Improving VA Workforce Diversity Through Minority-serving Institutions Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.7393 | Sponsor: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria (D-NY)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Improving VA Workforce Diversity Through Minority-serving Institutions Act of 2022
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop plans for hiring and recruiting diverse candidates.
Specifically, the VA must develop and carry out an employee recruitment strategy that includes partnering with minority-serving institutions.
The VA must also develop and carry out a plan to ensure that (1) vacant positions may be filled from a candidate pool that includes diverse leaders and diverse candidates identified for promotion; and (2) such positions must be filled using promotion panels comprised of diverse evaluators, reviewers, or assessors.
Additionally, the VA may establish a program, in coordination with minority-serving professional organizations, to foster and encourage individuals from underserved communities to serve in the Senior Executive Service of the VA.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop an employee 
  recruitment strategy that includes partnering with minority-serving 
                 institutions, 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 ``Improving VA Workforce Diversity 
Through Minority-serving Institutions Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT TO WORKFORCE PLANNING AND RECRUITMENT BY DEPARTMENT 
              OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Employee Recruitment Strategy.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall--
            (1) develop and carry out an employee recruitment strategy 
        for the Department of Veterans Affairs that includes partnering 
        with minority-serving institutions (as defined in section 
        371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1067q(a))); and
            (2) develop and carry out a plan to ensure that--
                    (A) vacant positions in the Department may be 
                filled from a pool of candidates that includes--
                            (i) diverse leaders; and
                            (ii) diverse candidates identified for 
                        promotion; and
                    (B) such positions are filled using promotion 
                panels that comprise diverse evaluators, reviewers, or 
                assessors.
    (b) Program.--In developing the plan under subsection (a)(2), the 
Secretary may establish a program, in coordination with minority-
serving professional organizations, to foster and encourage individuals 
from underserved communities to serve in the Senior Executive Service 
of the Department.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report on the progress made by the Secretary to implement the strategy 
and plan developed under subsection (a).
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