Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2020," aims to expedite the hiring process for medical department personnel who are separating from the Armed Forces and are seeking employment within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This will be achieved through collaboration between the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, who will conduct recruitment for positions among separating members of the Armed Forces. The recruitment process will be conducted as part of the Transition Assistance Program for these members, with regular briefings and one-on-one appointments to discuss employment opportunities and the expedited hiring process. Tentative offers for positions can be made up to 90 days before a member's separation from the Armed Forces, and the final hiring process will be conducted through direct, non-competitive, and other appropriate means. This legislation also includes definitions for key terms such as "covered medical personnel position" and "Transition Assistance Program."
Possible Impacts
1. The Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2020 may affect people by providing more job opportunities for medical department personnel who are separating from the Armed Forces. This could benefit veterans by allowing them to continue their career in the medical field and receive support from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
2. The Act may also affect people by expediting the hiring process for veterans, allowing them to secure a job with the Department of Veterans Affairs within a shorter time frame. This could help individuals who may be facing financial difficulties after separating from the military.
3. Additionally, the Act may impact people by promoting collaboration between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs in terms of recruitment and hiring processes. This could potentially lead to better communication and coordination between the two departments, benefitting both veterans and active duty military personnel.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4124 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4124
To expedite hiring by the Department of Veterans Affairs of medical
department personnel separating from the Armed Forces, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 1, 2020
Mr. Braun introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expedite hiring by the Department of Veterans Affairs of medical
department personnel separating from the Armed Forces, and for other
purposes.
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 ``Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of
2020''.
SEC. 2. EXPEDITED HIRING BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF MEDICAL
DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL SEPARATING FROM THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct recruitment for covered
medical personnel positions from among medical department personnel of
the Department of Defense who hold medical military occupational
specialties and are separating from the Armed Forces.
(b) Transition Assistance Program.--Recruitment shall be conducted
under subsection (a) for separating members of the Armed Forces as part
of the Transition Assistance Program conducted for such members.
(c) Elements of Recruitment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration
with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall schedule regular
briefing times for all medical department personnel of the
Department of Defense who are separating from the Armed Forces
to be briefed by a supervisor or technician from a human
resources office of the Veterans Health Administration on--
(A) employment opportunities with the Department of
Veterans Affairs throughout the United States;
(B) options for careers with the Department in a
covered medical personnel position; and
(C) the expedited recruitment and hiring process
under this section.
(2) One-on-one appointments.--The supervisor or technician
conducting the briefing under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) schedule a one-on-one appointment for each
separating medical department personnel member who
wishes to meet to review covered medical personnel
positions that are available; and
(B) accept applications for such positions.
(d) Hiring.--
(1) Tentative offer.--
(A) In general.--The supervisor or technician
conducting the briefing under subsection (c)(1) and
accepting applications under subsection (c)(2)(B) may
tentatively offer applicants for covered medical
personnel positions who agree to accept the position
and meet a preliminary qualification review established
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such a position at
a medical facility of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
(B) Timing.--A tentative offer under subparagraph
(A) to a member of the Armed Forces participating in
the recruitment and hiring process under this section
may be made during the period beginning on the date
that is 90 days before the separation of the member
from the Armed Forces and ending on the date that is 90
days after such separation.
(2) Final offer.--After conducting the tentative offer
process for an individual under paragraph (1), the supervisor
or technician shall transmit information on and credentials for
the individual to the medical facility at which the individual
would be hired for final verification and interviews to
complete the hiring process and possibly present a final offer.
(3) Conduct of hiring process.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary may hire individuals under this
section through direct, non-competitive, and other hiring
processes as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out
this section.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered medical personnel position.--The term ``covered
medical personnel position'' means a medical personnel position
at all grades within the Department of Veterans Affairs
employed under--
(A) the General Schedule under subchapter III of
chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code;
(B) the prevailing rate system under subchapter IV
of such chapter;
(C) section 7425 of title 38, United States Code;
or
(D) a hybrid authority.
(2) Transition assistance program.--The term ``Transition
Assistance Program'' means the Transition Assistance Program
under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
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