135 STAT. 1491 PUBLIC LAW 117–67—NOV. 30, 2021 Public Law 117–67 117th Congress An Act To identify and refer members of the Armed Forces with a health care occupation who are separating from the Armed Forces for potential employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021’’. SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH A HEALTH CARE OCCUPATION FOR POTEN- TIAL EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DURING SEPARATION FROM THE ARMED FORCES. Section 207 of the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–46; 38 U.S.C. 7401 note) is amended to read as follows: ‘‘SEC. 207. IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH A HEALTH CARE OCCUPATION FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DURING SEPARATION FROM THE ARMED FORCES. ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in con- sultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a program to identify and refer members of the Armed Forces with a health care occupation for employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs during the separation of such members from the Armed Forces. ‘‘(b) REFERRAL OF INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a member of the Armed Forces identi- fied under subsection (a) expresses an interest in working in a health care occupation within the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall refer the member to a recruiter of the Department for consideration of open positions in the specialty and geography of interest to the member. ‘‘(2) TIMING.—Any referral of a member of the Armed Forces conducted under paragraph (1) shall be made not earlier than one year before the separation of the member from the Armed Forces. ‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Any identification of a member of the Armed Forces under subsection (a) or referral of such member under subsection (b) shall not be construed as a guarantee of Consultation. Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021. 38 USC 101 note. Nov. 30, 2021 [S. 894] VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:41 Dec 02, 2021 Jkt 029139 PO 00067 Frm 00001 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL067.117 PUBL067 dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with PUBLAWS 135 STAT. 1492 PUBLIC LAW 117–67—NOV. 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 894: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 167 (2021): July 21, considered and passed Senate. Nov. 15, considered and passed House. DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2021): Nov. 30, Presidential remarks. Æ employment of such member with the Department of Veterans Affairs. ‘‘(d) REPORTS.—Not later than each of one year and two years after the date of the enactment of the Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the program established under subsection (a). ‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: ‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—The term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means— ‘‘(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Com- mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and ‘‘(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Com- mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives. ‘‘(2) HEALTH CARE OCCUPATION.—The term ‘health care occupation’ means an occupation for which an individual may be appointed for employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 7401 of title 38, United States Code.’’. Approved November 30, 2021. VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:41 Dec 02, 2021 Jkt 029139 PO 00067 Frm 00002 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6580 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL067.117 PUBL067 dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with PUBLAWS