[House Report 119-264]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-264
======================================================================
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2025
_______
September 10, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bost, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 3767]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 3767) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for a time frame for the employment in the Department
of Veterans Affairs of participants in the Health Professionals
Scholarship Program, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and
recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Amendment........................................................ 2
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 3
Hearings......................................................... 4
Subcommittee Consideration....................................... 5
Committee Consideration.......................................... 5
Committee Votes.................................................. 5
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 6
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 6
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits............................. 6
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 6
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate... 6
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 7
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 7
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 7
Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs..................... 7
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 7
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 8
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Health Professionals Scholarship
Program Improvement Act of 2025'' or the ``HPSP Improvement Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. TIME FRAME FOR EMPLOYMENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 7616 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d)(1) The Secretary shall ensure that a participant in the
Scholarship Program receives a contract for employment in the full-time
clinical practice of such participant's profession at a Department
facility with the highest need, as determined by the Secretary, by not
later than 90 days after the later of the following dates:
``(A) The date on which the participant completes the course
in the Scholarship Program.
``(B) The date on which participant obtains all required
licensure, certification, or credentialing necessary to
practice independently in their field.
``(2) A contract referred to in paragraph (1) shall include a
competitive salary and benefits package consistent with the employment
standards of the Department.''.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until
the termination date specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on
the implementation of subsection (d) of section 7616 of title
38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
(2) Termination date.--The termination date specified in this
paragraph is September 30, 2027.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON SMOKING IN FACILITIES OF THE VETERANS HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Prohibition.--Section 1715 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans
Health Administration
``(a) Prohibition.--No person (including any veteran, patient,
resident, employee of the Department, contractor, or visitor) may smoke
on the premises of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `smoke' includes--
``(A) the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and any
other combustion or heating of tobacco; and
``(B) the use of any electronic nicotine delivery
system, including electronic or e-cigarettes, vape
pens, and e-cigars.
``(2) The term `facility of the Veterans Health
Administration' means any land or building (including any
medical center, nursing home, domiciliary facility, outpatient
clinic, or center that provides readjustment counseling) that
is--
``(A) under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Veterans Affairs;
``(B) under the control of the Veterans Health
Administration; and
``(C) not under the control of the General Services
Administration.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking
the item relating to section 1715 and inserting the following:
``1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health
Administration.''.
(2) Conforming repeal.--
(A) In general.--Section 526 of the Veterans Health
Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-585; 38 U.S.C. 1715
note) is repealed.
(B) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of
such Act is amended by striking the item relating to
such section.
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 3767, the ``Health Professionals Scholarship Program
Improvement Act of 2025,'' was introduced by Representative
Abraham J. Hamadeh of Arizona on June 5, 2025. H.R. 3767, as
amended, would provide for a time frame for the employment in
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of participants in the
Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP). H.R. 3767, as
amended, incorporates the text of H.R. 3855, introduced by
Representative Neal P. Dunn of Florida, which was introduced on
June 10, 2025. H.R. 3855 would prohibit smoking on the premises
of any facility of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Background and Need for Legislation
Section 1: Short Title
This Act may be cited as the ``Health Professionals
Scholarship Program Improvement Act of 2025,'' or the ``HPSP
Improvement Act of 2025.''
Section 2. Time Frame for Employment of Participants in Department of
Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Scholarship Program
For years, VA has faced difficulties in recruiting and
retaining qualified healthcare professionals, especially in
rural areas and in high-demand specialties. This created
concerns about access to timely and quality healthcare for
veterans. The HPSP was established to address chronic workforce
shortages, particularly in critical healthcare occupations such
as nursing, physician assistants, and mental health
professionals. Under current law,\1\ scholarship participants
must agree to a period of obligated service in the Veterans
Health Administration (VHA) in return for payment of
educational assistance. For physicians who attended school
full-time, the period of obligation is 18 months for every
school year. For other health professionals who attended school
full-time, it is 12 months for every school year for not less
than 2 years. For any professional who attended school part-
time, it is not less than 1 year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\38 U.S.C. Sec. 7604; 38 C.F.R. Sec. 17.607(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As soon as possible after the participant's completion of
the training program, licensure, or certification--whichever is
later--VA must offer the participant an opportunity for
employment. The statute does not specify exactly when this
employment opportunity must be offered to participants in the
program.
This section would hold VA accountable by providing a
deadline for VA to hire a participant. The Committee is aware
of instances in which scholarship participants are unemployed
for months before VA finally offers them a position. In some
cases, participants are forced to break their service
obligation and seek work elsewhere just to make ends meet. This
represents not only the loss of a needed healthcare
professional, but also the waste of a scholarship opportunity
lasting up to four years. By requiring VA to provide a contract
for employment to a scholarship participant within a specified
period of time, the Committee believes that VA will lose fewer
newly trained health professionals due to employment delays and
increase veteran access to high quality healthcare.
Section 3. Prohibition on Smoking in Facilities of the Veterans Health
Administration
The Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 [P.L. 102-585] became
law on November 4, 1992. Under section 526 of that law, each VA
medical center, nursing home, or domiciliary care facility is
required, consistent with medical requirements and limitations,
to establish a smoking area and provide access to such area for
patients or residents of the facility who are receiving care or
services and who desire to smoke tobacco products.
Since that time, VHA has issued several nationwide policies
for VA facilities to provide safer smoking environments. In
March of 2019, VHA issued its most recent policy that required
all VHA health care facilities to become smoke-free for
patients, visitors, contractors, volunteers, and vendors
effective October 1, 2019.\2\ This policy eliminated all
designated smoking areas on VHA campuses because VHA determined
that it was unable to establish smoking areas that would be
consistent with medical requirements and limitations. Although
permitted under current law,\3\ the policy also prohibited the
sale of tobacco or other electronic nicotine delivery systems
(ENDS) at VHA facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\VHA Directive 1085, Smoke-Free Policy for Patients, Visitors,
Contractors, Volunteers, and Vendors at VA Health Care Facilities (Mar.
5, 2019), https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/
ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=8242.
\3\38 U.S.C. Sec. 1715.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This section, would prohibit the use of cigarettes, cigars,
pipes, and any other combustion or heating of tobacco, as well
as the use of any ENDS, including electronic or e-cigarettes,
vape pens, and e-cigars. The prohibition would apply to any
land or building that is under VA's jurisdiction, under the
control of VHA, and not under the control of the General
Services Administration (GSA). The bill, as amended, would also
rescind the VA's authority to provide tobacco products to
hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary patients.
The Committee believes veteran patients and employees have
a right to be protected as a matter of policy from preventable
physical harm caused by another person--in this case secondhand
smoke exposure--when seeking healthcare or working at a VHA
facility. Many private sector healthcare systems have already
implemented smoke-free policies. This legislation would codify
current VHA policy and repeal the outdated law that gave the
Secretary the authority to provide tobacco products to
veterans. Given the overwhelming evidence that smoking and
exposure to secondhand smoke create significant medical risks,
the Committee finds current law is incompatible with VHA's
health mission and supports the repeal of section 526 of the
Veterans Health Care Act [P.L. 102-85] and codification of
VHA's existing smoke-free policy.
Hearings
On June 12, 2025, the Subcommittee on Health held a
legislative hearing on H.R. 3767, H.R. 3855, and other bills
pending before the subcommittee.
The following witnesses testified:
The Honorable Gregory F. Murphy, U.S. House of
Representatives, 3rd Congressional District, North
Carolina; The Honorable Morgan Luttrell, U.S. House of
Representatives, 8th Congressional District, Texas; The
Honorable Jennifer A. Kiggans, U.S. House of
Representatives, 2nd Congressional District, Virginia;
The Honorable Abraham J. Hamadeh, U.S. House of
Representatives, 8th Congressional District, Arizona;
The Honorable Kimberlyn King-Hinds, U.S. House of
Representatives, District At Large, Northern Mariana
Islands; The Honorable John J. McGuire, U.S. House of
Representatives, 5th Congressional District, Virginia;
The Honorable Joseph D. Morelle, U.S. House of
Representatives, 25th Congressional District, New York;
The Honorable Nikki Budzinski, U.S. House of
Representatives, 13th Congressional District, Illinois;
Dr. Antoinette V. Shappell, Deputy Assistant Under
Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Dr. Ilse Wiechers, Deputy Executive
Director, Office of Mental Health, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Randy Johnson, Constituent, District At Large, Northern
Mariana Islands; Cole T. Lyle, Director, Veterans
Affairs & Rehabilitation Division, The American Legion;
David Coker, President, Fisher House Foundation; John
Schmitt, Chief Executive Officer, iXpressGenes, Inc.;
Caira Benson, Caregiver Fellow, Elizabeth Dole
Foundation.
The following individuals and organizations submitted
statements for the record:
K9s for Warriors, Quality of Life Foundation,
National Association of State Veterans Homes, Military
Officers Association of America, National Association
of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations,
iXpressGenes, Inc., Paralyzed Veterans of America, The
Honorable Joseph D. Morelle, Concerned Veterans for
America, USAA, Student Veterans of America, American
Academy of Physician Associates, Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States.
Subcommittee Consideration
The Subcommittee on Health was discharged from further
consideration of this legislation on July 23, 2025.
Committee Consideration
On July 23, 2025, the full Committee met in an open markup
session to consider H.R. 3767.
An amendment in the nature of a substitute was offered by
Representative Hamadeh. This amendment would add the text of
H.R. 3855, to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility
of the VHA. This amendment was agreed to by voice vote.
A motion by Ranking Member Takano of California to report
H.R. 3767, as amended, favorably to the House of
Representatives was agreed to by voice vote.
Committee Votes
In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, no recorded votes were taken on
amendments or in connection with ordering H.R. 3767, as
amended, reported to the House.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals and objectives of H.R. 3767, as amended, would be to
decrease critical staffing shortages and reduce loss of
participants in the Health Professionals Scholarship Program by
requiring an offer of employment within 90 days of completion
of coursework or licensure to qualified program participants.
The Committee's other performance goal for this bill would be
to prohibit smoking on the premises of any facility of the
Veterans Health Administration.
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits
H.R. 3767, as amended, does not contain any Congressional
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as
defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
Committee Cost Estimate
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate on H.R.
3767, as amended, prepared by the Director of the Congressional
Budget.
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office
Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following is the cost
estimate for H.R. 3767, as amended, provided by the
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
H.R. 3767 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) to issue employment contracts to participants in the
Health Professionals Scholarship Program within 90 days of
their completion of the program. The bill would also require VA
to report to the Congress semiannually through 2027 on the
implementation of that employment requirement. Because VA is
already required to employ people who complete the scholarship
program, CBO estimates that implementing the provision would
not increase staffing levels. Satisfying the reporting
requirement would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030
period, CBO estimates. Any spending would be subject to the
availability of appropriated funds.
The bill also would prohibit smoking on the premises of any
Veterans Health Administration facility. According to VA, the
department already maintains a smoke-free policy at all such
facilities. Thus, CBO estimates that enacting this provision
would not affect the federal budget.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Noah Callahan.
The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy
Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
Federal Mandates Statement
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded
Mandate Reform Act, P.L. 104-4), is inapplicable to H.R. 3767,
as amended.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by H.R.
3767, as amended.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that H.R. 3767, as amended, does not
relate to the terms and conditions of employment or access to
public services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 3767, as amended, establishes or reauthorizes a program
of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another
Federal program, a program that was included in any report from
the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1: Short title
This section would establish the short title as the
``Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act of
2025,'' or the ``HPSP Improvement Act of 2025.''
Section 2: Time frame for employment of participants in Department of
Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Scholarship Program
This section would amend 38 U.S.C. Sec. 7616 by adding a
new subsection (d). This new subsection would require VA to
offer the scholarship participant a contract for employment
within 90 days of either program completion or the date on
which the participant obtains all required licensure,
certification, or credentialing necessary to practice
independently in their field. VA would determine which facility
the participant would be offered a contract for full-time
clinical employment based on the facility with the highest need
for that occupation. The new subsection would also require that
the contract offered to program participants includes a
competitive salary and benefits package consistent with the
employment standards of VA.
This section would also require the Secretary to submit a
report on the implementation of the new subsection (d) within
180 days of enactment of the bill and every 180 days thereafter
until September 30, 2027.
Section 3: Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health
Administration
This section would amend 38 U.S.C. Sec. 1715 to repeal the
requirement that VA furnish an area where veterans receiving
hospital or domiciliary care may smoke. The bill, as amended,
would prohibit any veteran, patient, resident, visitor,
employee, or contractor from smoking on the premises of any VHA
facility. The section defines smoking to include the combustion
or heating of tobacco and any electronic nicotine delivery
system. It also defines facilities of the VHA to include any
land or building under the jurisdiction of VA and the control
of VHA, but excludes buildings controlled by the GSA.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, existing law in which no change
is proposed is shown in roman):
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
PART II--GENERAL BENEFITS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 17--HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL
Sec.
1701. Definitions.
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER II--HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, OR DOMICILIARY CARE AND MEDICAL
TREATMENT
* * * * * * *
[1715. Tobacco for hospitalized veterans.]
1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health
Administration.
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER II--HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, OR DOMICILIARY CARE AND MEDICAL
TREATMENT
* * * * * * *
[Sec. 1715. Tobacco for hospitalized veterans
[The Secretary may furnish tobacco to veterans receiving
hospital or domiciliary care.]
Sec. 1715. Prohibition on smoking in facilities of the Veterans Health
Administration
(a) Prohibition.--No person (including any veteran, patient,
resident, employee of the Department, contractor, or visitor)
may smoke on the premises of any facility of the Veterans
Health Administration.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``smoke'' includes--
(A) the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and
any other combustion or heating of tobacco; and
(B) the use of any electronic nicotine
delivery system, including electronic or e-
cigarettes, vape pens, and e-cigars.
(2) The term ``facility of the Veterans Health
Administration'' means any land or building (including
any medical center, nursing home, domiciliary facility,
outpatient clinic, or center that provides readjustment
counseling) that is--
(A) under the jurisdiction of the Department
of Veterans Affairs;
(B) under the control of the Veterans Health
Administration; and
(C) not under the control of the General
Services Administration.
* * * * * * *
PART V--BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 76--HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER II--SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
* * * * * * *
Sec. 7616. Obligated service
(a) Each participant in the Scholarship Program shall provide
service as a full-time employee of the Department for the
period of obligated service provided in the agreement of the
participant entered into under section 7603 of this title. Such
service shall be provided in the full-time clinical practice of
such participant's profession or in another health-care
position in an assignment or location determined by the
Secretary.
(b)(1) Not later than 60 days before the participant's
service commencement date, the Secretary shall notify the
participant of that service commencement date. That date is the
date for the beginning of the participant's period of obligated
service.
(2) As soon as possible after the participant's service
commencement date, the Secretary shall--
(A) in the case of a participant who is not a full-
time employee in the Veterans Health Administration,
appoint such participant as such an employee; and
(B) in the case of a participant who is an employee
in the Veterans Health Administration but is not
serving in a position for which such participant's
course of education or training prepared such
participant, assign such participant to such a
position.
(3)(A)(i) In the case of a participant receiving a degree
from a school of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, optometry, or
podiatry, the participant's service commencement date is the
date upon which the participant becomes licensed to practice
medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, optometry, or podiatry, as the
case may be, in a State. However, the Secretary may, at the
request of such participant, defer such date until the end of
the period of time required for the participant to complete an
internship or residency or other advanced clinical training. If
the participant requests such a deferral, the Secretary shall
notify the participant that such deferral could lead to an
additional period of obligated service in accordance with
paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(ii) No such period of internship or residency or other
advanced clinical training shall be counted toward satisfying a
period of obligated service under this subchapter.
(B) In the case of a participant receiving a degree from a
school of nursing, the participant's service commencement date
is the later of (i) the participant's course completion date,
or (ii) the date upon which the participant becomes licensed as
a registered nurse in a State.
(C) In the case of a participant not covered by subparagraph
(A) or (B) of this paragraph, the participant's service
commencement date is the later of (i) the participant's course
completion date, or (ii) the date the participant meets any
applicable licensure or certification requirements.
(4) A participant whose period of obligated service is
deferred under paragraph (3)(A) of this subsection shall be
required to undertake internship or residency or other advanced
clinical training in an accredited program in an educational
institution which is an affiliated institution (as defined in
section 7423(d)(1) of this title) and with respect to which the
affiliation agreement provides that all or part of the
internship or residency or other advanced clinical training
will be undertaken in a Department health-care facility. Such a
participant may, at the discretion of the Secretary and upon
the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, incur an
additional period of obligated service--
(A) at the rate of one-half of a calendar year for
each year of internship or residency or other advanced
clinical training (or a proportionate ratio thereof),
if the internship, residency, or advanced clinical
training is in a medical specialty necessary to meet
the health-care requirements of the Department (as
determined under regulations prescribed by the
Secretary); or
(B) at the rate of three-quarters of a calendar year
for each year of internship or residency or other
advanced clinical training (or a proportionate ratio
thereof), if the internship, residency, or advanced
clinical training is not in a medical specialty
necessary to meet the health-care requirements of the
Department (as determined under regulations prescribed
by the Secretary).
(5) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe the service
commencement date for participants who were part-time students.
Such regulations shall prescribe terms as similar as
practicable to the terms set forth in paragraph (3) of this
subsection.
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this
subsection, a participant in the Scholarship Program shall be
considered to have begun serving such participant's period of
obligated service--
(A) on the date, after such participant's course
completion date, on which such participant (in
accordance with subsection (b) of this section) is
appointed under this chapter as a full-time employee in
the Veterans Health Administration; or
(B) if the participant is a full-time employee in the
Veterans Health Administration on such course
completion date, on the date thereafter on which such
participant is assigned to a position for which such
participant's course of training prepared such
participant.
(2) A participant in the Scholarship Program who on such
participant's course completion date is a full-time employee in
the Veterans Health Administration serving in a capacity for
which such participant's course of training prepared such
participant shall be considered to have begun serving such
participant's period of obligated service on such course
completion date.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the term ``course
completion date'' means the date on which a participant in the
Scholarship Program completes such participant's course of
education or training under the program.
(d)(1) The Secretary shall ensure that a participant in the
Scholarship Program receives a contract for employment in the
full-time clinical practice of such participant's profession at
a Department facility with the highest need, as determined by
the Secretary, by not later than 90 days after the later of the
following dates:
(A) The date on which the participant completes the
course in the Scholarship Program.
(B) The date on which participant obtains all
required licensure, certification, or credentialing
necessary to practice independently in their field.
(2) A contract referred to in paragraph (1) shall include a
competitive salary and benefits package consistent with the
employment standards of the Department.
* * * * * * *
----------
VETERANS HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1992
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans
Health Care Act of 1992''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is
as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
* * * * * * *
TITLE V--GENERAL HEALTH CARE AND ADMINISTRATION
* * * * * * *
Subtitle C--Health Care Administration and Personnel
* * * * * * *
[Sec. 526. Use of Tobacco Products in Department Facilities.]
* * * * * * *
TITLE V--GENERAL HEALTH CARE AND ADMINISTRATION
* * * * * * *
Subchapter C--Health Care Administration and Personnel
* * * * * * *
[SEC. 526. USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN DEPARTMENT FACILITIES
[(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
take appropriate actions to ensure that, consistent with
medical requirements and limitations, each facility of the
Department described in subsection (b)--(1) establishes and
maintains--
[(A) a suitable indoor area in which patients
or residents may smoke and which is ventilated
in a manner that, to the maximum extent
feasible, prevents smoke from entering other
areas of the facility; or
[(B) an area in a building that--
[(i) is detached from the facility;
[(ii) is accessible to patients or
residents of the facility; and
[(iii) has appropriate heating and
air conditioning; and
[(2) provides access to an area established and
maintained under paragraph (1), consistent with medical
requirements and limitations, for patients or residents
of the facility who are receiving care or services and
who desire to smoke tobacco products.
[(b) Covered Facilities.--A Department facility referred to
in subsection (a) is any Department of Veterans Affairs medical
center, nursing home, or domiciliary care facility.
[(c) Reports.--(1) Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House
of Representatives a report on the feasibility of the
establishment and maintenance of areas for smoking in
Department facilities under this section. The report shall
include information on--
[(A) the cost of, and a proposed schedule
for, the establishment of such an area at each
Department facility covered by this section;
[(B) the extent to which the ventilating
system of each facility is adequate to ensure
that use of the area for smoking does not
result in health problems for other patients or
residents of the facility; and
[(C) the effect of the establishment and
maintenance of an area for smoking in each
facility on the accreditation score issued for
the facility by the Joint Commission on the
Accreditation of Health Organizations.
[(2) Not later than 120 days after the effective date
of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the
committees referred to in paragraph (1) a report on the
implementation of this section. The report shall
include a description of the actions taken at each
covered facility to ensure compliance with this
section.
[(d) Effective Date.--The requirement to establish and
maintain areas for smoking under subsection (a) shall take
effect 60 days after the date on which the Comptroller General
submits to the committees referred to in subsection (c)(1) that
report required under that subsection.]
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