I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4234 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program 
to reduce the shortage of psychiatrists in the Veterans Health Adminis-
tration of the Department of Veterans Affairs by offering competitive 
employment incentives to certain psychiatrists, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 13, 2014 
Mr. BUCSHON (for himself and Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
a pilot program to reduce the shortage of psychiatrists 
in the Veterans Health Administration of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs by offering competitive employ-
ment incentives to certain psychiatrists, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ensuring Veterans’ 
Resiliency Act’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:42 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4234.IH
H4234
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR REPAYMENT OF EDU-
CATIONAL LOANS FOR CERTAIN PSYCHIA-
TRISTS OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRA-
TION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to repay a loan 
of an individual described in subsection (b) that— 
(1) was used by the individual to finance edu-
cation regarding psychiatric medicine, including edu-
cation leading to an undergraduate degree and edu-
cation leading to the degree of doctor of medicine or 
of doctor of osteopathy; and 
(2) was obtained from a governmental entity, 
private financial institution, school, or other author-
ized entity, as determined by the Secretary. 
(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—To be eligible to obtain 
a loan repayment under this section, an individual shall— 
(1) either— 
(A) be licensed or eligible for licensure to 
practice psychiatric medicine in the Veterans 
Health Administration of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs; or 
(B) be enrolled in the final year of a resi-
dency program leading to a specialty qualifica-
tion in psychiatric medicine that is approved by 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:42 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4234.IH
H4234
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical 
Education; and 
(2) as determined appropriate by the Secretary, 
demonstrate a commitment to a long-term career as 
a psychiatrist in the Veterans Health Administra-
tion, including by requiring a set number of years of 
obligated service. 
(c) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall select not less 
than 10 individuals described in subsection (b) to partici-
pate in the pilot program for each year in which the Sec-
retary carries out the pilot program. 
(d) LOAN REPAYMENTS.— 
(1) AMOUNTS.—Subject to the limits estab-
lished by paragraph (2), a loan repayment under 
this section may consist of payment of the principal, 
interest, and related expenses of a loan obtained by 
an individual described in subsection (b) for all edu-
cational expenses (including tuition, fees, books, and 
laboratory expenses) relating to a degree described 
in subsection (a)(1). 
(2) LIMIT.—For each year of obligated service 
that an individual agrees to serve in an agreement 
described in subsection (b)(2), the Secretary may 
pay not more than $60,000 on behalf of the indi-
vidual. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:42 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4234.IH
H4234
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(e) BREACH.— 
(1) LIABILITY.—An individual who participates 
in the pilot program under subsection (a) who fails 
to satisfy the commitment described in subsection 
(b)(2) shall be liable to the United States, in lieu of 
any service obligation arising from such participa-
tion, for the amount which has been paid or is pay-
able to or on behalf of the individual under the pro-
gram, reduced by the proportion that the number of 
days served for completion of the service obligation 
bears to the total number of days in the period of 
obligated service of the individual. 
(2) REPAYMENT PERIOD.—Any amount of dam-
ages which the United States is entitled to recover 
under this subsection shall be paid to the United 
States within the one-year period beginning on the 
date of the breach of the agreement. 
(f) PROHIBITION ON SIMULTANEOUS ELIGIBILITY.— 
An individual who is participating in any other program 
of the Federal Government that repays the educational 
loans of the individual may not participate in the pilot pro-
gram under subsection (a). 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the pilot program terminates under subsection 
(g), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:42 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4234.IH
H4234
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a report on the pilot program. The report shall 
include the overall effect of the pilot program on the psy-
chiatric workforce shortage of the Veterans Health Ad-
ministration, the long-term stability of such workforce, 
and overall workforce strategies of the Veterans Health 
Administration that seek to promote the physical and 
mental resiliency of all veterans. 
(h) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations to carry out this section, including standards 
for qualified loans and authorized payees and other terms 
and conditions for the making of loan repayments. 
(i) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out the 
pilot program shall expire on the date that is three years 
after the date on which the Secretary commences the pilot 
program. 
SEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON PAY DISPARI-
TIES 
OF 
PSYCHIATRISTS 
OF 
VETERANS 
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study of pay disparities 
among psychiatrists of the Veterans Health Administra-
tion of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The study 
shall include— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:42 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4234.IH
H4234
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) an examination of laws, regulations, prac-
tices, and policies, including salary flexibilities, that 
contribute to such disparities; and 
(2) recommendations with respect to legislative 
or regulatory actions to improve equity in pay 
among such psychiatrists. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
on which the Comptroller General completes the study 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the 
results of the study. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:42 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4234.IH
H4234
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS