I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3557 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the number of health 
care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs by 
improving the Department of Veterans Affairs Education Debt Reduction 
Program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 28, 2017 
Mr. WALDEN (for himself, Mr. DEFAZIO, and Mr. NEWHOUSE) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the 
number of health care professionals employed by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs by improving the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Education Debt Reduction 
Program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. IMPROVEMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATION DEBT REDUC-
TION PROGRAM. 
(a) 
ADDITIONAL
LOANS
COVERED.—Section 
7682(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
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by striking ‘‘a course of education or training which led 
to a degree that qualified the individual for the position 
referred to in paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘the under-
graduate or graduate education of the individual (or 
both)’’. 
(b) INCREASE OF AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.—Sub-
section (d) of section 7683 of such title is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$120,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$240,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘$24,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$60,000’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ‘‘The Secretary shall se-
lect the locations covered by the preceding sentence 
pursuant to a process established by the Secretary 
that is similar to the process used to determine 
health professional shortage areas under section 332 
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e).’’. 
(c) ADDRESSING TAX LIABILITY.—Such section is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(e) TAX LIABILITY.—For the purpose of providing 
reimbursements for tax liability resulting from payments 
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under this subchapter on behalf of an individual, the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(1) shall, in addition to such payments, make 
payments to the individual in an amount equal to 39 
percent of the total amount of loan repayments 
made for the taxable year involved; and 
‘‘(2) may make such additional payments as the 
Secretary determines to be appropriate with respect 
to such purpose.’’. 
(d) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this 
Act shall apply with respect to individuals who first par-
ticipate in the Department of Veterans Affairs Education 
Debt Reduction Program under subchapter VII of chapter 
76 of title 38, United States Code, beginning on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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