Office of Attending Physician Independence Act
Bill: H.R.4862 | Sponsor: Rep. Bucshon, Larry (R-IN)
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
Office of Attending Physician Independence Act
This bill addresses the appointment and oversight of the Attending Physician (a medical officer who is currently assigned by the the Navy to provide emergency medical assistance to Members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court, congressional staff, and visitors to the Capitol).
The bill establishes a commission to recommend individuals to the President for appointment to the position of Attending Physician. The commission shall recommend at least three individuals who are medical officers of the Navy for appointment.
The President shall appoint the Attending Physician from the individuals recommended by the commission with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of 10 years.
The Office of Attending Physician shall be subject to oversight by the Committee on House Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

To establish certain requirements with respect to the appointment and 
     oversight of the Attending Physician, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Office of Attending Physician 
Independence Act''.

SEC. 2. APPOINTMENT OF ATTENDING PHYSICIAN.

    (a) In General.--The Attending Physician shall be appointed by the 
President, from the candidates recommended by the commission under 
subsection (b)(2), by and with the advice and consent of the Senate for 
a term of 10 years.
    (b) Individuals Eligible for Appointment.--
            (1) Commission to recommend candidates.--There is 
        established a commission to recommend individuals to the 
        President in accordance with paragraph (2) for appointment to 
        the position of Attending Physician, which shall consist of 15 
        members as follows:
                    (A) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                    (B) The President pro tempore of the Senate.
                    (C) The majority and minority leaders of the House 
                of Representatives and the Senate.
                    (D) The chairs and the ranking minority members 
                of--
                            (i) the Committee on House Administration 
                        of the House of Representatives;
                            (ii) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                        House of Representatives;
                            (iii) the Committee on Rules and 
                        Administration of the Senate; and
                            (iv) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                        Senate.
                    (E) The Marshal of the Supreme Court of the United 
                States.
            (2) Requirements for recommended candidates.--The 
        commission shall recommend under paragraph (1) at least 3 
        individuals who are medical officers of the Department of the 
        Navy (as such term is defined in section 101(b) of title 10, 
        United States Code) for appointment to the position of 
        Attending Physician.
            (3) Eligibility for reappointment.--An individual who 
        serves a term as Attending Physician shall be eligible for 
        reappointment to such office in accordance with subsection (a).
    (c) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an 
individual appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of Attending 
Physician after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. OVERSIGHT OF OFFICE OF ATTENDING PHYSICIAN.

    The Office of Attending Physician shall be subject to oversight by 
the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.
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