Get Veterans a Doctor Now Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 16, 2016

Get Veterans a Doctor Now Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer a contingent physician's appointment to a person who, upon completion of a post-graduate training program, completes a residency program within two years after the VA offer.

Eligibility requirements for a VA physician's appointment, including a contingency appointment, are revised to require completion of a residency program rather than an internship.

The VA shall ensure that a recruiter or other similar official of each Veterans Integrated Service Network visits, at least annually, each allopathic and osteopathic teaching institution with a graduate medical education program within the Network to recruit individuals for the Veterans Health Administration.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16] · D–TX

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

9 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 27, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 16, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jun 16, 2016
Introduced in House
Jun 16, 2016
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 16, 2016 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5501 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.5501, 114th Congress: Get Veterans a Doctor Now Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5501

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-06-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5501/BILLS-114hr5501ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:12Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5501 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5501 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.5501, 114th Congress: Get Veterans a Doctor Now Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5501

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-06-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5501/BILLS-114hr5501ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:12Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5501 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5501 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5501, 114th Congress: Get Veterans a Doctor Now Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5501

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-06-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5501/BILLS-114hr5501ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:12Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5501 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5501 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5501, 114th Congress: Get Veterans a Doctor Now Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5501

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-06-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5501/BILLS-114hr5501ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:11:12Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5501 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.