in education and training program for health personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 207. Assignment to Department of Veterans Affairs of commissioned officers of the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service. Sec. 208. Holding Department of Veterans Affairs leaders accountable for addressing systemic human capital challenges at the Veterans Health Administration. Sec. 209. Report on effects of hiring freeze ordered by the President on January 23, 2017. Sec. 210. Report on plan of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a reduction in force at the Department of Veterans Affairs through attrition. Sec. 211. Transparency regarding staffing levels of nurses employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and report on pay for such nurses. Sec. 212. Employment of police officers and firefighters by Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 213. Study on communications within the management of the Veterans Health Administration. I Recruitment and hiring matters 101. Improved authorities for hiring of students and recent graduates by Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Direct hiring into competitive service (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 718. Student and recent graduate direct hiring into competitive service (a) Hiring authority Without regard to sections 3309 through 3318, 3327, and 3330 of title 5, the Secretary may recruit and appoint qualified recent graduates and current post-secondary students to competitive service positions within the Department. (b) Limitation on appointments Subject to subsection (c)(2), the total number of employees appointed by the Secretary under subsection (a) during a fiscal year may not exceed the number equal to 15 percent of the number of hires made into professional and administrative occupations of the Department at the GS–11 level and below (or equivalent) under competitive examining procedures during the previous fiscal year. (c) Regulations (1) The Secretary shall