#aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,s4 #dbc
  ,,an ,,act  ,to protect regul> ord] = 
budget+ = ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4        
,protect+ regul> ord] = vet]ans  7a7    
,%ort title ,?is section may be cit$ z !
 ,protect+ ,regul> ,ord] = ,vet]ans ,act
 ( #bjbe or ! ,,pro ,vet]ans ,act (     
#bjbe4  7b7 ,qu>t]ly brief+s on         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs budget>y  
%ortfalls  7#a7 ,qu>t]ly brief+s  7,a7  
,qu>t]ly brief+s requir$ ,dur+ ! fir/   
qu>t] beg9n+ aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( 
?is ,act & 9 ea* qu>t] !reaft] until !  
date t is ?ree ye>s aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all provide to !     
appropriate committees ( ,congress a    
qu>t]ly brief+1 9 p]son1 on ! budget ( !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & any    
%ortfall ! ,dep>tm5t may be exp]i5c+4   
7,b7 ,plans ,9 any case 9 :i* !         
,secret>y in=ms ,congress dur+ a brief+ 
"u p>agraph 7#a7 t ! ,dep>tm5t is       
exp]i5c+ a %ortfall1 ! ,secret>y %all1  

dur+ su* brief+1 pres5t ! plans ( !     
,secret>y to address or mitigate !      
%ortfall4  7#b7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is      
subsection3 7,a7 ,appropriate committees
 ( ,congress ,! t]m appropriate         
committees ( ,congress means-- 7i7 !    
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs & !    
,committee on ,appropriations ( !       
,s5ate2 &  7ii7 ! ,committee on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs & ! ,committee on    
,appropriations ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives4  7,b7 ,%ortfall ,! t]m 
%ortfall1 ) respect to a fiscal ye>1    
means t ! am\nt ( appropriations requir$
 by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs =   
su* fiscal ye> to meet all ( ! /atutory 
obligations ( ! ,dep>tm5t dur+ t fiscal 
ye> exce$s ! am\nt ( appropriations     
reque/$ = ! ,dep>tm5t = t fiscal ye> 9 !
 budget ( ! ,presid5t submitt$ pursuant 
to section #aaje7;a7 ( title #ca1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code1 = t fiscal ye>4  7c7     
,limitations on provision ( inc5tives = 
critical skills to ,s5ior ,executive    
,s]vice employees ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans

 ,affairs ,section #gjf7;d7 ( title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+3  7#g7 7,a7 ,subject  
to subp>agraph 7,b77ii71 a critical     
skill inc5tive may n be provid$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a7 to an employee ( !        
,dep>tm5t employ$ 9 a ,s5ior ,executive 
,s]vice position1 or a position 9 ano!r 
comp>able sy/em = s5ior-level ,gov]nm5t 
employees1 z def9$ by ! ,secret>y1 ^:   
position is at ! ,c5tral ,(fice ( !     
,dep>tm5t1 includ+ ! ,vet]ans ,heal?    
,adm9i/ration1 ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits      
,adm9i/ration1 & ! ,national ,cemet]y   
,adm9i/ration1 reg>dless ( ! actual     
location :]e ! employee p]=ms !         
functions ( ! position4  7,b7 7i7 ,a    
critical skill inc5tive provid$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a7 to an employee ( !        
,dep>tm5t employ$ 9 a ,s5ior ,executive 
,s]vice position1 or a position 9 ano!r 
comp>able sy/em = s5ior-level ,gov]nm5t 
employees1 z def9$ by ! ,secret>y1 n    
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 ( ?is       
p>agraph may only be provid$-- 7,i7 on  

an individual basis & may n be provid$  
to a gr\p ( su* employees2 &  7,,ii7 ^u 
approval ( ! foll[+ (fic]s or ^? s]v+ 9 
an act+ capacity3 7aa7 ,! ,"u ,secret>y 
= ,b5efits1 ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,heal?1 or
 ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,memorial ,affairs4  
7bb7 ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,human    
,res\rces & ,adm9i/ration4  7cc7 ,!     
,director ( ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t or !  
,*ief ,f9ancial ,(fic]4  7dd7 ,!        
,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,acc\ntability &  
,:i/lebl[] ,protection4  7ee7 ,! ,g5]al 
,c\nsel4  7ff7 ,su* o!r (fic]s z !      
,secret>y det]m9es appropriate4  7ii7 ,9
 ! case ( an employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t     
employ$ 9 a ,s5ior ,executive ,s]vice   
position1 or a position 9 ano!r         
comp>able sy/em = s5ior-level ,gov]nm5t 
employees1 z def9$ by ! ,secret>y1 ^:   
position is prim>ily at ! ,c5tral ,(fice
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 b :o p]=ms "s portion ( 
! employee's job function at o!r        
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 z def9$ by !  
,secret>y1 n at ,c5tral ,(fice-- 7,i7 ! 
employee %all n be consid]$ describ$ 9  

subp>agraph 7,a7 ) respect to ! portion 
( ! employee's job function t is bas$   
out ( non-,c5tral ,(fice facilities ( ! 
,dep>tm5t2 &  7,,ii7 any critical skill 
inc5tive provid$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 to !  
employee = ! portion ( ! employee's job 
function t is bas$ out ( facilities ( ! 
,dep>tm5t o!r ?an ! ,c5tral ,(fice %all 
be proportionate to ! "t sp5t at ^?     
,dep>tm5t facilities4  7,c7 7i7 ,n lat] 
?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ! 
,protect+ ,regul> ,ord] = ,vet]ans ,act 
( #bjbe1 & n less frequ5tly ?an once ea*
 ye> !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to
 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! 
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives an 
annual report on ! employees ( !        
,dep>tm5t employ$ 9 a ,s5ior ,executive 
,s]vice position1 or a position 9 ano!r 
comp>able sy/em = s5ior-level ,gov]nm5t 
employees1 z def9$ by ! ,secret>y1 :o 7 
provid$ a critical skill inc5tive "u    
p>agraph 7#a74  7ii7 ,reports submitt$  
pursuant to clause 7i7 may be submitt$  

by incorporat+ _! cont5ts into o!r      
congressionally m&at$ reports to !      
committees describ$ 9 su* clause4  7,d7 
,9 ?is p>agraph1 ! t]m ,s5ior ,executive
 ,s]vice position has ! mean+ giv5 su*  
t]m 9 section #cacb7;a7 ( title #e4  4  
#b4 ,e/abli%m5t ( vet]ans exp]i5ce (fice
  7a7 ,%ort title ,?is section may be   
cit$ z ! ,improv+ ,vet]ans' ,exp]i5ce   
,act ( #bjbe4  7b7 ,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,*apt] #c ( title #ch1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new section3  #cbe4 ,vet]ans   
exp]i5ce (fice  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!re is 
e/abli%$ 9 ! ,dep>tm5t )9 ! ,(fice ( !  
,secret>y an (fice to be kn[n z !       
,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce ,(fice 79 ?is section
 ref]r$ to z ! ,(fice74  7b7 ,head (    
(fice  7#a7 ,! head ( ! ,(fice %all be !
 ,*ief ,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce ,(fic]4  7#b7 
,! ,*ief ,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce ,(fic]      
%all-- 7,a7 be appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y f 
among individuals ! ,secret>y consid]s  
qualifi$ to p]=m ! duties ( ! position2 
7,b7 report directly to ! ,secret>y2 &  

7,c7 be responsible = c>ry+ out !       
functions ( ! ,(fice set =? "u          
subsection 7c74  7c7 ,function ,!       
functions ( ! ,(fice are z foll[s3 7#a7 
,c>ry+ out ! key cu/om] exp]i5ce        
initiatives ( ! ,dep>tm5t relat+ to     
vet]ans' & o!r b5efici>ies' satisfaction
 ) & usage ( b5efits & s]vices furni%$  
"u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y = :i* !y
 are eligible1 includ+ sett+ ! /rategy1 
framework1 policy1 & o!r guidance = !   
,dep>tm5t relat+ to cu/om] exp]i5ce1    
includ+ ensur+ ! activities ( ! ,(fice &
 ^? ( o!r organizations & (fices )9 !   
,dep>tm5t are coord9at$ & n duplicative4
  7#b7 ,requir+ ! heads ( o!r           
organizations & (fices )9 ! ,dep>tm5t to
 report regul>ly on cu/om] exp]i5ce     
metrics1 action plans1 & o!r cu/om]     
exp]i5ce improvem5t ef=ts to ! ,*ief    
,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce ,(fic]4  7#c7        
,collect+ vet]an-d]iv$ data-- 7,a7 to   
det]m9e vet]an & b5efici>y satisfaction 
) & usage ( ! b5efits & s]vices furni%$ 
"u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y = :i* !y

 are eligible2 &  7,b7 to be consid]$   
dur+ policymak+4  7#d7 ,provid+ /rategic
 guidance & /rategies to ,dep>tm5t      
entities = engag+ ) vet]ans &           
b5efici>ies reg>d+ b5efits & s]vices    
furni%$ "u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1
 includ+ ^? n us+ su* b5efits & s]vices4
  7#e7 ,assess+ & advis+ ! ,secret>y on 
! accuracy & helpfulness ( ! websites & 
o!r cu/om]-fac+ in=mation ( ! ,dep>tm5t1
 be x available electronically or 9 any 
o!r =mat4  7#f7 ,assess+ & advis+ !     
,secret>y on ! /atus & opportunities =  
improvem5t ( ! cu/om] s]vice ef=ts ( !  
,dep>tm5t4  7d7 ,reports  7#a7 ,ea* ye>1
 ! ,*ief ,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce ,(fic] %all 
submit to ! ,secret>y a summ>y ( ! data 
receiv$ by ! ,*ief ,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce   
,(fic] "u subsection 7c77#b74  7#b7 ,ea*
 ye>1 n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date  
on :i* ! ,secret>y receives ! summ>y "u 
p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y %all submit  
to ,congress an annual summ>y & analysis
 ( ! matt]s summ>iz$ pursuant to su*    
p>agraph4  7#c7 ,ea* annual summ>y      

submitt$ pursuant to p>agraph 7#b7 %all 
include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,data reg>d+     
cu/om] s]vice & exp]i5ce fe$back1       
disaggregat$ by b5efit or s]vice furni%$
 "u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 &     
relevant demographic data ( ! vet]ans & 
b5efici>ies provid+ ! fe$back4  7,b7    
,data reg>d+ vet]an & b5efici>y         
satisfaction ) & usage ( b5efits or     
s]vices1 disaggregat$ by b5efit or      
s]vice furni%$ "u laws adm9i/]$ by !    
,secret>y1 & relevant demographic data (
 ! vet]ans & b5efici>ies provid+ !      
fe$back1 includ+-- 7i7 pot5tial reasons 
= n us+ ! b5efits or s]vices1 su* z--   
7,i7 eligibility2  7,,ii7 lack ( k or   
aw>5ess ( exi/5ce ( b5efit or s]vice2   
7,,iii7 b>ri]s ( te*nology1 in=mation1  
or "t2 &  7,,iv7 o!r relat$ reasons2 &  
7ii7 an analysis ( h[ su* reasons may be
 address$4  7e7 ,/aff & res\rces  7#a7  
,! ,secret>y %all ensure t-- 7,a7 !     
,(fice has su* /aff1 res\rces1 & access 
to cu/om] s]vice & exp]i5ce in=mation z 
may be necess>y to c>ry out ! functions 

( ! ,(fice2 &  7,b7 any in=mation       
provid$ to ! ,(fice does n include      
p]sonally id5tifiable in=mation ( an    
individual vet]an1 survivor1 dep5d5t1 or
 o!r b5efici>y unless su* individual    
provides appropriate cons5t to all[ su* 
in=mation to be %>$ ) ! ,(fice4  7#b7   
,funds available = basic pay & o!r      
adm9i/rative exp5ses ( o!r ,dep>tm5t    
organizations & (fices may be available 
to reimburse ! ,(fice = all s]vices     
provid$ at rates :i* w recov] actual    
co/s = s]vices provid$ to su*           
organizations if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t 
contribut+ to su* co/s w n und]m9e !    
ability ( any su* organization or (fice 
to provide s]vices requir$ by su* (fice4
  7#c7 ,no?+ 9 ?is subsection %all be   
con/ru$ to au?orize an increase 9 !     
numb] ( full-"t employees o!rwise       
au?oriz$ = ! ,dep>tm5t4  7f7 ,privacy   
,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be con/ru$ to  
au?orize ! ,*ief ,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce     
,(fic] to disclose any record 9         
contrav5tion ( section #eeb;a ( title #e

 7commonly ref]r$ to z ! ,privacy ,act (
 #aigd74  7g7 ,sunset ,! requirem5ts &  
au?orities ( ?is section %all t]m9ate on
 ,septemb] #cj1 #bjbh4  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical
 am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+
 ( *apt] #c ( su* title is am5d$ by add+
 at ! end ! foll[+ new item3  #cbe4     
,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce ,(fice4  4  7c7      
,comptroll] g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
review ( vet]ans exp]i5ce (fice & cu/om]
 s]vice improvem5t ef=ts ,n lat] ?an    
#edj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act1 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates %all-- 7#a7 complete an analysis 
( ! me?odology1 effectiv5ess1 &         
implem5tation ( f9d+s & fe$back (       
vet]ans & b5efici>ies us$ by ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 includ+ ! ,vet]ans
 ,exp]i5ce ,(fice1 to improve vet]an &  
b5efici>y cu/om] exp]i5ce &             
satisfaction1 includ+ ?r\gh ! use ( :at 
are kn[n z tru/-scores1 ,vet]an ,signals
 also kn[n z ,v,signals1 & relat$ survey
 & data collection activities1          
processes1 & initiatives2 &  7#b7 submit

 to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs (
 ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'   
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report sett+ =? ! f9d+s ( ! ,comptroll] 
,g5]al ) respect to ! analysis complet$ 
pursuant to p>agraph 7#a74  ,pass$ !    
,s5ate ,april #h1 #bjbe4,secret>y