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 fol-
lowing 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 con-
cerned 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. REORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER DIREC-
TORS. 
(a) REORGANIZATION.—Chapter 55 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
1104 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1104a. Appointment of directors of medical centers 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
‘‘(a) APPOINTMENT BY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall appoint the director of 
each medical center of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
‘‘(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments, shall establish the common qualifications and core 
competencies required for an officer of the armed forces 
to serve as a director under this section. 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—Each di-
rector under this section shall have the functions and re-
sponsibilities of a director of a medical center of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs under title 38, and any other 
functions or responsibilities as the Secretary of Defense 
may assign. 
‘‘(d) TRAINING OF OFFICERS.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall provide training to officers of the armed forces 
to serve as directors under this section through the joint 
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medical executive skills development program established 
under Department of Defense Instruction 6000.15 (or any 
successor instruction).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TITLE 38.—Title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(A) in section 7401(4), by striking ‘‘Direc-
tors of medical centers and directors’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Directors’’; and 
(B) in section 7402(b), by striking ‘‘Cen-
ter,’’ in the heading of paragraph (4). 
(2) VA CHOICE
AND
QUALITY
EMPLOYMENT 
ACT OF 2017.—Section 210 of the VA Choice and 
Quality Employment Act of 2017 (Public Law 115– 
46; 131 Stat. 965; 38 U.S.C. 7401 note) is repealed. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 55 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 1104 the following new item: 
‘‘1104a. Appointment of directors of medical centers of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This Act and the amend-
ments made by this Act shall apply with respect to a direc-
tor of a medical center of the Department of Veterans Af-
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fairs appointed on or after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
Æ 
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