[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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