the ,department for a period
 of obligated service specified in      
subsection 7c74  7b7 ,payment of amounts
 ,payment of any amounts for a buy out  
of a service contract for a covered     
health care professional under          

subsection 7a7 shall be made directly to
 the individual or entity with respect  
to which the covered health care        
professional has a service obligation   
under such contract4  7c7 ,obligated    
service ,in exchange for a contract buy 
out under subsection 7a71 a covered     
health care professional shall agree to 
be employed for not less than four years
 at a rural or highly rural facility of 
the ,department4  7d7 ,liability  7#a7  
,in general ,except as provided in      
paragraph 7#b71 if a covered health care
 professional fails for any reason to   
complete the period of obligated service
 of the individual under subsection 7c71
 the ,united ,states shall be entitled  
to recover from the individual an amount
 equal to-- 7,a7 the total amount paid  
under subsection 7a7 to buy out the     
non-,department service contract of the 
individual2 multiplied by  7,b7 a       
fraction-- 7i7 the numerator of which   
is-- 7,i7 the total number of months in 
the period of obligated service of the  

individual2 minus  7,,ii7 the number of 
months served by the individual2 and    
7ii7 the denominator of which is the    
total number of months in the period of 
obligated service of the individual4    
7#b7 ,exception ,liability shall not    
arise under paragraph 7#a7 in the case  
of an individual covered by that        
paragraph if the individual does not    
obtain1 or fails to maintain1 employment
 as an employee of the ,department due  
to staffing changes approved by the     
,under ,secretary for ,health4  7e7 ,not
 a taxable benefit ,a contract buy out  
for a covered health care professional  
under subsection 7a7 shall not be       
considered a taxable benefit or event   
for the covered health care             
professional4  7f7 ,annual report ,not  
later than #ah months after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act1 and not less
 frequently than annually thereafter1   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  

the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 on the use by the ,secretary of the    
authority under this section4  7g7      
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     
,covered health care professional ,the  
term covered health care professional   
means a health care professional offered
 employment with the ,veterans ,health  
,administration under-- 7,a7 section    
#gdja of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code2 or  7,b7 title #e1 ,united       
,states ,code4  7#b7 ,rural2 highly     
rural ,the terms rural and highly rural 
have the meanings given those terms     
under the rural-urban commuting areas   
coding system of the ,department of     
,agriculture4  #ajd4 ,payment of        
licensure exam costs for recipients of  
scholarships from ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
pay the costs of any licensing          
examinations and certifications required
 by the ,secretary for any current      

recipient of a covered health           
professional scholarship from the       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 
,licensing examinations and             
certifications ,subsection 7a7 shall    
apply to the payment of costs for-- 7#a7
 the ,united ,states ,medical ,licensing
 ,examination ,step #a1 ,step #b1 and   
,step #c2  7#b7 the ,national ,council  
,licensure ,exam2  7#c7 the ,national   
,board ,dental ,examination2  7#d7 the  
,national ,board ,dental ,hygiene       
,examination2  7#e7 the ,dental         
,licensure ,objective ,structured       
,clinical ,examination and ,integrated  
,national ,board ,dental ,examination2  
7#f7 the ,national ,licensing ,exams for
 ,nurse ,practitioner and ,certified    
,registered ,nurse ,anesthetist2 and    
7#g7 such other licensing examinations  
and certifications as the ,secretary    
considers appropriate4  7c7 ,covered    
health professional scholarship defined 
,in this section1 the term covered      
health professional scholarship means-- 

7#a7 the ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs ,health ,professional          
,scholarship ,program under subchapter  
,,ii of chapter #gf of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code2  7#b7 the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
,employee ,incentive ,scholarship       
,program under subchapter ,,vi of such  
chapter1 including-- 7,a7 the ,national 
,nursing ,education ,initiative2 and    
7,b7 the ,,va ,national ,education for  
,employees ,program2  7#c7 the ,visual  
,impairment and ,orientation and        
,mobility ,professionals ,scholarship   
,program under chapter #ge of such      
title2  7#d7 the ,veterans ,healing     
,veterans ,medical ,access and          
,scholarship ,program under section #cjd
 of the ,,va ,,mission ,act of #bjah    
7,public ,law #aae-ahb2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4   
#gfja note72 and  7#e7 such other       
programs as the ,secretary considers    
appropriate4  #aje4 ,improvement of     
workforce training and team models to   
meet the needs of older veterans  7a7   

,rural geriatrics team training ,the    
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
expand the ,rural ,interdisciplinary    
,team ,training program of the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to not
 fewer than one rural site in each      
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
of the ,department and ensure access at 
such sites to learning opportunities    
through the ,geriatric ,scholars        
,program of the ,department4  7b7       
,expansion of fellowship in advanced    
geriatrics ,the ,secretary shall expand 
the ,fellowship in ,advanced ,geriatrics
 program of the ,department to ensure   
that a fellowship position is required  
to be provided under such program in    
each ,geriatric ,research1 ,education1  
and ,clinical ,center of the            
,department4  7c7 ,training on caring   
for veterans with memory loss  7#a7 ,in 
general ,the ,secretary shall provide   
continuing professional education for   
primary care providers1 community living
 center staff1 geriatrics and extended  

care staff1 home health workers1 and    
social workers of the ,department on    
caring for veterans with ,alzheimer's   
disease and dementia4  7#b7             
,implementation ,the ,secretary shall   
implement the continuing professional   
education required under paragraph 7#a7 
in consultation with the ,office of     
,rural ,health of the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs established under    
section #gcjh of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 in order to ensure       
equitable access to learning            
opportunities for employees of the      
,department in rural and highly rural   
areas4  7d7 ,expansion of ,geriatric    
,patient ,aligned ,care ,team model     
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall  
expand the ,geriatrics ,patient ,aligned
 ,care ,team model of the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs-- 7,a7 to every     
medical center of the ,department2 and  
7,b7 to any community-based outpatient  
clinic at which such expansion is       
determined by the ,secretary to be      

feasible and needed4  7#b7 ,waiver of   
expansion to medical centers ,the       
,secretary may waive the application of 
the requirements under paragraph        
7#a77;,a7 with respect to a medical     
center if the ,secretary determines that
 the medical center does not have the   
capacity or need to implement a         
,geriatrics ,patient ,aligned ,care     
,team model4  7#c7 ,study ,the          
,secretary shall conduct a study on the 
variations in the structure and model   
consistency of the ,geriatrics ,patient 
,aligned ,care ,team model throughout   
the ,department and how those variations
 impact quality of care and patient     
outcomes4  7e7 ,report to ,congress     
7#a7 ,in general ,not later than one    
year after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 and not less frequently than 
annually thereafter for the following   
five years1 the ,secretary shall submit 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
 of the ,senate and the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    

,representatives a report on the        
implementation of this section4  7#b7   
,inclusion of information on waivers    
,the ,secretary shall include in the    
report required by paragraph 7#a7 an    
identification of any medical center of 
the ,department in receipt of a waiver  
under subsection 7d77#b7 and the reason 
for the waiver4  7f7 ,definitions ,in   
this section1 the terms rural and highly
 rural have the meanings given those    
terms under the rural-urban commuting   
areas coding system of the ,department  
of ,agriculture4  #ajf4 ,qualifications 
for human resources positions within the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs and  
plan to recruit and retain human        
resources employees  7a7 ,establishment 
of qualifications ,not later than #ahj  
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans  
,affairs shall-- 7#a7 establish         
qualifications for each human resources 
position within the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs in coordination with 

the ,office of ,personnel ,management2  
7#b7 establish standardized performance 
metrics for each such position2 and     
7#c7 submit to the ,committee on        
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 containing the qualifications and      
standardized performance metrics        
established under paragraphs 7#a7 and   
7#b74  7b7 ,improvement of human        
resources actions ,not later than #ij   
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary shall         
establish or enhance systems of the     
,department to monitor the hiring and   
other human resources actions that occur
 at the local1 regional1 and national   
levels of the ,department to improve the
 performance of those actions4  7c7     
,report ,not later than one year after  
the establishment of the qualifications 
and performance metrics under subsection
 7a71 the ,comptroller ,general of the  
,united ,states shall submit to the     

,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report containing--  
7#a7 a description of the implementation
 of such qualifications and performance 
metrics2  7#b7 an assessment of the     
quality of such qualifications and      
performance metrics2  7#c7 an assessment
 of performance and outcomes based on   
such metrics2 and  7#d7 such other      
matters as the ,comptroller ,general    
considers4  7d7 ,plan ,to recruit and   
retain human resources employees ,not   
later than one year after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a plan for  
the recruitment and retention of human  
resources employees within the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4      
#ajg4 ,study on improving recruitment   

and retention at community living       
centers of ,department of ,veterans     
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,not later    
than #ah months after the date of the   
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall complete a  
study on barriers to hiring and         
retaining staff at community living     
centers of the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs and best practices for         
improving recruitment and retention of  
such staff1 with an emphasis on nursing 
staff4  7b7 ,report to ,congress ,not   
later than #ahj days after completion of
 the study under subsection 7a71 the    
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report-- 7#a7        
summarizing key findings with respect to
 barriers to hiring and retaining staff 
at community living centers of the      
,department and best practices for      
improving recruitment and retention of  

such staff1 including any barriers or   
best practices specific to rural areas2 
and  7#b7 including recommendations for 
such administrative action as the       
,secretary considers appropriate4  #ajh4
 ,limitation on transfer of directors of
 medical centers of ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs to different         
positions  7a7 ,notification ,not later 
than #ij days after transferring a      
director of a medical center of the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to a  
different position within the           
,department1 the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall notify the ,committee on
 ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives of such 
transfer4  7b7 ,return to position or   
removal ,not later than #ahj days after 
transferring a director of a medical    
center of the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs to a different position within 
the ,department1 the ,secretary shall-- 
7#a7 return the individual to the       

position as director of the medical     
center2 or  7#b7 remove the individual  
from the position as director of the    
medical center and begin the process of 
hiring a new director for such position4
  ,,ii ,accountability1 oversight1 and  
personnel matters  ,a ,matters relating 
to pay  #bja4 ,increased pay cap for    
directors of medical centers and        
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,networks
 of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
7a7 ,increased pay cap  7#a7 ,in general
 ,subchapter ,,iii of chapter #gd of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #gdcd4 ,pay for 
directors of medical centers and        
directors of ,veterans ,integrated      
,service ,networks  7a7 ,performance    
management ,the ,secretary shall        
prescribe a performance management and  
awards system for employees appointed   
under section #gdja7d7 of this title    
that ensures performance ratings and    
awards meaningfully differentiate       

extraordinary from satisfactory         
contributions and substantively reflect 
organizational achievements over which  
the employee has responsibility and     
control4  7b7 ,market rate of pay  7#a7 
,the annual amount of the market rate of
 pay for an employee appointed under    
section #gdja7d7 of this title-- 7,a7   
shall be determined by the ,secretary on
 a case-by-case basis2 and  7,b7 shall  
take into account-- 7i7 the level of    
experience of the employee in managing  
facilities or programs of the           
,department or other similar agencies or
 companies1 whether governmental or     
nongovernmental2  7ii7 the complexity of
 the assignment of the employee1 whether
 assigned or to be assigned2  7iii7 the 
labor market for individuals in similar 
positions1 which may cover any          
geographic area the ,secretary considers
 appropriate2  7iv7 the experience of   
the employee in performing the          
assignment of the employee1 whether     
assigned or to be assigned2 and  7v7    

such other considerations as the        
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#b7 
,market rate of pay provided under this 
subsection shall reflect the recruitment
 and retention needs of the ,department 
for the assignment of a particular      
director in a facility or network of the
 ,department4  7#c7 7,a7 ,the market    
rate of pay provided under this         
subsection shall be evaluated by the    
,secretary not less frequently than once
 every two years4  7,b7 ,the market rate
 of pay of an employee may be adjusted  
as the result of an evaluation under    
subparagraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,an employee   
whose market rate of pay is evaluated   
under subparagraph 7,a7 shall receive   
written notice of the results of such   
evaluation4  7c7 ,requirements and      
limitations on total pay  7#a7 ,not less
 frequently than once every two years1  
the ,secretary shall prescribe for      
applicability throughout the ,department
 the minimum and maximum amounts for a  
market rate of pay that may be paid     

under subsection 7b74  7#b7 ,amounts    
prescribed under paragraph 7#a7 shall be
 published in the ,federal ,register and
 shall take effect not earlier than #fj 
days after the date of publication4     
7#c7 ,in no case may the total market   
rate of pay provided under subsection   
7b7 exceed the amount of annual         
compensation 7excluding expenses7       
specified in section #ajb of title #c4  
7#d7 ,no adjustment of the market rate  
of pay under subsection 7b77#c77;,b7 may
 result in a reduction of the amount of 
the market rate of pay of a director    
while in the same position or assignment
 at the same location4  7d7 ,treatment  
of pay  7#a7 ,pay under subsection 7b7  
shall be considered pay for all         
purposes1 including retirement benefits 
under chapters #hc and #hd of title #e  
and other benefits4  7#b7 ,an individual
 receiving pay under subsection 7b7 may 
not receive a cost-of-living allowance  
under section #eida of title #e4  7e7   
,annual report ,not later than one year 

after the date of the ,,va ,workforce   
,improvement1 ,support1 and ,expansion  
7,,wise7 ,act of #bjbb1 and annually    
thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
 of the ,senate and the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
implementation by the ,secretary of the 
requirements under this section4  4     
7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of  
sections at the beginning of such       
subchapter is amended by inserting after
 the item relating to section #gdcc the 
following new item3  #gdcd4 ,pay for    
directors of medical centers and        
directors of ,veterans ,integrated      
,service ,networks4  4  7b7 ,conforming 
amendments ,section #gdjd7;a77#a7 of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a7--   
7,a7 by striking 7,a7 ,the annual and   
inserting ,the annual2 and  7,b7 by     
striking and #gdja7d72 and  7#b7 by     
striking subparagraph 7,b74  #bjb4      

,waiver of pay limitation for employees 
of the ,veterans ,health ,administration
 performing mission critical work  7a7  
,in general ,subchapter ,i of chapter   
#gd of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1
 is amended by adding at the end the    
following new section3  #gdad4 ,waiver  
of pay limitation for employees         
performing mission critical work  7a7   
,in general ,notwithstanding any other  
provision of law1 the ,secretary may    
waive any limitation on pay for an      
employee of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration who is performing       
mission critical work4  7b7 ,authority  
,the ,secretary shall prescribe         
regulations for the administration of   
this section4  7c7 ,employee of the     
,veterans ,health ,administration       
defined ,in this section1 the term      
#8employee of the ,veterans ,health     
,administration includes any employee of
 the ,veterans ,health ,administration1 
regardless of the authority under which 
the employee was hired4  4  7b7         

,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of such       
subchapter is amended by inserting after
 the item relating to section #gdac the 
following new item3  #gdad4 ,waiver of  
pay limitation for employees performing 
mission critical work4  4  #bjc4        
,elimination of performance pay elements
 for physicians1 podiatrists1 and       
dentists and elimination of total       
compensation cap ,section #gdca of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is         
amended-- 7#a7 by striking subsection   
7a77#a72  7#b7 by striking subsection   
7d72  7#c7 by redesignating subsections 
7e7 through 7h7 as subsections 7d7      
through 7g71 respectively2  7#d7 in     
subsection 7d71 as redesignated by      
paragraph 7#c71 by striking paragraph   
7#d72 and  7#e7 in subsection 7g71 as   
redesignated by paragraph 7#c71 by      
striking responsibility of the          
,secretary under subsection 7c71 7d71 or
 7e7 except for the responsibilities of 
the ,secretary under subsection 7e77#a7 

and inserting responsibility of the     
,secretary under subsection 7c7 or 7d7  
except for the responsibilities of the  
,secretary under subsection 7d77#a74    
#bjd4 ,increase of maximum amount of    
incentive pay for ,department pharmacist
 executives ,section #gdaj7;b77#a7 of   
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by striking #dj1jjj and         
inserting #ge1jjj4  #bje4 ,elimination  
of pay cap for certain employees of     
,veterans ,health ,administration       
,section #gdee7;c7 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in    
paragraph 7#a71 by striking 7#a7        
,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the amount  
and inserting ,the amount2 and  7#b7 by 
striking paragraph 7#b74  #bjf4         
,modification of special pay authority  
for nurse executives ,section #gdeb7;g7 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is 
amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 in the
 matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by 
inserting authorize the ,under          
,secretary for ,health to before pay    

special pay2 and  7#b7 by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph3  7#e7  
,the ,under ,secretary for ,health shall
 define through regulations which       
positions of the ,veterans ,health      
,administration qualify as nurse        
executives for purposes of special pay  
under paragraph 7#a74  4  ,b            
,improvement of recruitment and hiring  
#baa4 ,oversight of direct hire         
authority and hiring flexibility of     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,not  
later than two years after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,inspector ,general of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall conduct a   
study and publish a report on-- 7#a7 the
 use of direct hire authority by the    
,department2  7#b7 the contributions    
made by the use of such authority to    
filling vacancies within the            
,department2 and  7#c7 any              
vulnerabilities or inconsistencies with 
respect to the use of such authority4   
#bab4 ,expansion of emergency hiring    

authorities for ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs ,section #gdje of title #ch1  
,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7
 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph  
7#b71 in the matter preceding           
subparagraph 7,a71 by striking ,a       
temporary and inserting ,except as      
provided in paragraph 7#e71 a temporary2
 and  7,b7 by adding at the end the     
following new paragraph3  7#e7 ,during a
 public health emergency1 national      
emergency1 domestic emergency1 or other 
emergency as determined by the          
,secretary1 appointments under paragraph
 7#b7 may be extended by the ,secretary 
for additional one-year periods4  2 and 
7#b7 by adding at the end the following3
  7h7 7#a7 ,if the ,secretary declares  
an emergency or crisis of veteran care  
or other operational impediment that the
 ,secretary determines will cause       
significant disruption to veteran care  
or the ,secretary identifies a          
significant need to employ personnel on 
a temporary basis in response to a      

national emergency declared under any   
provision of law1 the ,secretary may    
employ personnel under subsection       
7a77#a7 to support the emergency1       
crisis1 or impediment4  7#b7 ,the       
,secretary shall submit to ,congress in 
writing any declaration or              
identification made by the ,secretary   
under paragraph 7#a71 which shall       
include an identification of the        
approximate end date of the emergency1  
crisis1 or impediment4  7#c7 ,the       
authority to employ personnel under this
 subsection shall continue throughout   
the period covered by the declaration   
concerned4  7#d7 ,personnel in positions
 of a confidential or policy-determining
 character are excluded from employment 
under this subsection4  4  #bac4 ,waiver
 of certain licensure requirements  7a7 
,psychologists ,paragraph 7#h77;,c7 of  
section #gdjb7;b7 of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by     
striking individual psychologist for a  
period and inserting 8individual        

psychologist--  7i7 for a period  2     
7#b7 by striking the period at the end  
and inserting 2 or2 and  7#c7 by adding 
at the end the following new clause3    
7ii7 for a reasonable period recommended
 by the ,under ,secretary for ,health1  
not to exceed four years1 during a      
public health emergency declared by the 
,president1 the ,secretary of ,health   
and ,human ,services1 or such other     
authority as specified by the           
,secretary4  4  7b7 ,licensed           
professional mental health counselor    
,paragraph 7#aa77;,b7 of such section is
 amended by striking the period at the  
end and inserting 81 except that the    
,secretary may waive the requirement of 
licensure or certification for an       
individual professional mental health   
counselor to permit a reasonable period 
of time for the counselor to be licensed
 or certified1 as the case may be1 on   
the condition that the counselor--  7i7 
provide patient care only under the     
direct supervision of a licensed mental 

health provider2 and  7ii7 work toward  
such licensure or certification1 as the 
case may be4  4  #bad4 ,expansion of    
opportunities for housekeeping aides    
,section #ccaj of title #e1 ,united     
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
7other than for positions of            
housekeeping aides in the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs7 after competitive  
service4  ,c ,other personnel matters   
#bba4 ,expansion of annual leave options
 for employees of ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs during public health 
emergency  7a7 ,in general              
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
law1 the ,secretary of ,veterans        
,affairs shall waive all annual leave   
ceilings for employees of the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs during
 the period beginning on ,january #a1   
#bjbb1 and ending on ,december #ca1     
#bjbf1 allowing all unused1 accrued     
annual leave to be carried over from any
 year in the period to any subsequent   
year in the period4  7b7 ,leave in      

excess of ceiling ,at the end of        
,december #ca1 #bjbf1 all unused1       
accrued annual leave in excess of the   
ceiling pursuant to subsection 7a7 shall
 be forfeited4  #bbb4 ,expansion of     
reimbursement of continuing professional
 education fees ,section #gdaa of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by striking physician or dentist and    
inserting physician1 board-certified    
dentist1 advanced practice registered   
nurse1 or physician assistant4  #bbc4   
,inclusion of police officers of        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs as law
 enforcement officers ,title #e1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in    
section #hcca7bj71 by inserting and an  
employee of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs who is a ,department police   
officer under section #ijb of title #ch 
after supervisory or administrative     
position2 and  7#b7 in section          
#hdja7ag7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,c71  
by striking and at the end2  7,b7 in the
 flush text following subparagraph      

7,d77iii71 by adding and at the end2 and
  7,c7 by adding at the end the         
following3  7,e7 an employee of the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs who is
 a ,department police officer under     
section #ijb of title #ch2  4  #bbd4    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
personnel transparency  7a7 ,publication
 of staffing and vacancies  7#a7        
,website required ,subject to paragraph 
7#b7 and not later than #ij days after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
shall make publicly available on an     
internet website of the ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs the following        
information3 7,a7 ,the number of        
personnel encumbering positions4  7,b7  
,the number of accessions and separation
 actions processed during the quarter   
preceding the date of the publication of
 the information4  7,c7 ,the number of  
vacancies1 by occupation4  7,d7 ,the    
number of vacancies removed4  7,e7 ,the 
percentage of new hires for the         

,department who were hired within the   
time-to-hire target of the ,office of   
,personnel ,management1 disaggregated by
 internal hires and external hires4     
7#b7 ,exceptions ,the ,secretary may    
withhold from publication under         
paragraph 7#a7 information relating to  
law enforcement1 information security1  
or such positions in the ,department    
that the ,secretary determines to be    
sensitive4  7#c7 ,update of information 
,the ,secretary shall update the        
information on the website required     
under paragraph 7#a7 on a quarterly     
basis4  7#d7 ,treatment of contractor   
positions ,any ,department position that
 is filled with a contractor may not be 
treated as a ,department position for   
purposes of the information required to 
be published under paragraph 7#a74  7#e7
 ,inspector ,general review ,on a       
semiannual basis1 the ,inspector        
,general of the ,department shall review
 the administration of the website      
required by paragraph 7#a7 and make     

recommendations relating to the         
improvement of such administration4  7b7
 ,report to ,congress  7#a7 ,in general 
,each year1 the ,secretary shall submit 
to ,congress an annual report on the    
actions the ,department is taking to    
achieve full staffing capacity4  7#b7   
,contents ,each report submitted under  
paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        
following3 7,a7 ,an estimate of the     
amount of additional funds necessary to 
enable the ,department to reach full    
staffing capacity4  7,b7 ,such          
recommendations for legislative or      
administrative action as the ,secretary 
may have to achieve full staffing       
capacity at the ,department4  #bbe4     
,comptroller ,general report assessing  
human resources modernization within    
,veterans ,health ,administration  7a7  
,in general ,not later than #ah months  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the  
,united ,states shall submit to the     
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the

 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on human      
resources modernization conducted by the
 ,veterans ,health ,administration 7in  
this section referred to as the         
,administration74  7b7 ,elements ,the   
report required by subsection 7a7 shall 
include an assessment of the following3 
7#a7 ,the ,human ,resources             
,modernization ,program 7referred to in 
this subsection as the ,program7 of the 
,administration1 including an assessment
 of the activities carried out under the
 ,program and the results of those      
activities4  7#b7 ,the performance1     
accuracy1 efficiency1 and transparency  
of the human resources information      
technology systems of the               
,administration for human resources     
professionals1 managers with hiring     
authority1 and other employees of the   
,administration using those systems to  
recruit and retain the workforce of the 
,administration4  7#c7 ,metrics used to 

report hiring and vacancy data within   
the ,administration1 including          
recruitment1 hiring1 and retention data 
for mission critical occupations4  7#d7 
,trends in the hiring and vacancies     
among employees of the ,administration  
with mission critical occupations1 as   
determined by the ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs1 during the five-year
 period preceding the date of the       
enactment of this ,act4  7#e7 ,the use  
by the ,administration of hiring        
flexibilities1 including direct hire    
authority1 and waivers during the       
five-year period preceding the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 including-- 
7,a7 an assessment of the               
standardization of use of such          
authorities and waivers within ,veterans
 ,integrated ,service ,networks of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 and  
7,b7 the number and employee category of
 employees of the ,administration hired 
under each such authority or waiver4    
7#f7 ,training and development of human 

resources professionals of the          
,administration1 including-- 7,a7       
feedback from managers with hiring      
authority2 and  7,b7 feedback on such   
training from individuals receiving the 
training and individuals providing the  
training4  7#g7 ,such other matters as  
the ,comptroller ,general considers     
relevant4  ,,iii ,assistance with       
,national emergencies  #cja4 ,update of 
web portal to identify veterans who had 
medical occupations as members of the   
,armed ,forces  7a7 ,in general ,the    
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
update existing web portals of the      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
allow the identification of veterans who
 had a medical occupation as a member of
 the ,armed ,forces4  7b7 ,information  
in portal  7#a7 ,in general ,an update  
to a portal under subsection 7a7 shall  
allow a veteran to elect to provide the 
following information3 7,a7 ,contact    
information for the veteran4  7,b7 ,a   
history of the medical experience and   

trained competencies of the veteran4    
7#b7 ,inclusions in history ,to the     
extent practicable1 histories provided  
under paragraph 7#a77;,b7 shall include 
individual critical task lists specific 
to military occupational specialties    
that align with existing standard       
occupational codes maintained by the    
,bureau of ,labor ,statistics4  #cjb4   
,program on provision to ,states of     
information on veterans with medical    
skills obtained during service in the   
,armed ,forces  7a7 ,in general ,for    
purposes of facilitating civilian       
medical credentialing and hiring        
opportunities for veterans seeking to   
respond to a national emergency1        
including a public health emergency     
declared by the ,secretary of ,health   
and ,human ,services under section #cai 
of the ,public ,health ,service ,act    
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d71 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs1 in coordination  
with the ,secretary of ,defense and the 
,secretary of ,labor1 shall establish a 

program to share information specified  
in section #cja7;b77#a7 with the        
following3 7#a7 ,state departments of   
veterans affairs4  7#b7 ,state          
credentialing bodies4  7#c7 ,state      
homes4  7#d7 ,other stakeholders        
involved in ,state-level credentialing1 
as determined appropriate by the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4  7b7  
,state home defined ,in this section1   
the term ,state home has the meaning    
given that term in section #aja7ai7 of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  #cjc4
 ,program on training of intermediate   
care technicians of ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,establishment  
,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall implement a program to train      
covered veterans to work as intermediate
 care technicians of the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 ,locations ,the
 ,secretary may place an intermediate   
care technician trained under the       
program under subsection 7a7 at any     
medical center of the ,department1      

giving priority to a location with a    
significant staffing shortage4  7c7     
,inclusion of information in transition 
assistance program ,as part of the      
,transition ,assistance ,program under  
sections #aadb and #aadd of title #aj1  
,united ,states ,code1 the ,secretary   
shall prepare a communications campaign 
to convey opportunities for training1   
certification1 and employment under the 
program under subsection 7a7 to         
appropriate members of the ,armed       
,forces separating from active duty4    
7d7 ,report on expansion of program ,not
 later than #ahj days after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on whether the
 program under this section could be    
replicated for other medical positions  
within the ,department4  7e7 ,covered   
veteran defined ,in this section1 the   

term covered veteran means a veteran    
whom the ,secretary determines served or
 is serving as an allied health         
professional 7such as a combat medic1   
medical technician1 corpsman1 or basic  
health care technician7 while serving in
 the ,armed ,forces4  #cjd4             
,notification of opportunities for      
veterans  7a7 ,in general ,the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
notify veterans service organizations1  
such other stakeholders as the          
,secretary considers appropriate1 and1  
in coordination with the ,secretary of  
,defense1 members of the reserve        
components of the ,armed ,forces of     
opportunities for veterans under this   
title4  7b7 ,veterans service           
organization defined ,in this section1  
the term veterans service organization  
means any organization recognized by the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for   
the representation of veterans under    
section #eijb of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code4