Brad Wenstrup

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr, Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative Meng's amendment, which would stipulate that the annual determination of Veterans Health Administration staffing shortages must include at least five clinical occupations and five nonclinical occupations within each VA medical center. This amendment rightfully recognizes that some VA medical centers may have staffing challenges that extend beyond just 10 occupations and provides sufficient flexibility for this reporting requirement--which triggers the VA's direct hiring authority--to accommodate that by reporting more than five clinical and five nonclinical occupations, as needed. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment. I thank Representative Meng for submitting it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Representative Sewell's amendment, which would authorize the Secretary in selecting employees to participate in the executive management fellowship program established by section 3 of the bill, to provide a preference for employees in rural areas. According to VA's Office of Rural Health, there are currently 3 million veterans living in rural communities across the country who rely on the VA healthcare system for their care. It is critical that VA medical facilities in rural areas are given access to leadership development opportunities like the executive management fellowship program so that rural veterans benefit from them. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment, and I thank Representative Sewell for submitting it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to Representative Hanabusa's amendment, which would strike section 6 of the bill. Section 6 would allow the VA to noncompetitively reappoint a former VA employee to a position not more than one grade higher than their former position, as long as the employee left voluntarily within the prior 2 years, had a satisfactory performance record, and maintained necessary licensures and credentials. The former employees who would be helped by this section had performed admirably, left voluntarily, and gone on to gain relevant education or experience that the VA needs. They should be encouraged to come back to the VA and put their new skills to work for our veterans, not required to go through a lengthy competitive selection process at the VA for the second time. Striking this provision would deprive the VA of an authority that could be used to address access and other challenges by recruiting high-performing former employees back to VA employment. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in opposing this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative Buck's amendment, which would prevent former VA political appointees from receiving nonpolitical, competitively selected positions pursuant to section 6 of the bill without going through the proper competitive selection process. This amendment would prevent political appointees from inappropriately burrowing in across VA, and I am in full support of it. I thank Representative Buck for submitting this amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative Shea- Porter's amendment, which would require the VA to ensure that the recruiting database established by section 7 of the bill includes a list of open mental health positions. Though I am glad to report that, as of January, only 3,469 of VA's 45,360 vacant positions were specific to mental health, it is critical that the VA closely track to mental health vacancies on an ongoing basis so that they can be prioritized and filled to prevent any disruptions in care to our most vulnerable veterans. I am fully supportive of this amendment and grateful to Representative Shea-Porter for submitting it. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative Brownley's amendment, which would stipulate that the Government Accountability Office report on VA succession planning should include an assessment of succession planning at VA medical centers, domiciliary facilities, outpatient clinics, community-based outpatient clinics, and vet centers. I appreciate this clarifying amendment and my friend and colleague Representative Brownley, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, for submitting it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Representative Welch's amendment, which would ensure that the GAO report on VA succession planning includes an analysis of succession planning in rural areas. Rural facilities undoubtedly face unique challenges in recruiting and retaining employees and in planning effectively to ensure leadership continuity as employees retire or depart. I am glad that, with the adoption of this amendment, GAO will be reviewing these issues specifically and will be able to offer recommendations as to how VA can improve succession planning in rural areas where approximately 40 percent of our veterans reside. I appreciate Representative Welch for submitting this amendment, and I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Representative Gottheimer's amendments which would ensure that veterans who are recent graduates and/or recipients of the post-9/11 GI Bill are also eligible for excepted service appointments under section 12 of the bill. As a veteran and as the former chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, there are few things I support as strongly as assisting veterans in seeking and receiving employment opportunities, particularly in the Federal Government. The skill sets and commitment to service that veterans display while in uniform often make them particularly suited to government work once they transition to civilian life. The adoption of this amendment would provide yet another tool to support veterans looking to continue their service to our Nation, and I am grateful to Representative Gottheimer for submitting it. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Representative Hanabusa's amendment, which would tweak the report on exit surveys the VA is required to submit in section 13 of the bill to stipulate the VA provide the total number of employees who voluntarily separated from VA service and the percentage of those who took an exit survey. This information will be very helpful for Congress to receive in order to track how many employees are choosing to voluntarily leave the VA and are taking advantage of the opportunity to complete an exit survey prior to their departure. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment, and I am grateful to Representative Hanabusa for submitting it. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative Meng's amendment, which would encourage military medical professionals who are transitioning out of the Armed Forces to seek employment within the Veterans Health Administration. Wherever possible, the VA should be filling vacant positions at VA medical facilities with eligible, qualified veterans. And I am fully supportive of any amendment like this one that recognizes the highly specialized skills that many veterans gained while in uniform, skills that, in this case, could be used in service to fellow veterans by addressing access to care challenges across the country. I am grateful to Representative Meng for this important amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative Bost's amendment, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a plan to hire directors at each VA medical center that lacks a permanent director. Twenty-five percent of current VA medical center directors are eligible to retire, and the VA testified last year that it can take more than 6 months and multiple reannouncements to recruit new VA medical center directors. The VA must begin planning now to ensure that leadership at VA medical centers across the country remain stable and that medical center director vacancies are closely monitored and prioritized. The text of this amendment passed the House last year with unanimous support, and I am grateful to Representative Bost for submitting this amendment again this year to H.R. 1367. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative O'Rourke's amendment, which would allow the VA to offer physicians conditional job offers 2 years prior to the completion of their residency, and also require VA recruiters or other officials to visit each teaching institution with a residency program at least once a year. It is a great idea and one that I greatly appreciate. The VA's existing workforce is increasingly retirement-eligible, and, historically, the VA has performed poorly in comparison to other Federal agencies when it comes to hiring younger employees. By creating a pipeline of young, up-and-coming physicians willing to practice in VA medical facilities and committed to VA service, this amendment would help ensure that the VA healthcare system is fully staffed to care for our veterans for years to come. The text of this amendment passed the House last year as an amendment to H.R. 5620, and I am grateful to Representative O'Rourke for submitting it as an amendment to H.R. 1367 today. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.