I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5731 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for annual reviews of 
mental health professionals treating veterans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 14, 2010 
Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for annual 
reviews of mental health professionals treating veterans, 
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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Mental 
Health Professionals Oversight Act of 2010’’. 
SEC. 2. REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
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(1) REVIEW.—Subchapter II of chapter 73 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 7330B. Review of mental health professionals 
‘‘(a) REVIEW.—Not later than January 1 of each 
year, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs shall conduct a review of mental health profes-
sionals employed by the Veterans Health Administration 
during the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the review under subsection (a) is completed, the 
Inspector General shall submit to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate, and the Advi-
sory Committee on Veterans with Psychological and Men-
tal Health Needs under section 547 of this title a report 
on such review. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—With respect to each covered facil-
ity in each geographic service area of the Veterans Health 
Administration, the report shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) The number of full-time psychiatrists and 
psychologists employed during the preceding fiscal 
year. 
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‘‘(2) The number of part-time (or part-time 
equivalent) psychiatrists and psychologists employed 
during the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(3) The number of mental health nursing staff 
employed during the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(4) The number of certified social workers as-
signed to mental health programs during the pre-
ceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(5) The number of other direct-care mental 
health staff, including counselors and outreach work-
ers, employed during the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(6) The number of administrative and support 
staff assigned to mental health programs during the 
preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(7) The number of full-time direct-care em-
ployees for all programs of the Veterans Health Ad-
ministration. 
‘‘(8) The number of unfilled vacancies for men-
tal health positions that have been authorized for 
each geographic service area (including the number 
of positions per each covered facility) and the aver-
age length of time such positions remain unfilled. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘covered 
facility’ includes each medical center, facility, and commu-
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nity-based outpatient clinic of the Veterans Health Admin-
istration.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 7330A 
the following new item: 
‘‘7330B. Review of mental health professionals’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than October 1, 2011, the 
Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate, and the Advisory Committee on Vet-
erans with Psychological and Mental Health Needs under 
section 547 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
section 3 of this Act, a report under section 7330B of such 
title, as added by subsection (a) of this section, with re-
spect to each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009. 
SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS WITH PSY-
CHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 5 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 547. Advisory committee on veterans with psycho-
logical and mental health needs 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory 
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Committee on Veterans with Psychological and Mental 
Health Needs (in this section referred to as the ‘Com-
mittee’). 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall consist of 
members appointed by the Secretary, including— 
‘‘(1) mental health practitioners of the Depart-
ment; 
‘‘(2) veterans; 
‘‘(3) individuals representing veteran service or-
ganizations; and 
‘‘(4) individuals representing other organiza-
tions related to mental health or veterans. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMITTEE.—(1) The 
Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek 
the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision 
of mental health care to veterans. 
‘‘(2) In addition to providing advice under paragraph 
(1), the Committee shall— 
‘‘(A) analyze data contained in the reports sub-
mitted under section 7330B of this title; and 
‘‘(B) collect information related to the provision 
of mental health treatment to veterans by the De-
partment, including by visiting medical facilities of 
the Department from time to time. 
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‘‘(d) REPORTS.—Not later than March 1 of each 
year, beginning March 1, 2011, the Committee shall sub-
mit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activi-
ties of the Department that pertain to veterans with psy-
chological and mental health needs.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 5 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘547. Advisory committee on veterans with psychological and mental health 
needs.’’. 
SEC. 4. REPORT ON CHRONIC MENTAL HEALTH CONDI-
TIONS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate a report on chronic mental health 
conditions. The report shall include the following: 
(1) The number of veterans diagnosed with 
chronic mental health conditions. 
(2) The anticipated needs of veterans of Oper-
ation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Free-
dom with respect to the treatment of chronic mental 
health conditions. 
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