On May 13, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health approved, by voice vote, legislation (H.R. 4231) to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses for veterans’ health care facilities and a bill (H.R. 4248) to reauthorize programs for homeless veterans.
Sponsored by Chair Rob Simmons (R-CT), H.R. 4231 would establish a pilot program designed to find effective ways to recruit and retain nurses in order to reduce the current nursing shortage. Prior to final approval, an amendment including provisions from a bill (H.R. 4020) sponsored by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) was approved by voice vote. The legislation would establish a program “to assist the States in hiring and retaining nurses at State veteran homes.”
H.R. 4248, a measure to reauthorize programs for homeless veterans, also was approved by voice vote. Before final approval, the subcommittee adopted, by voice vote, a substitute amendment by Rep. Simmons that incorporated legislation (H.R. 3849) sponsored by Ranking Member Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX). H.R. 3849, the Military Sexual Trauma Counseling Act of 2004, would give “permanent authority for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to continue to operate a program to provide counseling and treatment for veterans who while in the military experienced sexual trauma or sexual harassment.”
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will consider the legislation next week.
