VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-114
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-01-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alabama
Appropriations
California
Colorado
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee hiring
Employee performance
Federal officials
Florida
Georgia
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Higher education
Home and outpatient care
Indiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Medicaid
Medical research
Mental health
Michigan
Military medicine
Montana
New York State
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Performance measurement
Public-private cooperation
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
South Carolina
South Dakota
Student aid and college costs
Texas
User charges and fees
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report to specified congressional committees on the performance awards and bonuses presented to Regional Office Directors of the VA, Directors of Medical Centers of the VA, and Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks.
 
Each report shall include:
 
 
the amount of each award or bonus,
 
the job title of each recipient, and
 
the location where each recipient individual works.
 
 
 

action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act

 
(Sec. 1) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report to specified congressional committees on the performance awards and bonuses presented to Regional Office Directors of the VA, Directors of Medical Centers of the VA, and Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks.
 
Each report shall include:
 
 
the amount of each award or bonus,
 
the job title of each recipient, and
 
the location where each recipient individual works.
 
 
 

action_date: 2017-08-12
text: 

VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017

 
TITLE I--APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNTS FOR VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM
 
(Sec. 101) This bill provides funding for the Veterans Choice Program.
 
TITLE II--PERSONNEL MATTERS
 
(Sec. 201) The annual determination of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff shortages shall include shortages for a minimum of five clinical and five nonclinical occupations for each network. (Such determination currently includes the five occupations for which there are the largest Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]-wide shortages.) 
 
(Sec. 202) The bill establishes in the VA an executive management fellowship program to provide Veterans Benefits Administration and VHA employees with training and experience in the private sector and private sector employees training and experience in the VA. Employees shall be selected in a manner that reflects veteran demographics and provides a preference for rural employees.
 
(Sec. 203) The VA shall conduct an annual performance plan for each political appointee that is similar to the plan conducted for VA career senior executive employees. 
 
(Sec. 204) The VA may noncompetitively appoint a qualified former employee to any VA position within the competitive service that is one grade or equivalent higher than the person's most recent position.
 
(Sec. 205) The VA shall establish a promotional track system for employees who are technical experts to advance without being required to transition to management positions. 
 
(Sec. 206) The VA shall prescribe regulations to allow for excepted service appointments of qualifying students and recent graduates leading to career employment.
 
(Sec. 207) The VA shall establish a program to encourage service members with a military health care specialty to seek postmilitary employment with the VHA.
 
(Sec. 208) The VA shall establish a single database that lists each vacant VA position that is: (1) critical, difficult to fill, or both; or (2) for a mental health professional. A qualified applicant for a position in the database who is not selected may elect to be considered by the VA for similar positions in the database.
 
(Sec. 209) The VA shall provide VHA human resources professionals with recruitment and retention training.
 
(Sec. 210) The VA shall develop and implement a plan to hire qualified directors for VA medical centers without a permanent director. 
 
(Sec. 211) The VA shall develop a standardized exit survey for employees and executives who voluntarily separate from the VA.
 
(Sec. 212) Physician assistants are included in the list of VA health care personnel who must receive pay that is competitive with non-VA health care facilities. 
 
(Sec. 213) The VA may appoint highly qualified candidates without regard to competitive service provisions if there is a severe shortage of highly qualified candidates.
 
(Sec. 214) The Government Accountability Office shall assess the VA's succession planning policies.
 
TITLE III--MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES
 
(Sec. 301) The VA may carry out major medical facility leases in specified amounts at certain locations. 
 
TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS
 
(Sec. 401) The bill extends through FY2027: (1) the $90 monthly limit on a VA pension paid to veterans residing in nursing homes when their nursing costs are paid through title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act; (2) VA authority to collect certain fees at current levels for housing loans made, insured, or guaranteed by the VA; and (3) VA authority to obtain veterans' income verification information from the Social Security Administration or the Department of the Treasury.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-12
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-08-12
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-08-07
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2017-08-07
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Senate agreed to the House amendments to the Senate bill by Voice Vote. (text as Senate agree to the House amendment: CR S4686)
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to the Senate bill by Voice Vote.(text as Senate agree to the House amendment: CR S4686)
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 414 - 0 (Roll no. 438). (text: CR H6531-6535)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 414 - 0 (Roll no. 438).(text: CR H6531-6535)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6557-6558)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on S. 114, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the aye had prevailed. Mr. Roe(TN) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 114.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Rule provides for consideration of S. 114 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 480. (consideration: CR H6531-6538)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Rule H. Res. 480 passed House.
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 480 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 114 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 219 - 186 (Roll no. 408).
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 219 - 186 (Roll no. 408).
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6196-6197)
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 114.
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6151-6158; text of measure as received: CR H6151)
action_date: 2017-07-24
text: Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2017-05-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-26
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S3190)
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S3190)
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3190)
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3190)
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 115-46