[Congressional Bills 103th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 4013 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)] Calendar No. 420 103d CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4013 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with necessary flexibility in staffing the Veterans Health Administration. May 3 (legislative day, May 2), 1994 Ordered to be placed on the calendar Calendar No. 420 103d CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4013 _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 2, 1994 Received May 3 (legislative day, May 2), 1994 Read twice and ordered placed on the calendar _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with necessary flexibility in staffing the Veterans Health Administration. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDINGS. The Congress makes the following findings: (1) Under proposals for national health care reform, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to establish an enrollment system for veterans and to provide health care on a competitive basis with other, private health care providers. (2) In order to be able to implement changes contemplated by proposals for national health care reform, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must have flexibility to restructure and reform the Veterans Health Administration as necessary without externally imposed constraints on full-time equivalent employee (FTEE) positions levels. (3) The Office of Management and Budget, as part of an announced plan to require a reduction over five years of 252,000 FTEE positions in the executive branch, proposes to require reductions of FTEE positions totaling 25,493 in personnel of the Veterans Health Administration, a reduction in personnel which would severely impede the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement national health care reform and to meet the responsibilities of the Department under existing law. SEC. 2. EMPLOYMENT LEVEL IN VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION. (a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 713. Full-time equivalent employees: limitation on reduction ``(a) During the five-year period beginning on October 1, 1994, no reduction may be made in the number of full-time equivalent employees in the Veterans Health Administration other than as specifically required by a law directing reductions in personnel or positions of the Veterans Health Administration or by the availability of funds. During that period, the personnel of the Veterans Health Administration shall be managed on the basis of the needs of eligible veterans and the availability of funds. ``(b) During the period specified in subsection (a), no law imposing a restriction on hiring by executive agencies for the purpose of achieving workforce reductions shall apply to the Veterans Health Administration. ``(c) No law may be construed as suspending or modifying this section unless such law specifically refers to or amends this section.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: ``713. Full-time equivalent employees: limitation on reduction.''. SEC. 3. REPORT ON STREAMLINING. Not later than January 15, 1995, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on streamlining activities in the Veterans Health Administration. The report shall include a description of-- (1) opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of delivery of health care services in the Veterans Health Administration through consolidation, reorganization, or other means; (2) plans and actions taken to realize such efficiencies; and (3) impediments to implementing particular plans. Passed the House of Representatives April 28, 1994. Attest: DONNALD K. ANDERSEN, Clerk.