I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3956 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a 
plan to hire directors of the medical centers of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 5, 2015 
Mr. BOST (for himself, Mr. COSTA, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois, and Mr. 
SWALWELL of California) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and 
implement a plan to hire directors of the medical centers 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
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 ‘‘VA Health Center 
Management Stability and Improvement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) According to data from the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, several medical centers of the De-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:11 Nov 07, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3956.IH
H3956
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
partment are managed by acting or temporary direc-
tors. 
(2) Some of these medical centers have not 
been managed by a permanent director for a long 
period. 
(3) Pursuant to section 317.903 of title 5, Code 
of Federal Regulations, a member of the senior exec-
utive service who is detailed to a temporary position 
in a department or agency of the Federal Govern-
ment may not serve in that position for periods 
longer than 120-day increments, and no member of 
the senior executive service may be detailed to an 
unclassified position for a period longer than 240 
days. 
(4) The inability of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to recruit qualified, permanent candidates as 
directors of medical centers, combined with the poli-
cies described in paragraph (3), leads to frequent 
turnover of directors at the medical centers which 
impedes the ability of system management to engage 
in long-term planning and other functions necessary 
to improve service delivery to veterans. 
(5) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should 
develop a comprehensive plan to recruit permanent 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:11 Nov 07, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3956.IH
H3956
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
directors at each medical center that lacks a perma-
nent director. 
SEC. 3. PLAN TO HIRE DIRECTORS OF MEDICAL CENTERS 
OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) PLAN.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall develop and implement a plan to hire highly 
qualified directors for each medical center of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs that lacks a permanent director 
as of the date of the plan. The Secretary shall prioritize 
the hiring of such directors for the medical centers that 
have not had a permanent director for the longest periods. 
(b) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The plan developed under 
subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A deadline to hire the directors of the med-
ical centers of the Department as described in such 
subsection. 
(2) Identification of the possible impediments to 
such hiring. 
(3) Identification of opportunities to promote 
and train candidates from within the Department to 
senior executive positions in the Department, includ-
ing as directors of medical centers. 
(c) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:11 Nov 07, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3956.IH
H3956
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
mit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate the plan developed 
under subsection (a). 
(d) SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and each 
180-day period thereafter until January 1, 2018, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the House of Representatives and the Senate a list of 
each medical center of the Department that lacks a per-
manent director as of the date of the report. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:11 Nov 07, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3956.IH
H3956
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS