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H.R. 7441House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2020

Sponsored by Susan W. BrooksRep. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN)
Introduced July 1, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 1:39 PM UTC

The Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2020 would speed up the hiring of doctors, nurses, and other medical staff who are leaving the military by having the Veterans Health Administration recruit them directly. It creates a coordinated process between the Department of Defense and the VA to inform separating service members about VA job openings, offer them positions early, and allow the VA to hire them through streamlined, non‑competitive methods. The bill mainly affects military medical personnel who are separating from service and the VA’s hiring offices.

Key Provisions

  • The VA Secretary, working with the Defense Secretary, must recruit separating DoD medical personnel for VA medical jobs.
  • Separating service members will receive regular briefings about VA employment opportunities and can schedule one‑on‑one appointments to discuss and apply for positions.
  • Tentative job offers can be made up to 90 days before or after a service member’s separation date.
  • After a tentative offer, the applicant’s credentials are sent to the VA medical facility for final verification, interviews, and a possible final offer.
  • The VA may use direct, non‑competitive hiring methods to fill these positions.
  • The bill defines which VA job categories are covered (positions under the General Schedule, prevailing rate system, Title 38, or hybrid authority) and references the existing Transition Assistance Program.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

September 30, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 1, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 1, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

September 30, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

September 30, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 1, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7441

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 1, 2020

Mrs. Brooks of Indiana (for herself and Miss Rice of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To expedite hiring by the Department of Veterans Affairs of medical department personnel separating from the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2020.

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.