A bill to permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reorganize the Veterans Health Administration notwithstanding the notice and wait requirements of section 510 of title 38, United States Code, and to amend title 38, United States Code, to facilitate the reorganization of the headquarters of the Veterans Health Administration.

Committee on Veterans. Hearings held.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 13, 1996

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, notwithstanding the requirement for congressional notification and a waiting period, to proceed with a reorganization of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs as described in the Secretary's letter and plan submitted to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on March 17, 1995. Removes: (1) certain offices, services, and Director positions from the VHA as part of the reorganization; and (2) the requirement that the Associate Deputy Chief Medical Director be a qualified doctor of medicine. Allows only two of the Assistant Under Secretaries for Health to be persons qualified in the administration of health services who are not doctors of medicine, dental surgery, or dental medicines.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY] · R–WY

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

0 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.

May 23, 1996
Committee on Veterans. Hearings held.
May 13, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans.
May 13, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4974)
May 13, 1996
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 · May 13, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1748 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1748, 104th Congress: A bill to permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reorganize the Veterans Health Administration notwithstanding the notice and wait requirements of section 510 of title 38, United States Code, and to amend title 38, United States Code, to facilitate the reorganization of the headquarters of the Veterans Health Administration.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1748

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1748/BILLS-104s1748is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:12Z. 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 S.1748 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.1748 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1748, 104th Congress: A bill to permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reorganize the Veterans Health Administration notwithstanding the notice and wait requirements of section 510 of title 38, United States Code, and to amend title 38, United States Code, to facilitate the reorganization of the headquarters of the Veterans Health Administration.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1748

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1748/BILLS-104s1748is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:12Z. 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 S.1748 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.1748 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 S.1748, 104th Congress: A bill to permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reorganize the Veterans Health Administration notwithstanding the notice and wait requirements of section 510 of title 38, United States Code, and to amend title 38, United States Code, to facilitate the reorganization of the headquarters of the Veterans Health Administration.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1748

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1748/BILLS-104s1748is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:12Z. 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 S.1748 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.1748 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.1748, 104th Congress: A bill to permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reorganize the Veterans Health Administration notwithstanding the notice and wait requirements of section 510 of title 38, United States Code, and to amend title 38, United States Code, to facilitate the reorganization of the headquarters of the Veterans Health Administration.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1748

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1748/BILLS-104s1748is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:12Z. 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 S.1748 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.