115 S4156 IS: VA Workforce Improvement, Support, and Expansion (WISE) Act of 2022
U.S. Senate
2022-05-05
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the VA Workforce Improvement, Support, and Expansion (WISE) Act of 2022
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.TITLE I—Training, recruitment, and retention of health care employeesSec. 101. National rural recruitment and hiring plan for Veterans Health Administration.Sec. 102. Rural health quality and access fellowship program for Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 103. Authority to buy out service contracts for health care professionals in exchange for employment at rural or highly rural facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 104. Payment of licensure exam costs for recipients of scholarships from Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 105. Improvement of workforce training and team models to meet the needs of older veterans.Sec. 106. Qualifications for human resources positions within the Department of Veterans Affairs and plan to recruit and retain human resources employees.Sec. 107. Study on improving recruitment and retention at community living centers of Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 108. Limitation on transfer of directors of medical centers of Department of Veterans Affairs to different positions.TITLE II—Accountability, oversight, and personnel mattersSubtitle A—Matters relating to paySec. 201. Increased pay cap for directors of medical centers and Veterans Integrated Service Networks of Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 202. Waiver of pay limitation for employees of the Veterans Health Administration performing mission critical work.Sec. 203. Elimination of performance pay elements for physicians, podiatrists, and dentists and elimination of total compensation cap.Sec. 204. Increase of maximum amount of incentive pay for Department pharmacist executives.Sec. 205. Elimination of pay cap for certain employees of Veterans Health Administration.Sec. 206. Modification of special pay authority for nurse executives.Subtitle B—Improvement of recruitment and hiringSec. 211. Oversight of direct hire authority and hiring flexibility of Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 212. Expansion of emergency hiring authorities for Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 213. Waiver of certain licensure requirements.Sec. 214. Expansion of opportunities for housekeeping aides.Subtitle C—Other personnel mattersSec. 221. Expansion of annual leave options for employees of Department of Veterans Affairs during public health emergency.Sec. 222. Expansion of reimbursement of continuing professional education fees.Sec. 223. Inclusion of police officers of Department of Veterans Affairs as law enforcement officers.Sec. 224. Department of Veterans Affairs personnel transparency.Sec. 225. Comptroller General report assessing human resources modernization within Veterans Health Administration.TITLE III—Assistance with National emergenciesSec. 301. Update of web portal to identify veterans who had medical occupations as members of the Armed Forces.Sec. 302. Program on provision to States of information on veterans with medical skills obtained during service in the Armed Forces.Sec. 303. Program on training of intermediate care technicians of Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 304. Notification of opportunities for veterans.<enum>I</enum><header>Training, recruitment, and retention of health care employees</header><section id="id8c5443d89e8849f88a8e0bfad6fe9d06"><enum>101.</enum><header>National rural recruitment and hiring plan for Veterans Health Administration</header><subsection id="id07e8aeb5b3e54ce7b577fc8cf6e46b71"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the directors of each community-based outpatient clinic and medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall develop and implement a national rural recruitment and hiring plan for the Veterans Health Administration to—</text><paragraph id="id6eb924880dff41a8bff303d64a6abe89"><enum>(1)</enum><text>recruit health care professionals for rural and highly rural community-based outpatient clinics and rural and highly rural medical centers of the Department;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id57e5aec6727e453da8f7ee0f0a11bff9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>determine which such clinics or centers have a staffing shortage of health care professionals;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idffb3cef3c671493cb84b4b6d167947ce"><enum>(3)</enum><text>develop best practices and techniques for recruiting health care professionals for such clinics and centers;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id24ecb453ce924cd0a9f71de96a4b628b"><enum>(4)</enum><text>not less frequently than annually, provide virtually based, on-demand training to human resources professionals of the Veterans Health Administration on the best practices and techniques developed under paragraph (3); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7b91c132bedf438da70cf22b5c3bef9d"><enum>(5)</enum><text>provide recruitment resources, such as pamphlets and marketing material to—</text><subparagraph id="id630377586AF34BD799F17E6FCE44DB32"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the Department;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA2C85B729A954682AAFE8622C8B78892"><enum>(B)</enum><text>rural and highly rural community-based outpatient clinics of the Department; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDF1FB33D2DF2463FA2E547B46B2F69E5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>rural and highly rural medical centers of the Department.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id22f5ca46822c4140ae00b1ff8533911c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that includes—</text><paragraph id="idAEC84AC455BB42E686C1F61C52A53FE6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the plan developed and implemented under subsection (a); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id95D0A6ADE6694C3993085EE9708BE009"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an assessment of the outcomes related to recruitment and retention of employees of the Veterans Health Administration at rural and highly rural facilities of the Department.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1e34b686c9c14f208b7320da6d9a6f57"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>rural</term> and <term>highly rural</term> have the meanings given those terms under the rural-urban commuting areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture.</text></subsection></section><section id="ida7dcefb94f7d43b2acd84543ceb96bb7"><enum>102.</enum><header>Rural health quality and access fellowship program for Department of Veterans Affairs</header><subsection id="idB6F05CF53DF34FD8BC51177062FECBF0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7302 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF1A46E72E1D145158F65E6DDDE49F25C"><subsection id="idA14C1B8669634269A6EDDC3B07E2D23C"><enum>(f)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idC9618771D5CD4E64BE80ABCA18D48D0C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall establish a fellowship program, to be known as the Rural Health Quality and Access Fellowship program, to provide fellowships to health care professionals at the post-graduate level who serve on a short-term basis as post-graduate health professions trainees at a rural or highly rural community-based outpatient clinic or rural or highly rural medical center of the Department.</text></paragraph><paragraph indent="up1" id="idC971DD830087433FB4F98CAC1F35566F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the program under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3ef65d1696964f90836e637f9b60c998" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph id="id1A087535EA43422BB20EA09C1EC1CE28"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The term <term>health care professional</term> means an individual who qualifies as an appointee under section 7402 of this title.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCBE1A5B3B9294FA5BB338AB5D7185FD1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The terms <term>rural</term> and <term>highly rural</term> have the meanings given those terms under the rural-urban commuting areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id6D47805AB0AD484386AE06FFE4B781B8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Initial report</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit the initial report required under section 7302(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. </text></subsection></section><section id="ida9aef439bd8f42f89eabda5c686db373"><enum>103.</enum><header>Authority to buy out service contracts for health care professionals in exchange for employment at rural or highly rural facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs</header><subsection id="id76afee8daa6d4b07a1e2a099634247eb"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For any covered health care professional to whom the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has offered employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary may buy out the non-Department service contract of such individual in exchange for such individual agreeing to be employed at a rural or highly rural facility of the Department for a period of obligated service specified in subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="id8B27E0C576DC4D1DACFC8A214E063B77"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Payment of amounts</header><text>Payment of any amounts for a buy out of a service contract for a covered health care professional under subsection (a) shall be made directly to the individual or entity with respect to which the covered health care professional has a service obligation under such contract.</text></subsection><subsection id="id106666303fc74297b16431038046110a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Obligated service</header><text>In exchange for a contract buy out under subsection (a), a covered health care professional shall agree to be employed for not less than four years at a rural or highly rural facility of the Department.</text></subsection><subsection id="idD2E109CD00634E29904950ADE63B6794"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Liability</header><paragraph id="id7BD9BA518EDC4DEAA1415A3527EED688"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), if a covered health care professional fails for any reason to complete the period of obligated service of the individual under subsection (c), the United States shall be entitled to recover from the individual an amount equal to—</text><subparagraph id="id6B45A610A52E4F79BC6444E84664C880"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the total amount paid under subsection (a) to buy out the non-Department service contract of the individual; multiplied by</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3B9FBA001D4E49BDA8EB2C5F2B763212"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a fraction—</text><clause id="idF6F35160B83445D58A1033FEC332BF21"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the numerator of which is—</text><subclause id="id6B2CEA9C183E4C48B0391E6191A07AA4"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the total number of months in the period of obligated service of the individual; minus</text></subclause><subclause id="idC58DA6E17C7941E9BB95C1FE48F6C2A9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the number of months served by the individual; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id40C2F87719A042A68286E4159578215C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the denominator of which is the total number of months in the period of obligated service of the individual.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6B139E360D1A4A24805643211E4F04BD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Liability shall not arise under paragraph (1) in the case of an individual covered by that paragraph if the individual does not obtain, or fails to maintain, employment as an employee of the Department due to staffing changes approved by the Under Secretary for Health.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id9da264e5635149de86f860489eece47a"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Not a taxable benefit</header><text>A contract buy out for a covered health care professional under subsection (a) shall not be considered a taxable benefit or event for the covered health care professional.</text></subsection><subsection id="idf33277b98c294a34b8684bbe2e66691b"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the use by the Secretary of the authority under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id372B08ECC7FF4AF9B5A6EA893E4E8BAD"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id908b28c930d244d29e0c6fee5f8aeeeb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered health care professional</header><text>The term <term>covered health care professional</term> means a health care professional offered employment with the Veterans Health Administration under—</text><subparagraph id="id1A2E0DFF16944E50A9254C05BCAB33E5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>section 7401 of title 38, United States Code; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id568EC510C913403492F7F73B5ABC75F6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>title 5, United States Code. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idBD2CD61C553141EAB741A4C76592A0D5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rural; highly rural</header><text>The terms <term>rural</term> and <term>highly rural</term> have the meanings given those terms under the rural-urban commuting areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ide3b8da481e7049e097873042afcd0967"><enum>104.</enum><header>Payment of licensure exam costs for recipients of scholarships from Department of Veterans Affairs</header><subsection id="idfc3d707c03c04fc0b0f0d4a0750a8766"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay the costs of any licensing examinations and certifications required by the Secretary for any current recipient of a covered health professional scholarship from the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text></subsection><subsection id="idAE8CDE9241AD4B568DB68B9064EC17A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Licensing examinations and certifications</header><text>Subsection (a) shall apply to the payment of costs for—</text><paragraph id="id02CDEC501FFC4B00BFEFEC222B0735F5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD8DAAEE5681F43BA9A86E2463BB8DE38"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the National Council Licensure Exam;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6708a571c375409cb4e15c86d2c2c845"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the National Board Dental Examination;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idEE933EBA10DE47A2AFF4AA8B0E715591"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idCEDA7A8A47BF4755ABEA9F2C6D96F59C"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination and Integrated National Board Dental Examination; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6EA930C63694499BB4E6040E69047237"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the National Licensing Exams for Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idECFB788F75F146CBB9F9FD3F90743B91"><enum>(7)</enum><text>such other licensing examinations and certifications as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbbd95116f09e4154a59d0a6ed0df668a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Covered health professional scholarship defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>covered health professional scholarship</term> means—</text><paragraph id="idE2E08E171B5A4D3F946B4C8CBDA96920"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program under subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/76">chapter 76</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id48E0CFA207D1449CB57A93C9D0B65139"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Incentive Scholarship Program under subchapter VI of such chapter, including—</text><subparagraph id="id1641649F4C684EC8914F8F622628ED05"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the National Nursing Education Initiative; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id8A6BCA4E14744AF982D92BB11FBBCAC4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the VA National Education for Employees Program;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idA6E38CD34069426CA28D4E3E119C811C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program under chapter 75 of such title;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idFDDCDC49ED724F93A88C88051C9249E1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the Veterans Healing Veterans Medical Access and Scholarship Program under section 304 of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/182">Public Law 115–182</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7601">38 U.S.C. 7601</external-xref> note); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id672C6B7A372D441498F9903C9FA88E6F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>such other programs as the Secretary considers appropriate. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id507439a4ed9e4ec7851524d0506f0233"><enum>105.</enum><header>Improvement of workforce training and team models to meet the needs of older veterans</header><subsection id="id2ed2265bec3e478daffaea5e604762b1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rural geriatrics team training</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall expand the Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to not fewer than one rural site in each Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department and ensure access at such sites to learning opportunities through the Geriatric Scholars Program of the Department.</text></subsection><subsection id="id10728b25ed944eada7d0d0e18ed40b4a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expansion of fellowship in advanced geriatrics</header><text>The Secretary shall expand the Fellowship in Advanced Geriatrics program of the Department to ensure that a fellowship position is required to be provided under such program in each Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center of the Department.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide7c708abb41c477990ed7553ae3042d8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Training on caring for veterans with memory loss</header><paragraph id="idE392A20E50A4497FA438E1FEB95F514A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall provide continuing professional education for primary care providers, community living center staff, geriatrics and extended care staff, home health workers, and social workers of the Department on caring for veterans with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2085518fea334eb499b578d679663f74"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>The Secretary shall implement the continuing professional education required under paragraph (1) in consultation with the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs established under section 7308 of title 38, United States Code, in order to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities for employees of the Department in rural and highly rural areas.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idea35a39c59484b78aba34225b0eff6fc"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Expansion of Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team model</header><paragraph id="id7d4523bc0a374ffb8e2c6493403e3368"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall expand the Geriatrics Patient Aligned Care Team model of the Department of Veterans Affairs—</text><subparagraph id="id06653811E30841249CD19EC2767579E7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to every medical center of the Department; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9C2880042CAD4986A8B1AC2DB4EE8DED"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to any community-based outpatient clinic at which such expansion is determined by the Secretary to be feasible and needed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9777dedbe3584653b03991c76006dd3c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Waiver of expansion to medical centers</header><text>The Secretary may waive the application of the requirements under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to a medical center if the Secretary determines that the medical center does not have the capacity or need to implement a Geriatrics Patient Aligned Care Team model.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id546f4ce7af8848cba140107bcfc729ac"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Secretary shall conduct a study on the variations in the structure and model consistency of the Geriatrics Patient Aligned Care Team model throughout the Department and how those variations impact quality of care and patient outcomes.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8024476524fc42c2a4b0a93dedfea0ec"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><paragraph id="id48F1EB9F6E4845BAB1B5345848C79D71"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter for the following five years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8BE55FF6E044456C9A573C626ED4DF7A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusion of information on waivers</header><text>The Secretary shall include in the report required by paragraph (1) an identification of any medical center of the Department in receipt of a waiver under subsection (d)(2) and the reason for the waiver.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idEA81A18418AA4BDD9EAAE408D89163F9"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>rural</term> and <term>highly rural</term> have the meanings given those terms under the rural-urban commuting areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture.</text></subsection></section><section id="idc1727de32dc34a498643901de3793469"><enum>106.</enum><header>Qualifications for human resources positions within the Department of Veterans Affairs and plan to recruit and retain human resources employees</header><subsection id="id5ae2ee4374f34d7db7bedb9c4f2eb82a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of qualifications</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—</text><paragraph id="id560848d98b2d4bb380a120de8d8c52a0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish qualifications for each human resources position within the Department of Veterans Affairs in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id770fc49b3eeb4ab5821e42b43e67ed82"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establish standardized performance metrics for each such position; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7b5acb446af842dd85f4d137c8be3df7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing the qualifications and standardized performance metrics established under paragraphs (1) and (2).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idBBBCE8C287174007936159BDE49E7592"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Improvement of human resources actions</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish or enhance systems of the Department to monitor the hiring and other human resources actions that occur at the local, regional, and national levels of the Department to improve the performance of those actions. </text></subsection><subsection id="id26c92ce5969f4da3b58a66d251b47de6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than one year after the establishment of the qualifications and performance metrics under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing—</text><paragraph id="id7a56ee5bf18b48a2b34b9990ed69e1e9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a description of the implementation of such qualifications and performance metrics;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbc8befef6dee490e9d7b37d765a1abb5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an assessment of the quality of such qualifications and performance metrics;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id29B474C414CD4AC2A8A03202B2B503CB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an assessment of performance and outcomes based on such metrics; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idCC9A6861CB604E61B3493636AB06EFBF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>such other matters as the Comptroller General considers. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id21205781236A4EDCBC39B2029E8EEBAB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Plan To recruit and retain human resources employees</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan for the recruitment and retention of human resources employees within the Department of Veterans Affairs. </text></subsection></section><section id="id2a4415d61e684381b6fc85e4ceb75750"><enum>107.</enum><header>Study on improving recruitment and retention at community living centers of Department of Veterans Affairs</header><subsection id="id1bedbbe1c7da49c48bf0f85bcfa36dd1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete a study on barriers to hiring and retaining staff at community living centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs and best practices for improving recruitment and retention of such staff, with an emphasis on nursing staff.</text></subsection><subsection id="id91948b756e744912a3f0c2dfd91c5375"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text>Not later than 180 days after completion of the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report—</text><paragraph id="id0EEBA9B1D6CA4845A3CA1FFA4D1563D5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>summarizing key findings with respect to barriers to hiring and retaining staff at community living centers of the Department and best practices for improving recruitment and retention of such staff, including any barriers or best practices specific to rural areas; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id759ACF256DD24B53943D94CD5C0C8B85"><enum>(2)</enum><text>including recommendations for such administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0b927affff504ede940ef654e6ee0218"><enum>108.</enum><header>Limitation on transfer of directors of medical centers of Department of Veterans Affairs to different positions</header><subsection id="id27A9B9DFD3394FB58D4BC27E21C331F2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Notification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after transferring a director of a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to a different position within the Department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives of such transfer.</text></subsection><subsection id="idAE006648F0DF42A1A94D038AA6E412A9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Return to position or removal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after transferring a director of a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to a different position within the Department, the Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="idD8611B270CC843568F579AA80A285D21"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">return the individual to the position as director of the medical center; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id880DF791F62A4728B69DF31499EE92EC"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">remove the individual from the position as director of the medical center and begin the process of hiring a new director for such position.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Accountability, oversight, and personnel matters</header><subtitle id="idFE99B91DD66A4B669E37B18F1DBE5D1B" style="OLC"><enum>A</enum><header>Matters relating to pay</header><section id="id7856f7ae2441482d8ce5959aefedc7c4"><enum>201.</enum><header>Increased pay cap for directors of medical centers and Veterans Integrated Service Networks of Department of Veterans Affairs</header><subsection id="id4C0178D1E36E4D0DAE6ACC4434F9F2D7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Increased pay cap</header><paragraph id="id63F65E24D30043DA975EE64A6C6CAF58"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/74">chapter 74</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6E631FCC738042D2A923EE28A15FCCC1"><section id="ideb142be3a227488a90ae6cf4a346f51a"><enum>7434.</enum><header>Pay for directors of medical centers and directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks</header><subsection id="id171f712dfc1c4de09cc6e31ac9cf4be7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Performance management</header><text>The Secretary shall prescribe a performance management and awards system for employees appointed under section 7401(4) of this title that ensures performance ratings and awards meaningfully differentiate extraordinary from satisfactory contributions and substantively reflect organizational achievements over which the employee has responsibility and control.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2ab232887e5545a2b4d932a1b54ae253"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Market rate of pay</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id8C6A8A1149E14F36AE9CB7FE3490216D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The annual amount of the market rate of pay for an employee appointed under section 7401(4) of this title—</text><subparagraph id="id58918BF0BB554D71B8C8FE8D7D9D1DC7" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be determined by the Secretary on a case-by-case basis; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idae0e6d1daf994f61800ea5afa86d658f" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall take into account—</text><clause id="id0e8698a057aa4ebd83f89c53cfc34304"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the level of experience of the employee in managing facilities or programs of the Department or other similar agencies or companies, whether governmental or nongovernmental;</text></clause><clause id="ide2cd0ab6a4be44caa545582a6b2a5b78"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the complexity of the assignment of the employee, whether assigned or to be assigned;</text></clause><clause id="id3a41a4623d284ec3a98cdeab1909e379"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the labor market for individuals in similar positions, which may cover any geographic area the Secretary considers appropriate;</text></clause><clause id="id4b7ccf7e8dc94fc893a031e2dfc1f97f"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the experience of the employee in performing the assignment of the employee, whether assigned or to be assigned; and</text></clause><clause id="id4189d40fc4e84aff83c1b6ccd17f2954"><enum>(v)</enum><text>such other considerations as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb738561fac614ffe9d49a10f96ddf6e8" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Market rate of pay provided under this subsection shall reflect the recruitment and retention needs of the Department for the assignment of a particular director in a facility or network of the Department.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idece054f05e214aed877d3d420e979d7a" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idD6D8D2E60A914F74AD2CFBE5550BBF62"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The market rate of pay provided under this subsection shall be evaluated by the Secretary not less frequently than once every two years.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph indent="up1" id="idFA9DE19194E44D60B9A43A5C848AC492"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The market rate of pay of an employee may be adjusted as the result of an evaluation under subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph indent="up1" id="id1C5684B137F74B36A10080D878178E6F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>An employee whose market rate of pay is evaluated under subparagraph (A) shall receive written notice of the results of such evaluation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide53242171bb44b36bf9f6e06c131b56c"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirements and limitations on total pay</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idDE3BB2973EB04FA1AE801C77672D6BFB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall prescribe for applicability throughout the Department the minimum and maximum amounts for a market rate of pay that may be paid under subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddec63609349d47628ff59971b4380787" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Amounts prescribed under paragraph (1) shall be published in the Federal Register and shall take effect not earlier than 60 days after the date of publication.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd5d232da100145b4a382470432d8af43" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>In no case may the total market rate of pay provided under subsection (b) exceed the amount of annual compensation (excluding expenses) specified in section 102 of title 3.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id17eab1892bd44183814e923503d35275" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>No adjustment of the market rate of pay under subsection (b)(3)(B) may result in a reduction of the amount of the market rate of pay of a director while in the same position or assignment at the same location.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8a4cb69fd47b45518b17c79b41b4ad9b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Treatment of pay</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idDE4965855DAE441886BBA19A9032E81B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Pay under subsection (b) shall be considered pay for all purposes, including retirement benefits under chapters 83 and 84 of title 5 and other benefits.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id67A550BA411642569029570B9DC1AC33" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An individual receiving pay under subsection (b) may not receive a cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 of title 5.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id851FE95057F342B689851931B8422A47"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the <short-title>VA Workforce Improvement, Support, and Expansion (WISE) Act of 2022</short-title>, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation by the Secretary of the requirements under this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idF290454ADF8C451F9ECA7BF0618EF099"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7433 the following new item:</text><quoted-block style="USC" id="id8a309799-c451-4558-ba2d-f5ed376746c3"><toc><toc-entry level="section" idref="ideb142be3a227488a90ae6cf4a346f51a">7434. Pay for directors of medical centers and directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id627E7B84BA54416E82D8B0BAFEE5AC29"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Section 7404(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="idF5BC982E150B4479B30E46BF53D2FF61"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text><subparagraph id="idDE27A5799226455FB08EF315AFFFBE1D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(A) The annual</quote> and inserting <quote>The annual</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF0B3ADB14C414F63B114F32C236A9D2B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and 7401(4)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE4C643E7721F4894AA65C568F5CA6507"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (B).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idCC0CA0B20D134FA4B09B4F06C161F414" commented="no"><enum>202.</enum><header>Waiver of pay limitation for employees of the Veterans Health Administration performing mission critical work</header><subsection commented="no" id="id7BE13CB8EB054E5AA4B60115DDD16E53"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/74">chapter 74</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8F6AA7A90A6A452483E3EFBB50F633B4"><section id="id536AF657CFEE4CFD92F87D2FDB09609F" commented="no"><enum>7414.</enum><header>Waiver of pay limitation for employees performing mission critical work</header><subsection id="id203358B287FD4C5797E24E44070641C8" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may waive any limitation on pay for an employee of the Veterans Health Administration who is performing mission critical work.</text></subsection><subsection id="id10CB014F8A6C48C8931EDC8391718DC5" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id391989A758874313B411F2898F33920B" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Employee of the Veterans Health Administration defined</header><text>In this section, the term ‘<term>employee of the Veterans Health Administration</term> includes any employee of the Veterans Health Administration, regardless of the authority under which the employee was hired.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idABDE9C1B71D749E4A4792AB825B48380"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7413 the following new item:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9225E621451240D2BEB32461DF531AE1"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">7414. Waiver of pay limitation for employees performing mission critical work.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id46485C42A92643B2B8036F2FECCA2FA4"><enum>203.</enum><header>Elimination of performance pay elements for physicians, podiatrists, and dentists and elimination of total compensation cap</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7431 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id06682B6310874454966F3CB03FAF4D75"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking subsection (a)(1);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2E4A29209F58406C8D018B7E7B9D7630"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subsection (d);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id97FC9CF892494426823F3567406B2CCF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (e) through (h) as subsections (d) through (g), respectively;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idFB69A45A2C694BD59D688C125C8878B2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (3), by striking paragraph (4); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB42EFA4C270D4E20810C42E934F7A596"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection (g), as redesignated by paragraph (3), by striking <quote>responsibility of the Secretary under subsection (c), (d), or (e) except for the responsibilities of the Secretary under subsection (e)(1)</quote> and inserting <quote>responsibility of the Secretary under subsection (c) or (d) except for the responsibilities of the Secretary under subsection (d)(1)</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id75A875D207FB44CCAB884E2343E12725" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>204.</enum><header>Increase of maximum amount of incentive pay for Department pharmacist executives</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7410(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>$40,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$75,000</quote>.</text></section><section id="id56249FAB0BA7484686C4CDA198B282B3"><enum>205.</enum><header>Elimination of pay cap for certain employees of Veterans Health Administration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7455(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id4ED41EE54F204774B86CB8F5868029EA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the amount</quote> and inserting <quote>The amount</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4EBD5CCD476243D3B845A96F2F825953"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (2).</text></paragraph></section><section id="idCF691697E0264038865DDB8C611C4612"><enum>206.</enum><header>Modification of special pay authority for nurse executives</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7452(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="idD579E0C823A943C78782931408561206"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>authorize the Under Secretary for Health to</quote> before <quote>pay special pay</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF254A7C5034B41D2854AD0FAC67DF5E1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id68AF522C2F37464C8F80B9BFF1C08EDE"><paragraph id="idB11A9D722BC14375A5ACF0683D0E314C" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Under Secretary for Health shall define through regulations which positions of the Veterans Health Administration qualify as nurse executives for purposes of special pay under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idC92C6B32AE334C52A4D796BA30B30B10" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>Improvement of recruitment and hiring</header><section id="id566de0fcf6a54f6b9ce8725a350dc893"><enum>211.</enum><header>Oversight of direct hire authority and hiring flexibility of Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study and publish a report on— </text><paragraph id="id2CB5BEB1EC404AF0992CE49A1C789759"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the use of direct hire authority by the Department; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id951544FF95314F2D960FBBE36CB5B798"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the contributions made by the use of such authority to filling vacancies within the Department; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE83C9972C9264EFF81048AFBE5041824"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any vulnerabilities or inconsistencies with respect to the use of such authority.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id4f51b3ac38684aa28072438cd901f97b" commented="no"><enum>212.</enum><header>Expansion of emergency hiring authorities for Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7405 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="idF326FB98F7E241DCB771BF398B2A3DE5" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="id68110FEF827B4DE9BD96B369123A7AEA"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>A temporary</quote> and inserting <quote>Except as provided in paragraph (5), a temporary</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id21C9A34BF1224509B1F2339C4203E738"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8A7E7575F7484E719D580717F8D4C626"><paragraph id="id10767fa5a2ec4077b82688c6fe6ef12c" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text>During a public health emergency, national emergency, domestic emergency, or other emergency as determined by the Secretary, appointments under paragraph (2) may be extended by the Secretary for additional one-year periods.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6A66D22882534BA193308238413DEFE2" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="id2FEF8F3EAA1B4E16BAD70D561D7E8590" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC"><subsection id="id893D6EB23E2646329218D5E24D8399E9" commented="no"><enum>(h)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id57CF9F5A2351417F96351742C268C65E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>If the Secretary declares an emergency or crisis of veteran care or other operational impediment that the Secretary determines will cause significant disruption to veteran care or the Secretary identifies a significant need to employ personnel on a temporary basis in response to a national emergency declared under any provision of law, the Secretary may employ personnel under subsection (a)(1) to support the emergency, crisis, or impediment.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5de99c0998474fea931bd0f9fe13082d" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary shall submit to Congress in writing any declaration or identification made by the Secretary under paragraph (1), which shall include an identification of the approximate end date of the emergency, crisis, or impediment.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" indent="up1" id="idA7D65C5857314861AFC674E4AD031D59"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The authority to employ personnel under this subsection shall continue throughout the period covered by the declaration concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc34dba507f1c43e5a9fd1f36dc315876" indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Personnel in positions of a confidential or policy-determining character are excluded from employment under this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id038126AD5C484C7B8BCBEA4407C8F227"><enum>213.</enum><header>Waiver of certain licensure requirements</header><subsection id="id28DF0B1E740340FD937CEC86215C7AB5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Psychologists</header><text>Paragraph (8)(C) of section 7402(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id61DEE0B5708C42BB940BDD2F97948C42"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>individual psychologist for a period</quote> and inserting “individual psychologist—</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id07A530B36B4F4733BA5A1B6B6E59575F"><clause id="idDEB161CC376943F6BAAE4EB55FD510FF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for a period</text></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id5DBC3DF1147544269DDEA46300994061"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id36DA06C8AB844F02BD7E8994B5B4FDD7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new clause:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDCDDC6141278415B81CD196D27562656"><clause id="id7464DDFCBADD4899B566A13D342D4158"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for a reasonable period recommended by the Under Secretary for Health, not to exceed four years, during a public health emergency declared by the President, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or such other authority as specified by the Secretary.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idDDB3125F754B4CE2BC32D359027EBBBE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Licensed professional mental health counselor</header><text>Paragraph (11)(B) of such section is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting “, except that the Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure or certification for an individual professional mental health counselor to permit a reasonable period of time for the counselor to be licensed or certified, as the case may be, on the condition that the counselor—</text><quoted-block id="id6AC0A009CA214D31BADB3E02030BF3EA" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC"><clause id="idB5B95FBE799B43FC952556C3D86936CB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>provide patient care only under the direct supervision of a licensed mental health provider; and</text></clause><clause id="idA6A9504F41504B9B81BF188B5B01487D" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>work toward such licensure or certification, as the case may be.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="idAB48FE38FCA3491AB831226931237103"><enum>214.</enum><header>Expansion of opportunities for housekeeping aides</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3310 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>(other than for positions of housekeeping aides in the Department of Veterans Affairs)</quote> after <quote>competitive service</quote>.</text></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id012D00879A7943B19B1FD12A547AFAEC" style="OLC"><enum>C</enum><header>Other personnel matters</header><section id="id534B935570734412B79FE7BC82BBC002"><enum>221.</enum><header>Expansion of annual leave options for employees of Department of Veterans Affairs during public health emergency</header><subsection id="id0703E4C87DE94921A05CA327655292B1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall waive all annual leave ceilings for employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs during the period beginning on January 1, 2022, and ending on December 31, 2026, allowing all unused, accrued annual leave to be carried over from any year in the period to any subsequent year in the period.</text></subsection><subsection id="id5E15C42BB1F34F62AD249B8D9006E401"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Leave in excess of ceiling</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At the end of December 31, 2026, all unused, accrued annual leave in excess of the ceiling pursuant to subsection (a) shall be forfeited.</text></subsection></section><section id="id738524419E124B3B93626A42BED8898E"><enum>222.</enum><header>Expansion of reimbursement of continuing professional education fees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7411 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>physician or dentist</quote> and inserting <quote>physician, board-certified dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant</quote>.</text></section><section id="id6DAD5A5BE73A4766936FF4BB0A3629EA"><enum>223.</enum><header>Inclusion of police officers of Department of Veterans Affairs as law enforcement officers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id6F10A63BC34A459D84DCDEE6947ED3DB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 8331(20), by inserting <quote>and an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is a Department police officer under section 902 of title 38</quote> after <quote>supervisory or administrative position</quote>; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id247DD830A8C9480A93D34EB37E0F19F4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 8401(17)—</text><subparagraph id="id49C3D093DEB34C8EA11B40284EA92AD7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4758AEB449EF4D7B94EAF3F3FF17E926"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the flush text following subparagraph (D)(iii), by adding <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA5E5B33096584FF18FB804AE5C39AC40"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="id83AB5DB6B9A74D138EE7507A66325DDE" style="OLC" act-name=""><subparagraph id="idF150916049F9480ABB9B32F2025039FC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is a Department police officer under section 902 of title 38;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="ide49a5dce36c84c7695e316ba76c03474"><enum>224.</enum><header>Department of Veterans Affairs personnel transparency</header><subsection id="idca2356dfbf114765bdbfd3db217e8d11"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Publication of staffing and vacancies</header><paragraph id="id42ba6f134b624a55b0d8b8815f6cf435"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Website required</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2) and not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make publicly available on an internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs the following information:</text><subparagraph id="id9830dcc0f7bd4a3082e474893e602ae5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The number of personnel encumbering positions.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4774bbf130d34d489f440d3acbc349ef"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The number of accessions and separation actions processed during the quarter preceding the date of the publication of the information.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3e776589b23e4ceaae0cd3d0f3b07282"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The number of vacancies, by occupation.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC7914000387B464CAC0DC122659F9D51"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The number of vacancies removed.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id394b333f44774ec38e5f501c351558ea"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The percentage of new hires for the Department who were hired within the time-to-hire target of the Office of Personnel Management, disaggregated by internal hires and external hires.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9f90a13aaf2546239ff88c59d950a16e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>The Secretary may withhold from publication under paragraph (1) information relating to law enforcement, information security, or such positions in the Department that the Secretary determines to be sensitive.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf09bbb04452745abb2c5dd6691837353"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Update of information</header><text>The Secretary shall update the information on the website required under paragraph (1) on a quarterly basis.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc092c4b0c38e4a2e93d0b3bda6eaca76"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Treatment of contractor positions</header><text>Any Department position that is filled with a contractor may not be treated as a Department position for purposes of the information required to be published under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idac65196cd299484d860a16365976ffdb"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Inspector General review</header><text>On a semiannual basis, the Inspector General of the Department shall review the administration of the website required by paragraph (1) and make recommendations relating to the improvement of such administration.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id74f7687c0c1f43f38e14ba0e57430e0e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8056CA372B5B4870B61955CAB68235BF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on the actions the Department is taking to achieve full staffing capacity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3C50BC7F714E46A79F3526B71389A17B" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAB57062E1AE94B7DB2139E9A58277395"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An estimate of the amount of additional funds necessary to enable the Department to reach full staffing capacity. </text></subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id66E6BC92E2EE474EAE5A31555C9A2717"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary may have to achieve full staffing capacity at the Department. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id02294d42b6c44338a496416db79c6593"><enum>225.</enum><header>Comptroller General report assessing human resources modernization within Veterans Health Administration</header><subsection id="id675741458e664704977eda4e683ba2cd"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on human resources modernization conducted by the Veterans Health Administration (in this section referred to as the <quote>Administration</quote>).</text></subsection><subsection id="id21270e9e4be54de991dc502c9209eca0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The report required by subsection (a) shall include an assessment of the following:</text><paragraph id="id0452c54fc4ad4dc6bf7669014eb2dfca"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Human Resources Modernization Program (referred to in this subsection as the <quote>Program</quote>) of the Administration, including an assessment of the activities carried out under the Program and the results of those activities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfe892cad843c4463ae2deab317af5527"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The performance, accuracy, efficiency, and transparency of the human resources information technology systems of the Administration for human resources professionals, managers with hiring authority, and other employees of the Administration using those systems to recruit and retain the workforce of the Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf760945bfdd542cba75f150b24558c6b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Metrics used to report hiring and vacancy data within the Administration, including recruitment, hiring, and retention data for mission critical occupations.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id93c55f35cd454cc7b6f26835a247bb2f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Trends in the hiring and vacancies among employees of the Administration with mission critical occupations, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during the five-year period preceding the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideb98afd5ffbf4f3d83411c93d868a581"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The use by the Administration of hiring flexibilities, including direct hire authority, and waivers during the five-year period preceding the date of the enactment of this Act, including—</text><subparagraph id="idC6A4B3104A1A4F30B2228F4EDE28C39C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an assessment of the standardization of use of such authorities and waivers within Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id23C4E286BA914E11B990AF8C6AC8D5B0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the number and employee category of employees of the Administration hired under each such authority or waiver.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb5aca2ece69242f58d4e4d7fa47069ca" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Training and development of human resources professionals of the Administration, including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA9508C2DC0754710A3E40834F83EAEC3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>feedback from managers with hiring authority; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id824B7FA9624F484FA2FF24DE0383B256"><enum>(B)</enum><text>feedback on such training from individuals receiving the training and individuals providing the training.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3711A1C8F7A14DB1B637DA6ACBE9A8BE"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Such other matters as the Comptroller General considers relevant.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><enum>III</enum><header>Assistance with National emergencies</header><section id="id8bf70a6eff0047f487898640d1093034"><enum>301.</enum><header>Update of web portal to identify veterans who had medical occupations as members of the Armed Forces</header><subsection id="id9af9c9d2a675455fb5791d49a6cb784e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall update existing web portals of the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow the identification of veterans who had a medical occupation as a member of the Armed Forces.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2cd8080c6b404fddb112c7ee1eeb2c5f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Information in portal</header><paragraph id="id6e586aa968ae490d9d06b20ac24dd45f"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An update to a portal under subsection (a) shall allow a veteran to elect to provide the following information:</text><subparagraph id="id41a74f3109884332807819722c1e5162"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Contact information for the veteran.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idca0228e13373405fb1be80dafeeb11b2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A history of the medical experience and trained competencies of the veteran.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id397babf831ae40509a607d76168546bf"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions in history</header><text>To the extent practicable, histories provided under paragraph (1)(B) shall include individual critical task lists specific to military occupational specialties that align with existing standard occupational codes maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9dc9ea399909461aa09c5140a4610af7"><enum>302.</enum><header>Program on provision to States of information on veterans with medical skills obtained during service in the Armed Forces</header><subsection id="id002690586DF743DAAFDDA0F5FA304A2E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of facilitating civilian medical credentialing and hiring opportunities for veterans seeking to respond to a national emergency, including a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/247d">42 U.S.C. 247d</external-xref>), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor, shall establish a program to share information specified in section 301(b)(1) with the following:</text><paragraph id="idf85c86dca47e49bcb4bbdb3b8206a56a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>State departments of veterans affairs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9d305bd7c7af439b9abe8848624bd01f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>State credentialing bodies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idda6c1cdc69024f67b74e1a299e5bb03f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>State homes.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb0b3b74a1fe5468587a750f0c34a6f71"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Other stakeholders involved in State-level credentialing, as determined appropriate by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8ECE9BAD33C14AA6B21323568D23BBE8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>State home defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>State home</term> has the meaning given that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code.</text></subsection></section><section id="id99e6beeb31394e06982512b4de303951"><enum>303.</enum><header>Program on training of intermediate care technicians of Department of Veterans Affairs</header><subsection id="iddd40bae9c41f4bc1b6b442dbfc0ddbdc"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement a program to train covered veterans to work as intermediate care technicians of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3580fcf9a05d467289b0a867d16a4654"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Locations</header><text>The Secretary may place an intermediate care technician trained under the program under subsection (a) at any medical center of the Department, giving priority to a location with a significant staffing shortage.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd125b5fdd13a4c67b21ce5a8afc80603"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Inclusion of information in transition assistance program</header><text>As part of the Transition Assistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary shall prepare a communications campaign to convey opportunities for training, certification, and employment under the program under subsection (a) to appropriate members of the Armed Forces separating from active duty.</text></subsection><subsection id="ideb8ed7b723794c9d95c63684412327e2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report on expansion of program</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on whether the program under this section could be replicated for other medical positions within the Department.</text></subsection><subsection id="id460bc2b0686f49c9aa8a33c796b9c581"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Covered veteran defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>covered veteran</term> means a veteran whom the Secretary determines served or is serving as an allied health professional (such as a combat medic, medical technician, corpsman, or basic health care technician) while serving in the Armed Forces.</text></subsection></section><section id="idb5c6000df0f54106a44e6c380c207f77"><enum>304.</enum><header>Notification of opportunities for veterans</header><subsection id="id63F268FD82A54DEF85D9D289A3E92B31"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify veterans service organizations, such other stakeholders as the Secretary considers appropriate, and, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces of opportunities for veterans under this title.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7e10c61747bc4c2c91a58023474489c5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Veterans service organization defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>veterans service organization</term> means any organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.</text></subsection></section>