I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4221 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improved acquisition 
practices by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2009 
Mr. BUYER (for himself, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. LAMBORN, 
Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, and Mr. BOOZMAN) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
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 concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for im-
proved acquisition practices by the Department of Vet-
erans 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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Vet-
erans Affairs Acquisition Improvement Act of 2009’’. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4221.IH
H4221
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR 
ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, AND ASSET 
MANAGEMENT; ADDITIONAL DEPUTY ASSIST-
ANT SECRETARIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 308 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(12) Acquisition, Construction, and Asset 
Management.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘19’’ and 
inserting ‘‘26’’; and 
(B) by inserting at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall assign one Deputy Assistant 
Secretary to each of the following areas of responsibility: 
‘‘(A) Information technology acquisition. 
‘‘(B) Acquisition services for the Veterans Ben-
efits Administration, the National Cemetery Admin-
istration, and the Department headquarters. 
‘‘(C) Construction acquisitions and leasing. 
‘‘(D) Acquisition services for the Veterans 
Health Administration. 
‘‘(E) National contracts, including contracts for 
health care products and services awarded by the 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4221.IH
H4221
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
National Acquisition Center (other than contracts 
for information technology). 
‘‘(F) Policy. 
‘‘(G) Asset Enterprise Management and Logis-
tics.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENTS.—By not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall assign an indi-
vidual to carry out the responsibilities of the Assistant 
Secretary for Acquisition, Construction, and Asset Man-
agement, pursuant to paragraph (12) of section 308(b) 
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a), and individuals to carry out the responsibilities of the 
Deputy Assistant Secretaries pursuant to section 308(d) 
of such title, as amended by subsection (a). 
SEC. 3. CHIEF ACQUISITION OFFICER. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 310 the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 310A. Chief Acquisition Officer; other acquisition 
officers 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Department 
a Chief Acquisition Officer. The Assistant Secretary for 
Acquisition, Construction, and Asset Management shall 
serve as the Chief Acquisition Officer. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4221.IH
H4221
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS