Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 28, 2013

Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has in effect an up-to-date policy on reporting a notifiable infectious disease diagnosed at a VA facility in accordance with applicable state and local law, and (2) develop performance measures to assess whether and to what degree the directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) and VA medical centers are complying with such policy.

Requires the Secretary to enter into a contract with an independent third-party to: (1) assess the organizational structures of VA medical centers, and (2) improve succession planning among key leadership roles at VISN and VA medical centers.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC] · R–NC

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Oct 30, 2013
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.
Oct 28, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Oct 28, 2013
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Oct 28, 2013 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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Objective

Analyze S.1589 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 S.1589, 113th Congress: Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1589

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-10-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1589/BILLS-113s1589is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:39Z. 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 S.1589 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 S.1589 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 S.1589, 113th Congress: Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1589

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-10-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1589/BILLS-113s1589is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:39Z. 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 S.1589 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 S.1589 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.

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Discuss S.1589, 113th Congress: Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1589

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-10-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1589/BILLS-113s1589is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:39Z. 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 S.1589 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 S.1589 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 S.1589, 113th Congress: Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1589

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-10-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1589/BILLS-113s1589is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:39Z. 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 S.1589 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.