I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5890 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the Chaplain Service 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2020 
Mr. BANKS (for himself and Mr. LAMBORN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the 
Chaplain Service 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, 
SECTION 1. REORGANIZATION OF CHAPLAIN SERVICE OF 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) CHAPLAIN SERVICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
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‘‘§ 324. Chaplain Service 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Department 
a Chaplain Service for the provision of religious pastoral 
care, which may include clinical services by chaplains. 
‘‘(b) CHIEF OF CHAPLAIN SERVICES.—(1) The head 
of the Chaplain Service shall be the Chief of Chaplain 
Services (in this section referred to as the ‘Chief’), who 
shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate. 
‘‘(2) The Chief shall report directly to the Secretary. 
‘‘(3)(A) The Chief shall oversee the Chaplain Service 
and shall be the proponent for, and coordinate with the 
Secretary on, all guidance pertaining to pastoral care, 
faith-based programs and instruction, and any policy or 
guidance pertaining to religion or religious accommoda-
tion. 
‘‘(B) All appropriate offices of the Department will 
coordinate with the Chief on best practices to implement 
guidance or policy pertaining to religion or religious ac-
commodation. 
‘‘(4) The office of the Chief shall be colocated with 
the Central Office of the Department. 
‘‘(c) PASTORAL SERVICES.—(1) A chaplain in the 
Chaplain Service shall provide religious pastoral services 
and care, which may include clinical services as a part of 
their pastoral duties, across all of the components of the 
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Department set forth in section 301(c) of this title, as the 
Secretary and the Chief consider appropriate. 
‘‘(2) A chaplain in the Chaplain Service may be hired 
under section 7401(5) of this title for the provision of clin-
ical services. 
‘‘(3) A chaplain described in paragraph (2) shall be 
considered an employee of the Chaplain Service and shall 
furnish services across the Department as a whole, includ-
ing the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans 
Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Ad-
ministration. 
‘‘(4) The Chief shall coordinate with the Under Sec-
retary for Health on the furnishing of clinical services by 
chaplains described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(d) PROTECTION
OF CHAPLAIN SERVICES.—The 
Secretary may not require a chaplain in the Chaplain 
Service to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony that is 
contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious 
beliefs of such chaplain. 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue regu-
lations implementing the protections afforded by this sec-
tion.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 3 of such title is 
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amended by adding at the end the following new 
item: 
‘‘324. Chaplain Service.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) CONFORMING AMENDMENT FOR OFFICE OF 
THE
UNDER
SECRETARY
FOR
HEALTH.—Section 
7306 of such title is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (e); and 
(B) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (e). 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT REGARDING AP-
POINTMENT OF CHAPLAINS FOR PROVISION OF CLIN-
ICAL SERVICES.—Section 7401 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) Chaplains with demonstrated ability in the 
provision of clinical services.’’. 
Æ 
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