[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2780-H2781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          VA HOSPITALS ESTABLISHING LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 293) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
establish qualifications for the human resources positions within the 
Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 293

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``VA Hospitals Establishing 
     Leadership Performance Act''.

     SEC. 2. QUALIFICATIONS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES POSITIONS WITHIN 
                   THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OF THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Establishment of Qualifications.--Not later than 180 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
       (1) establish qualifications for each human resources 
     position within the Veterans Health Administration of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs;
       (2) establish standardized performance metrics for each 
     such position; and
       (3) submit to Congress a report containing the 
     qualifications and standardized performance metrics 
     established under paragraphs (1) and (2).
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days 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 House of Representatives and the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) a description of the implementation of such 
     qualifications and performance metrics; and
       (2) an assessment of the quality of such qualifications and 
     performance metrics.

     SEC. 3. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements 
     shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be 
     appropriated.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 293.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 293, the VA Hospitals 
Establishing Leadership Performance Act, introduced by our committee's 
ranking member, Mr. Bost.
  This bill would require VA to establish qualifications and 
performance metrics for human resources positions within the Veterans 
Health Administration. This legislation follows a 2017 Government 
Accountability Office report that found human capital process 
deficiencies, such as a lack of performance metrics for certain 
positions.
  GAO concluded that these deficiencies negatively affected VA's 
ability to serve veterans. The legislation does not specify what 
metrics VA must use, but leaves that determination up to VA. 
Instituting these human resource management improvements at VA is a 
commonsense, good-government step.
  H.R. 293 was favorably reported by the committee, and I ask my 
colleagues to join me in supporting the VA Hospitals Establishing 
Leadership Performance Act.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H2781]]

  

  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 293, VA Hospitals 
Establishing Leadership Performance Act. I believe that a high-
performing organization needs to have clear qualifications and metrics 
by which they can measure success. Without them, organizations lose 
their way.
  That is why I am proud to have, once again, introduced the VA 
Hospital Establishing Leadership Performance Act. My bill would require 
VA to establish standardized qualifications and performance metrics for 
each human resource position within the Veterans Health Administration.
  A few years ago, the committee found that certain HR professionals 
working in the VA healthcare system did not have the proper education 
or experience for the jobs that they held.
  For example, one HR director at a medical center lacked both a 
college degree and relevant work experience when hired for the job. 
This bill would make sure that that does not happen again by requiring 
HR staff to be qualified and equipped to handle VA's complex human 
resources needs.
  During the 115th Congress, this bill passed the House by a vote of 
417-0. I hope that it, again, gains that type of support with this 
entire Chamber.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support my bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I have no further questions, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 293, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 293.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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