; and (B) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study carried out under subparagraph (A). (2) Considerations In carrying out the study required by paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider the following: (A) The total number of vacancies within the Veterans Health Administration whose applicants are eligible to participate in the Education Debt Reduction Program pursuant to section 7682(a) of such title. (B) The types of medical professionals in greatest demand in the United States. (C) Projections by the Secretary of the numbers and types of medical professions that meet the needs of veterans. 303. Establishing the Department of Veterans Affairs Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (a) In general Chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after subchapter VII the following new subchapter: VIII Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program 7691. Establishment As part of the Educational Assistance Program, the Secretary may carry out a student loan repayment program under section 5379 of title 5. The program shall be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (in this chapter referred to as the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program ). 7692. Purpose The purpose of the Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program is to assist, through the establishment of an incentive program for certain individuals employed in the Veterans Health Administration, in meeting the staffing needs of the Veterans Health Administration for physicians in medical specialties for which the Secretary determines recruitment or retention of qualified personnel is difficult. 7693. Eligibility; preferences