H.R. 9237

Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

Sponsor: Mike Bost

30 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Take Care of America's Veterans Act

This bill addresses veterans’ benefits, health care, counseling, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel, VA infrastructure, and the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP).

The bill modifies various compensation programs for veterans, including by (1) allowing concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with a combat-related disability, (2) extending entitlement for various benefits and services to remarried surviving spouses, (3) increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and (4) establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.

The bill also addresses VA education and training benefits, including by (1) modifying which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits, (2) requiring Transition Assistance Program counseling to include a presentation about VA benefits, and (3) increasing the housing allowance rate for individuals pursuing apprenticeships.

The bill revises health care provisions, including by (1) expanding support and assistance provided to family caregivers, (2) extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and (3) expanding the scope of VA mental health research.

Among other elements, the bill

  • revises VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus;
  • expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces;
  • addresses the administration of the VCCP and codifies the eligibility standards;
  • establishes a standardized screening process for priority or routine admission to certain mental health care programs; and
  • addresses VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters.

Text of the bill

Expand all

I Compensation

II Education and Economic Opportunity

III Health Care

IV Organization

V Memorial Affairs

VI Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers

A Improvement of Veterans Community Care Program

B Mental Health Treatment Programs

C Staffing Matters

Sec. 634. Improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs hiring processes

(a) In general. Subchapter I of chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 701 the following new section:

Text this section adds to the law

702. Hiring processes

(a) Standardized approval process for filling vacant positions

(1) Process required

(A) In general. The Secretary shall establish a standardized, nationwide approval process for filling vacant employment positions within the Department.

(B) Variability. The process required by subparagraph (A) may be different for each type of employment position in the Department.

(C) Approval windows. The process required by subparagraph (A) shall include a standardized approval window for each approval step.

(2) Delegation. If the approval authority for a step in the hiring process established under paragraph (1) is vacant, on leave, or otherwise unable to respond to requests for approval in an appropriate timeframe, such authority for approval shall be delegated to the extent practicable to the supervisor of such approval authority or such other designee as may be specified in the chain of command.

(3) Time to fill goal. Each window of time allotted for each approval step under paragraph (1)(C) when added together shall not exceed the goal of the Department to fill window for that employment position.

(b) Process for tentative offers of employment. The Secretary shall develop a standardized process for issuing tentative offers of employment with the Department and such process shall require that each such offer includes a specified rate of basic pay when possible and practicable.

(c) Third-party contracts. The Secretary may conduct laboratory testing, background clearances, and other candidate approval and vetting procedures through a contract with a third party if the Secretary determines that the contract would ensure equal or better quality or timeliness.

(d) Electronic signatures

(1) Authority. The Secretary shall allow electronic signatures on any hiring, recruitment, retention, or other employment documents once a standardized process for such signatures is developed and implemented under paragraph (2).

(2) Standardized process. The Secretary shall develop a standardized process for use of electronic signatures as described in paragraph (1), which shall include exceptions and limitations as the Secretary considers appropriate and that allows for use of electronic signatures for employment documents, including SF 1152 and related successor forms, SF 2823 and related successor forms, and SF 3102–FERS and related successor forms.

(e) Employee community building program. The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, establish an employee community building program that connects employees in similar positions, offices, and programs to connect with each other nationwide.

(b) Clerical amendment. The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 701 the following new item:

Text this section adds to the law

702. Hiring processes.

D Optimization of Workforce

E Veterans Infrastructure and Transformation

F Other Health Care Matters