[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 7 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 62. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise 
certain provisions relating to the appointment of professional 
psychologists in the Veterans Health Administration, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


              veteran's health administration act of 2001

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I introduce legislation today to amend 
Chapter 74 of Title 38, United States Code, to revise certain 
provisions relating to the appointment of clinical and professional 
psychologists in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA has 
a long history of maintaining a staff of the very best health care 
professionals to provide care to those men and women who have served 
our country in the Armed Forces.
  Recently, a distressing situation regarding the care of our veterans 
has come to my attention: the recruiting and retention of psychologists 
in the VHA of the Department of Veterans Affairs has become a 
significant problem.
  The Congress has recognized the important contribution of the 
behavioral sciences in the treatment of several conditions afflicting a 
significant portion of our veterans. Programs related to homelessness, 
substance abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have 
received funding from the Congress in recent years.
  Psychologists, as behavioral science experts, are essential to the 
successful implementation of these programs. Consequently, the high 
vacancy and turnover rates for psychologists in the VHA might seriously 
jeopardize these programs and will negatively impact overall patient 
care in the VHA.
  Recruitment of psychologists by the VHA is hindered by a number of 
factors including a pay scale that is not commensurate with private 
sector rates together with a low number of clinical and professional 
psychologists appearing on the register of the Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM). Most new hires have no post-doctoral experience, and 
are hired immediately after a VHA internship. Recruitment, when 
successful, takes up to sic months or longer.
  Retention of psychologists in the VHA system poses an even more 
significant problem. I have been informed that almost 40 percent of VHA 
psychologists have five years or less of post-doctoral experience. 
Psychologists leave the VHA system after five years because they have 
almost reached peak levels for salary and professional advancement. 
Under the present system, psychologists cannot be recognized, or 
appropriately compensated, for excellence or for taking on additional 
responsibilities such as running treatment programs.
  In effect, the current system for hiring psychologists in the VHA 
supports mediocrity, not excellence and mastery. Our veterans with 
behavioral and mental health disorders deserve better psychological 
care from more experienced professionals than they are now receiving.
  Currently, psychologists are the only doctoral level health care 
providers in the VHA who are not included in Title 38. This is without 
question a significant factor in the recruitment and retention 
difficulties that I have mentioned. Title 38 appointment authority for 
psychologists would help ameliorate the recruitment and retention 
problems. The length of time needed to recruit psychologists could be 
shortened by eliminating the requirement for applicants to be rated by 
the OPM. This would also encourage the recruitment of applicants who 
are not recent VHA interns by reducing the amount of time between 
identifying a desirable applicant and being able to offer that 
applicant a position.
  It is expected that problems in retention will be greatly alleviated 
by the implementation of a Title 38 system that offers financial 
incentives for psychologists to pursue professional development. 
Achievements that would merit salary increases include such activities 
as assuming supervisory responsibilities for clinical programs, 
implementing innovative clinical treatments that improve the 
effectiveness and efficiency of patient care, making significant 
contributions to the science of psychology, earning the ABPP diplomate 
state, and becoming a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.
  The addition of psychologists to Title 38, as proposed by this 
amendment, would provide relief for the retention and recruitment 
issues and enhance the quality of care for our veterans and their 
families.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be 
printed in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 62

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

     SECTION 1. REVISION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF 
                   PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE VETERANS 
                   HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--Section 7401(3) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by striking ``who hold diplomas as 
     diplomates in psychology from an accrediting authority 
     approved by the Secretary''.
       (b) Certain Other Appointments.--Section 7405(a) of such 
     title is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``Certified or'' and 
     inserting ``Professional psychologists, certified or''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``Certified or'' and 
     inserting ``Professional psychologists, certified or''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (d) Appointment Requirement.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     begin to make appointments of professional psychologists in 
     the Veterans Health Administration under section 7401(3) of 
     title 38, United States Code (as amended by subsection (a)), 
     not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
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