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H.R. 4231: Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2004

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H.R. 4231: Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2004

108th Congress · introduced 2004-04-28 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Received in the Senate.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2004-04-28 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Simmons, Rob [R-CT-2] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 483 (2004): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR4231 (2004-09-30), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2004

Plain summary

Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate a health care service region, or section within such a region, in which health care facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs are adversely affected by a shortage of qualified nurses, and to conduct a pilot program in such region or section on the use of innovative human-capital tools and techniques in the recruitment of qualified nurses for such positions. Requires the Secretary, as part of the pilot program, to: (1) identify and use private-sector nurse recruitment practices that have proven effective; and (2) revise procedures and systems to reduce the length of the hiring process. Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the extent to which the pilot program achieved the goal of improving the recruitment and retention of nurses in Department health-care facilities. Authorizes the Secretary, with respect to appointed nurses, to provide: (1) a three 12-hour day work schedule, with authorized overtime after a 36-hour workweek; (2) a seven day, 10-hour work schedule for each two-week period, with authorized overtime after working 80 hours within such period; and (3) a nine-month work period with three months off, with such nurses paid at 75 percent of the full-time rate. Includes dental hygienists, dental assistants, and blind rehabilitation specialists within those positions which the Secretary is authorized to make appointments. Authorizes the Secretary to make payments to States to assist State homes in the hiring and retention of nurses and the reduction of nursing shortages at State homes. Limits payment amounts. Requires, from each State home receiving such assistance, an annual report to the Secretary on the use of such funds. Removes the requirement that the Department's Under Secretary for Health be a doctor of medicine.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2004

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Simmons, Rob [R-CT-2] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4231, Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2004 (2004-06-09); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4231, Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2004 (2004-06-09)

Cosponsors on this site

Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)

Agencies named in this bill

Found automatically: the agency's full official name appears in the bill title. A bill can affect agencies it does not name, so this list may be incomplete.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr4231 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108