SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Modification to annual determination of staffing shortages in Veterans 
Health Administration. 
Sec. 3. Executive management fellowship program. 
Sec. 4. Accountability of leaders for managing the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs. 
Sec. 5. Modification to veterans preference. 
Sec. 6. Reemployment of former employees. 
Sec. 7. Recruiting database. 
Sec. 8. Human resources academy. 
Sec. 9. Promotional opportunities for technical experts. 
Sec. 10. Comptroller General study on succession planning. 
Sec. 11. Employment of students and recent graduates. 
Sec. 12. Exit surveys. 
Sec. 13. Encouraging transition of military medical professionals into employ-
ment with Veterans Health Administration. 
Sec. 14. Plan to hire directors of medical centers of Department of Veterans 
Affairs. 
Sec. 15. Recruitment of physicians in Department of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION TO ANNUAL DETERMINATION OF 
STAFFING SHORTAGES IN VETERANS HEALTH 
ADMINISTRATION. 
Section 7412(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the five occupations’’ and in-
serting ‘‘at a minimum, the five clinical occupations 
and the five nonclinical occupations’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘throughout the Department’’ 
and inserting ‘‘with respect to each medical center of 
the Department,’’.
SEC. 3. EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—Chapter 7 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subchapter: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 
‘‘§ 741. Executive Management Fellowship Program 
‘‘(a) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—There is in the De-
partment an Executive Management Fellowship Program. 
The purpose of the program shall be to provide— 
‘‘(1) eligible employees of the Veterans Benefits 
Administration and the Veterans Health Administra-
tion with training and experience in the private sec-
tor; and 
‘‘(2) eligible employees of a private-sector entity 
with training and experience in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
‘‘(b) FELLOWSHIP.—(1) A fellowship provided under 
this section is a 1-year fellowship during which— 
‘‘(A) with respect to a Department participant, 
the participant receives training and experience at a 
private-sector entity that is engaged in the adminis-
tration and delivery of health care or other services 
similar to the benefits administered by the Sec-
retary; and
‘‘(B) with respect to a private-sector partici-
pant, the participant receives training and experi-
ence at the Veterans Benefits Administration or the 
Veterans Health Administration. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall enter into such agreements 
with private-sector entities as are necessary to carry out 
this section. 
‘‘(c) SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS.—(1) In August of 
each year, the Secretary shall select— 
‘‘(A) not fewer than 18 and not more than 30 
eligible employees of the Veterans Benefits Adminis-
tration and the Veterans Health Administration to 
receive a fellowship under this section; and 
‘‘(B) not fewer than 18 and not more than 30 
eligible employees of private-sector entities to receive 
a fellowship under this section. 
‘‘(2) To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall se-
lect eligible employees under subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
of paragraph (1) from among eligible employees who are 
veterans in a manner that is reflective of the demographics 
of the veteran population of the United States and that 
whenever practicable provides a preference to such em-
ployees who represent or service rural areas. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.—For the purposes of 
this section, an eligible employee is—
‘‘(1) with respect to an employee of the Vet-
erans Benefits Administration or the Veterans 
Health Administration, an employee who— 
‘‘(A) is compensated at a rate of basic pay 
not less than the minimum rate of basic pay 
payable for grade GS–14 of the General Sched-
ule and not more than either the minimum rate 
of basic pay payable to a member of the Senior 
Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, 
United States Code, or the minimum rate of 
basic pay payable pursuant to chapter 74 of 
this title, as the case may be; 
‘‘(B) enters into an agreement with the 
Secretary under subsection (e); and 
‘‘(C) submits to the Secretary an applica-
tion containing such information and assur-
ances as the Secretary may require; and 
‘‘(2) with respect to an employee of a private- 
sector entity, an employee who— 
‘‘(A) is employed in a position whose du-
ties and responsibilities are commensurate with 
an employee of the Department described in 
paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) enters into an agreement with the 
Secretary under subsection (e); and
‘‘(C) submits to the Secretary an applica-
tion containing such information and assur-
ances as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(e) AGREEMENTS.—(1) An agreement between the 
Secretary and a Department participant shall be in writ-
ing, shall be signed by the participant, and shall include 
the following provisions: 
‘‘(A) The Secretary’s agreement to provide the 
participant with a fellowship under this section; 
‘‘(B) The participant’s agreement— 
‘‘(i) to accept the fellowship; 
‘‘(ii) after completion of the fellowship, to 
serve as a full-time employee in the Veterans 
Benefits Administration or the Veterans Health 
Administration for at least 2 years as specified 
in the agreement; and 
‘‘(iii) that, during the 2-year period begin-
ning on the last day of the fellowship, the par-
ticipant will not accept employment in the same 
industry as the industry of the private-sector 
entity at which the participant accepts the fel-
lowship. 
‘‘(C) A provision that any financial obligation of 
the United States arising out of an agreement en-
tered into under this subchapter, and any obligation
of the participant which is conditioned on such 
agreement, is contingent upon funds being appro-
priated. 
‘‘(D) A statement of the damages to which the 
United States is entitled under this subchapter for 
the participant’s breach of the agreement. 
‘‘(E) Such other terms as the Secretary deter-
mines are required to be included in the agreement. 
‘‘(2) An agreement between the Secretary and a pri-
vate-sector participant shall be in writing, shall be signed 
by the participant, and shall include the following provi-
sions: 
‘‘(A) The Secretary’s agreement to provide the 
participant with a fellowship under this section. 
‘‘(B) The participant’s agreement to accept the 
fellowship. 
‘‘(C) Such other terms as the Secretary deter-
mines are required to be included in the agreement. 
‘‘(f) TREATMENT OF RECIPIENTS.—(1) A Depart-
ment participant shall be considered an employee of the 
Department for all purposes, including for purposes of re-
ceiving a salary and benefits, and shall remain eligible for 
all promotion and incentive programs otherwise available 
to such an employee.
‘‘(2) A private-sector participant shall be considered 
an employee of the private-sector entity that employs the 
participant for all purposes, including for purposes of re-
ceiving a salary and benefits, and during the fellowship 
shall be treated as a contractor of the Department. 
‘‘(g) REPORTS.—Not later than 60 days after com-
pleting a fellowship under this section, a recipient of the 
fellowship shall submit to the Secretary a report on the 
fellowship. Each such report shall describe the duties of 
the recipient during the fellowship and any recommenda-
tions of the recipient for the application by the Secretary 
of industry processes, technologies, and best practices. Not 
later than 7 days after receiving each such report, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 
of the Senate and House of Representatives such report 
without change. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘Department participant’ means 
an employee of the Veterans Benefits Administration 
or the Veterans Health Administration who is par-
ticipating in the fellowship under this section. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘private-sector entity’ includes 
an entity operating under a public-private partner-
ship.
‘‘(3) The term ‘private-sector participant’ 
means an employee of a private-sector entity who is 
participating in the fellowship under this section.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement the Ex-
ecutive Management Fellowship Program required under 
section 741 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a). 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 7 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
items: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 
‘‘741. Executive Management Fellowship Program.’’. 
SEC. 4. ACCOUNTABILITY OF LEADERS FOR MANAGING 
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 717 the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 719. Annual performance plan for political ap-
pointees 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct an 
annual performance plan for each political appointee of 
the Department that is similar to the annual performance 
plan conducted for an employee of the Department who
is appointed as a career appointee (as that term is defined 
in section 3132(a)(4) of title 5) within the Senior Execu-
tive Service at the Department. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—Each annual perform-
ance plan conducted under subsection (a) with respect to 
a political appointee of the Department shall include an 
assessment of whether the appointee is meeting the fol-
lowing goals: 
‘‘(1) Recruiting, selecting, and retaining well- 
qualified individuals for employment at the Depart-
ment. 
‘‘(2) Engaging and motivating employees. 
‘‘(3) Training and developing employees and 
preparing those employees for future leadership roles 
within the Department. 
‘‘(4) Holding each employee of the Department 
that is a manager accountable for addressing issues 
relating to performance, in particular issues relating 
to the performance of employees that report to the 
manager. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION
OF POLITICAL APPOINTEE.—In 
this section, the term ‘political appointee’ means an em-
ployee of the Department who holds— 
‘‘(1) a position which has been excepted from 
the competitive service by reason of its confidential,
policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advo-
cating character; or 
‘‘(2) a position in the Senior Executive Service 
as a noncareer appointee (as such term is defined in 
section 3132(a) of title 5).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 717 the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘719. Annual performance plan for political appointees.’’. 
SEC. 5. MODIFICATION TO VETERANS PREFERENCE. 
(a) 
ACTIVE
DUTY
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
2108(1)(B) and (D) of title 5, United States Code, are 
amended by striking ‘‘consecutive’’ in each instance it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘cumulative’’. 
(b) EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY OF RETIRED VET-
ERANS.—Section 2108(4) of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) ‘preference eligible’ includes a retired 
member of the armed forces; and’’. 
SEC. 6. REEMPLOYMENT OF FORMER EMPLOYEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 3309 
through 3318 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs may noncompetitively appoint a quali-
fied former career or career conditional employee to any 
position within the competitive service at the Department
of Veterans Affairs that is one grade or equivalent higher 
than the grade or equivalent of the position at the Depart-
ment most recently occupied by the employee. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not appoint a 
qualified former employee to a position that is more than 
one grade (or equivalent) higher than the position at the 
Department most recently occupied by the employee. 
(c) DEFINITION
OF
QUALIFIED
FORMER
EM-
PLOYEE.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘quali-
fied former employee’’ means any individual who— 
(1) formerly occupied any career or career con-
ditional position at the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs within 2 years before applying for reemploy-
ment at the Department; 
(2) voluntarily left such position, or was subject 
to a reduction in force, and had a satisfactory per-
formance record while occupying such position; and 
(3) since leaving such position has maintained 
licensing requirements, related to the position, if 
any, and gained skill, knowledge, or other factors re-
lated to the position. 
SEC. 7. RECRUITING DATABASE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall establish a single database that lists—
(1) each vacant position in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs that the Secretary determines is 
critical to the mission of the Department, difficult to 
fill, or both; and 
(2) each vacant position in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for a mental health professional. 
(b) QUALIFIED APPLICANT.—If the Secretary deter-
mines that an applicant for a vacant position listed in the 
database established under subsection (a) is qualified for 
such position but does not select the applicant for such 
position, the Secretary, at the election of the applicant, 
may consider the applicant for other similar vacant posi-
tions listed in the database for which the applicant is 
qualified. 
(c) PROLONGED VACANCIES.—If the Secretary does 
not fill a vacant position listed in the database established 
under subsection (a) after a period determined appro-
priate by the Secretary, the Secretary— 
(1) may ensure that applicants described in 
subsection (b) are considered for such position; and 
(2) may use the database established under 
subsection (a) to assist in filling such position. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
to Congress a report on the use and efficacy of the data-
base established under subsection (a). 
SEC. 8. HUMAN RESOURCES ACADEMY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall provide to human resources professionals of the Vet-
erans Health Administration of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs training on how to best recruit and retain 
employees of the Veterans Health Administration, includ-
ing with respect to any recruitment and retention matters 
that are unique to the Veterans Health Administration 
pursuant to chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, 
or other provisions of law. The Secretary shall provide 
such training virtually. 
(b) AMOUNT OF TRAINING.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that each human resources professional of the Vet-
erans Health Administration receives the training de-
scribed in subsection (a)— 
(1) as soon as practicable after being hired by 
the Secretary as a human resource professional; and 
(2) annually thereafter. 
(c) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall require 
that each human resources professional of the Veterans 
Health Administration, upon the completion of the train-
ing described in subsection (a), certifies that the profes-
sional received the training and understands the informa-
tion provided by the training. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate an annual report on the 
training described in subsection (a), including the cost of 
providing such training and the number of human re-
sources professionals who received such training during 
the year covered by the report. 
SEC. 9. PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TECHNICAL 
EXPERTS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall estab-
lish a promotional track system for employees of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs that the Secretary deter-
mines are technical experts pursuant to regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary for purposes of carrying out this 
section. Such system shall— 
(1) provide any such employee the opportunity 
to advance within the Department without being re-
quired to transition to a management position; and 
(2) for purposes of achieving career advance-
ment— 
(A) provide for the establishment of new 
positions within the Department; and
(B) notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, provide for increases in pay for any such 
employee. 
SEC. 10. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON SUCCESSION 
PLANNING. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on each of the following: 
(1) The succession planning at each medical fa-
cility of the Department of Veterans Affairs, includ-
ing each medical center, domiciliary facility, out-
patient clinic, community-based outpatient clinic, 
and vet center. 
(2) The succession planning at the Veterans 
Benefits Administration and the National Cemetery 
Administration of the Department. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include, for each entity studied under the study, the 
following: 
(1) A determination of the mission-critical posi-
tions within the entity and the vacancy risk of such 
positions. 
(2) An analysis of the future needs for mission- 
critical positions and gaps within the existing talent 
pool of the entity.
(3) A description of strategies to close skill 
gaps through the use of training for existing staff, 
targeted recruitment, and hiring. 
(4) A plan to regularly evaluate progress of 
staff and update existing succession plans using 
clear and measurable metrics and benchmarks. 
(5) A demonstration of the capacity of the enti-
ty to execute succession plans with successful succes-
sion management strategies. 
(6) An analysis of succession planning and hir-
ing as it relates to rural areas. 
(7) Any other matters the Comptroller General 
determines appropriate. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report con-
taining each study conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 11. EMPLOYMENT OF STUDENTS AND RECENT GRAD-
UATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall prescribe regulations to allow for excepted service ap-
pointments of students and recent graduates leading to 
conversion to career or career conditional employment of
a student or recent graduate of a qualifying educational 
institution, as defined by the Department. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The conversion authority de-
scribed in subsection (a) shall be applicable to individuals 
in good standing who— 
(1) are employed in a qualifying internship or 
fellowship program at the Department; 
(2) are employed in the Department in a volun-
teer capacity and performing substantive duties com-
parable to those of individuals in internship or fel-
lowship programs and meet the required number of 
hours for conversion; 
(3) are employed in the Department under a 
contract or agreement with an external nonprofit or-
ganization and performing substantive duties com-
parable to those of individuals in internship or fel-
lowship programs; 
(4) have received educational assistance under 
chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code; or 
(5) graduated from a qualifying educational in-
stitution, as defined by the Department, and have 
not reached 30 years of age. 
(c) UNIFORMITY.—For the purposes of subsections 
(b)(2) and (b)(3), hours of work performed by an indi-
vidual employed shall be considered equal to those per-
formed by an individual employed in a qualifying intern-
ship or fellowship program by the Department. 
SEC. 12. EXIT SURVEYS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall develop and carry out a standardized exit survey to 
be voluntarily completed by career and noncareer employ-
ees and executives of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
who voluntarily separate from the Department. Such exit 
survey shall be developed in consultation with an appro-
priate non-Department entity with experience developing 
such surveys. 
(b) SURVEY CONTENT.—The survey shall include, at 
a minimum— 
(1) reasons for leaving the Department; 
(2) efforts made by the supervisor of the em-
ployee to retain the individual; 
(3) the extent of job satisfaction and engage-
ment during the employment; 
(4) the intent of employee to either remain em-
ployed within the Federal Government or to leave 
employment with the Federal Government; and 
(5) such other matters as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(c) ANONYMITY OF SURVEY CONTENT.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that data collected under subsection
(a) is anonymized, including through the use of a location 
that allows for privacy, is not directly visible by another 
employee, and does not require the departing employee to 
input any personally identifiable data. 
(d) SHARING
OF SURVEY DATA.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that the results of the survey required by sub-
section (a) are aggregated at the Veterans Integrated 
Service Network level and are shared on an annual basis 
with directors and managers of facilities of the Depart-
ment and the Veterans Integrated Service Networks. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report containing the aggregate results of the exit survey 
under subsection (a) covering the year prior to the report. 
The report shall include— 
(1) an analysis of the most common reasons 
employees choose to leave the Department; 
(2) steps the Secretary is taking to improve re-
tention, particularly for mission-critical occupations; 
(3) the demographic characteristics of employ-
ees choosing to leave the Department; 
(4) any legislative barriers to improving em-
ployee retention; and