I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4314 

To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Defense 

to appoint officers of the Armed Forces as directors of medical centers 

of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. MAST) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the 

Secretary of Defense to appoint officers of the Armed 

Forces as directors of medical centers of the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. REORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VET2 ERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER DIREC3 TORS. 

4 (a) REORGANIZATION.—Chapter 55 of title 10, 

5 United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 

6 1104 the following new section: 

7 ‘‘§ 1104a. Appointment of directors of medical centers 

8 of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

9 ‘‘(a) APPOINTMENT BY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.— 

10 The Secretary of Defense shall appoint the director of 

11 each medical center of the Department of Veterans Af12 fairs. 

13 ‘‘(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense, in 

14 consultation with the Secretaries of the military depart15 ments, shall establish the common qualifications and core 

16 competencies required for an officer of the armed forces 

17 to serve as a director under this section. 

18 ‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—Each di19 rector under this section shall have the functions and re20 sponsibilities of a director of a medical center of the De21 partment of Veterans Affairs under title 38, and any other 

22 functions or responsibilities as the Secretary of Defense 

23 may assign. 

24 ‘‘(d) TRAINING OF OFFICERS.—The Secretary of De25 fense shall provide training to officers of the armed forces 

26 to serve as directors under this section through the joint 


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1 medical executive skills development program established 

2 under Department of Defense Instruction 6000.15 (or any 

3 successor instruction).’’. 

4 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

5 (1) TITLE 38.—Title 38, United States Code, is 

6 amended— 

7 (A) in section 7401(4), by striking ‘‘Direc8 tors of medical centers and directors’’ and in9 serting ‘‘Directors’’; and 

10 (B) in section 7402(b), by striking ‘‘Cen11 ter,’’ in the heading of paragraph (4). 

12 (2) VA CHOICE AND QUALITY EMPLOYMENT

13 ACT OF 2017.—Section 210 of the VA Choice and 

14 Quality Employment Act of 2017 (Public Law 115– 

15 46; 131 Stat. 965; 38 U.S.C. 7401 note) is repealed. 

16 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

17 at the beginning of chapter 55 of title 10, United States 

18 Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

19 section 1104 the following new item: 

‘‘1104a. Appointment of directors of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.’’. 

20 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This Act and the amend21 ments made by this Act shall apply with respect to a direc22 tor of a medical center of the Department of Veterans AfVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:13 Sep 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4314.IH H4314

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1 fairs appointed on or after the date of the enactment of 

2 this Act. 

Æ 


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