I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1506 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 10, 2017 Mr. O'Rourke (for himself, Mr. Bost , Ms. Judy Chu of California , and Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum amount of education debt reduction available for health care professionals employed by the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Health Care Provider Education Debt Relief Act of 2017 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Veterans Health Administration suffers from personnel shortages. (2) It is essential that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs work to correct such shortages, focusing on health professional shortage areas designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (3) To correct such shortages, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should aggressively exercise the authority under section 7683 of title 38, United States Code, to reduce the education debt of health care providers employed by the Veterans Health Administration. 3. Increased maximum education debt reduction for health care professionals employed by the Veterans Health Administration Section 7683(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking $120,000 and inserting $150,000 ; and (B) by striking $24,000 and inserting $30,000 ; and (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking all that follows who and inserting works in a geographical area that the Secretary of Health and Human Services has designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254e ) as a health professional shortage area with regards to the specialty or assignment of the participant. .