I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 10381 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 12, 2024 Mr. Takano (for himself and Mr. Dunn of Florida ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs , and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services , and Energy and Commerce , 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 authorize a joint scholarship program under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pays for medical education of an officer of the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service at the Uniformed Services University in return for a period of obligated service by such officer at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Medical Students and VA Workforce Act . 2. Establishment of Veterans Affairs-Public Health Service Joint Scholarship Program (a) In general Chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting, after subchapter V, the following new subchapter: V–A VETERANS AFFAIRS-PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE JOINT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 7661. Authority As part of the Educational Assistance Program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may, in partnership with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Defense, carry out a scholarship program, to be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs-Public Health Service Joint Scholarship Program (hereafter in this subchapter, the program ) under which a PHS officer shall— (1) attend the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine of USU at the expense of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (2) after graduating and completing an initial residency, serve, full-time, at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs to fulfill a period of obligated service. 7662. Interagency agreement (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Defense may enter into, and maintain, an interagency agreement to carry out the program. (b) Terms Such an agreement shall, in accordance with this subchapter govern aspects of the program, including the following: (1) The eligibility of a PHS officer to receive a scholarship under the program. (2) The number of PHS officers who may receive a scholarship each year. (3) The authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deploy a PHS officer who receives a scholarship under the program before such PHS officer completes the term of obligated service under this subchapter. (c) Limitation Nothing in such agreement may transfer from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary or the Secretary of Health and Human Services any authority to determine who may attend USU. 7663. Costs (a) Estimates Before the beginning of each academic year— (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with an estimate of the costs that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall be obliged to reimburse the Secretary of Health and Human Services under subsection (b) for the next fiscal year; and (2) the Secretary of Defense shall provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with an estimate of the costs that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall be obligated to reimburse the Secretary of Defense under subsection (b) for the next fiscal year. (b) Payment; reconciliation (1) Each fiscal year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay the Secretary of Health and Human Services the amount under subsection (a)(1). (2) Each fiscal year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay the Secretary of Defense the amount under subsection (a)(2). (3) If a payment made under this subsection does not equal the actual relevant costs for the fiscal year, the Secretary concerned shall refund the excess amount paid, or supplement the shortfall, as applicable. 7664. Obligated service (a) Detail (1) Pursuant to section 214 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 215 ), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall detail a PHS officer who receives a scholarship under the program to the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) The length of such detail shall be sufficient for the officer to complete— (A) attendance at USU described in section 7661 of this title; (B) an initial residency; and (C) a period of obligated service, not to exceed ten years, in a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) Written agreement A PHS officer, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a written agreement specifying the terms of such detail and the length period of obligated service of such PHS officer. (c) Failure To complete period of obligated service (1) A PHS officer who receives a scholarship under the program and fails to complete the period of obligated service shall reimburse the Secretary of Veterans Affairs an amount equal to— (A) twice the total amount of the tuition and expenses paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Secretary of Defense arising the attendance of such PHS officer at USU; and (B) twice the salary, allowances, and benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Secretary of Health and Human Services arising from the detail under subsection (a). (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may waive reimbursement under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that such reimbursement would be inequitable or would not be in the public interest. 7665. Definitions In this subchapter: (1) The term PHS officer means an officer of the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service. (2) The term USU means the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting, after the item relating for section 7655, the following: Subchapter V–A–Veterans Affairs-Public Health Service Joint Scholarship Program § 7661. Establishment § 7662. Interagency agreement § 7663. Costs § 7664. Obligated service § 7665. Definitions .