US Congress Senate Bill 114 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Passed on August 12 2017 - 100% progression
Action: 2017-08-12 - Became Public Law No: 115-46. (TXT | PDF)
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [PDF]

VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 TITLE I--APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNTS FOR VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM (Sec. 101) This bill provides funding for the Veterans Choice Program. TITLE II--PERSONNEL MATTERS (Sec. 201) The annual determination of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff shortages shall include shortages for a minimum of five clinical and five nonclinical occupations for each network. (Such determination currently includes the five occupations for which there are the largest Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]-wide shortages.) (Sec. 202) The bill establishes in the VA an executive management fellowship program to provide Veterans Benefits Administration and VHA employees with training and experience in the private sector and private sector employees training and experience in the VA. Employees shall be selected in a manner that reflects veteran demographics and provides a preference for rural employees. (Sec. 203) The VA shall conduct an annual performance plan for each political appointee that is similar to the plan conducted for VA career senior executive employees. (Sec. 204) The VA may noncompetitively appoint a qualified former employee to any VA position within the competitive service that is one grade or equivalent higher than the person's most recent position. (Sec. 205) The VA shall establish a promotional track system for employees who are technical experts to advance without being required to transition to management positions. (Sec. 206) The VA shall prescribe regulations to allow for excepted service appointments of qualifying students and recent graduates leading to career employment. (Sec. 207) The VA shall establish a program to encourage service members with a military health care specialty to seek postmilitary employment with the VHA. (Sec. 208) The VA shall establish a single database that lists each vacant VA position that is: (1) critical, difficult to fill, or both; or (2) for a mental health professional. A qualified applicant for a position in the database who is not selected may elect to be considered by the VA for similar positions in the database. (Sec. 209) The VA shall provide VHA human resources professionals with recruitment and retention training. (Sec. 210) The VA shall develop and implement a plan to hire qualified directors for VA medical centers without a permanent director. (Sec. 211) The VA shall develop a standardized exit survey for employees and executives who voluntarily separate from the VA. (Sec. 212) Physician assistants are included in the list of VA health care personnel who must receive pay that is competitive with non-VA health care facilities. (Sec. 213) The VA may appoint highly qualified candidates without regard to competitive service provisions if there is a severe shortage of highly qualified candidates. (Sec. 214) The Government Accountability Office shall assess the VA's succession planning policies. TITLE III--MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES (Sec. 301) The VA may carry out major medical facility leases in specified amounts at certain locations. TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS (Sec. 401) The bill extends through FY2027: (1) the $90 monthly limit on a VA pension paid to veterans residing in nursing homes when their nursing costs are paid through title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act; (2) VA authority to collect certain fees at current levels for housing loans made, insured, or guaranteed by the VA; and (3) VA authority to obtain veterans' income verification information from the Social Security Administration or the Department of the Treasury.

VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017

Sen. Dean Heller [R-NV]

Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA]

Sen. Angus King [I-ME]

Sen. Susan Collins [R-ME]

2017-07-28 - House - On passage RC# 438 (Y: 414 N: 0 NV: 19 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2017-07-24 - House - On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended RC# 408 (Y: 219 N: 186 NV: 28 Abs: 0) [FAIL]

Date	Chamber	Action
2017-08-12	House	Became Public Law No: 115-46. (TXT | PDF)
2017-08-12	House	Signed by President.
2017-08-07	House	Presented to President.
2017-08-02	House	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2017-08-01	House	Senate agreed to the House amendments to the Senate bill by Voice Vote. (text as Senate agree to the House amendment: CR S4686)
2017-07-31	House	Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
2017-07-28	House	The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
2017-07-28	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2017-07-28	House	On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 414 - 0 (Roll no. 438). (text: CR H6531-6535)
2017-07-28	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6557-6558)
2017-07-28	House	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on S. 114, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the aye had prevailed. Mr. Roe(TN) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until later in the legislative day.
2017-07-28	House	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2017-07-28	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 114.
2017-07-28	House	Rule provides for consideration of S. 114 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
2017-07-28	House	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 480. (consideration: CR H6531-6538)
2017-07-28	House	Rule H. Res. 480 passed House.
2017-07-27	House	Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 480 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 114 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
2017-07-24	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 219 - 186 (Roll no. 408).
2017-07-24	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6196-6197)
2017-07-24	House	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2017-07-24	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 114.
2017-07-24	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6151-6158; text of measure as received: CR H6151)
2017-07-24	House	Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2017-05-26	House	Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2017-05-26	House	Received in the House.
2017-05-25	Senate	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2017-05-25	Senate	Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S3190)
2017-05-25	Senate	Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3190)
2017-01-12	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

HB1690 (Related) 2017-07-25 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
HR480 (Related) 2017-07-28 - Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
SB1550 (Related) 2017-07-13 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
HB90 (Related) 2017-01-19 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
SB233 (Related) 2017-01-24 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
SB2807 (Same As) 2018-05-09 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
SB2193 (Related) 2018-03-07 - By Senator Isakson from Committee on Veterans' Affairs filed written report. Report No. 115-212.
SB2906 (Related) 2018-05-22 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/114/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s114/BILLS-115s114is.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s114/BILLS-115s114es.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s114/BILLS-115s114eah.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s114/BILLS-115s114enr.pdf
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017408
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017438