1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VHA REcruitment, HIring, and REtention Act of 2017 or VHA REHIRE Act of 2017 . 2. Enhancing the recruiting, hiring, and retention of health professionals by the VHA (a) Establishing the Department of Veterans Affairs Student Loan Repayment Program (1) In general Chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after subchapter VII the following new subchapter: VIII Student 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 Student Loan Repayment Program (in this chapter referred to as the Student Loan Repayment Program ). 7692. Purpose The purpose of the Student 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 health professional occupations for which recruitment or retention of qualified personnel is difficult. 7693. Eligibility Individuals eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program shall include any health professional hired under section 7401 of this title who is in an occupation described in section 7692 of this title. 7694. Term of obligated service In addition to any requirements under section 5379(c) of title 5, a participant in the Student Loan Repayment Program must agree, in writing and before the Secretary may make any payment to or for the participant, to serve as a full-time employee of the Veterans Health Administration for one calendar year for every $10,000 in such benefits that the employee receives, but in no case for less than three calendar years. 7695. Relationship to Educational Assistance Program Assistance under the Student Loan Repayment Program may be in addition to other assistance available to individuals under the Educational Assistance Program.