HR 2433 RFS 
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking out ‘‘para-
graph (1)(C) or (1)(D)’’ and inserting ‘‘subpara-
graph (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (1)’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (B); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (C) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) in the case of care for a veteran described 
in paragraph (1)(E), after December 31, 2005.’’. 
SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RETENTION AND RECRUIT-
MENT OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) PROMOTION STANDARDS
FOR HEALTH CARE 
PERSONNEL.—Subsection (c) of 7403 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Promotions’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Consistent with subsection (a) of section 7422 of 
this title, and notwithstanding subsection (b) of that sec-
tion, promotions’’. 
(b) PROMOTIONS FOR NURSES WHO DO NOT HAVE 
BACCALAUREATE DEGREES.—Such section is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
HR 2433 RFS 
‘‘(h) In a case in which a registered nurse has accom-
plished the performance elements required for promotion 
to the next grade, the lack of a baccalaureate degree in 
nursing shall not be a bar to promotion to that grade, 
and in such a case the registered nurse shall not be denied 
a promotion on that basis.’’. 
SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL PAY FOR SATURDAY TOURS OF DUTY 
FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN 
THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7454(b) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) Employees appointed under section 7408 of this 
title shall be entitled to additional pay on the same basis 
as provided for nurses in section 7453(c) of this title.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to pay periods begin-
ning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 5. COVERAGE OF EMPLOYEES OF VETERANS’ CAN-
TEEN SERVICE UNDER ADDITIONAL EMPLOY-
MENT LAWS. 
(a) COVERAGE.—Paragraph (5) of section 7802 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting be-
fore the semicolon a period and the following: ‘‘An em-
ployee appointed under this section may be considered for
HR 2433 RFS 
appointment to a Department position in the competitive 
service in the same manner that a Department employee 
in the competitive service is considered for transfer to such 
position. An employee of the Service who is appointed to 
a Department position in the competitive service under the 
authority of the preceding sentence may count toward the 
time-in-service requirement for a career appointment in 
such position any previous period of employment in the 
Service’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Such section is fur-
ther amended—
(1) by striking the semicolon at the end of each 
of paragraphs (1) through (10) and inserting a pe-
riod; 
(2) by striking ‘‘The Secretary ’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘(1) establish,’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
LOCATIONS
FOR CANTEENS.—The Secretary shall 
establish,’’; 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
(11) as subsections (b) through (k), respectively, and 
by realigning those subsections (as so redesignated) 
so as to be flush to the left margin; 
(4) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘WAREHOUSES AND STORAGE DEPOTS.—
The Secretary shall’’ before ‘‘establish’’;
HR 2433 RFS 
(5) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by in-
serting ‘‘SPACE, BUILDINGS, AND STRUCTURES.—
The Secretary shall’’ before ‘‘furnish’’; 
(6) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘EQUIPMENT, SERVICES, 
AND
UTILI-
TIES.—The Secretary shall’’ before ‘‘transfer’’; 
(7) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated and as 
amended by subsection (a)), by inserting ‘‘PER-
SONNEL.—The Secretary shall’’ before ‘‘employ’’; 
(8) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), by in-
serting ‘‘CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall’’ before ‘‘make all’’; 
(9) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘PRICES.—The Secretary shall’’ before 
‘‘fix the’’; 
(10) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—The Secretary 
may’’ before ‘‘accept’’; 
(11) in subsection (i) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘RULES
AND REGULATIONS.—The Sec-
retary shall’’ before ‘‘make such’’; 
(12) in subsection (j) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘DELEGATION.—The Secretary may’’ be-
fore ‘‘delegate such’’; and
HR 2433 RFS 
(13) in subsection (k) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘AUTHORITY TO CASH CHECKS, ETC.—
The Secretary may’’ before ‘‘authorize’’.
Passed the House of Representatives September 10, 
2003. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.