H.R.5890

            I 

116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 5890 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the Chaplain Service 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 
Mr. BANKS (for himself and Mr. LAMBORN) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the 

Chaplain Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1

tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2

SECTION 1. REORGANIZATION OF CHAPLAIN SERVICE OF 3

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 4

(a) CHAPLAIN SERVICE.— 5

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 6

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 7

following new section: 8

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•HR 5890 IH

‘‘§ 324. Chaplain Service 1

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Department 2

a Chaplain Service for the provision of religious pastoral 3

care, which may include clinical services by chaplains. 4

‘‘(b) CHIEF OF CHAPLAIN SERVICES.—(1) The head 5

of the Chaplain Service shall be the Chief of Chaplain 6

Services (in this section referred to as the ‘Chief’), who 7

shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 8

and consent of the Senate. 9

‘‘(2) The Chief shall report directly to the Secretary. 10

‘‘(3)(A) The Chief shall oversee the Chaplain Service 11

and shall be the proponent for, and coordinate with the 12

Secretary on, all guidance pertaining to pastoral care, 13

faith-based programs and instruction, and any policy or 14

guidance pertaining to religion or religious accommoda-15

tion. 16

‘‘(B) All appropriate offices of the Department will 17

coordinate with the Chief on best practices to implement 18

guidance or policy pertaining to religion or religious ac-19

commodation. 20

‘‘(4) The office of the Chief shall be colocated with 21

the Central Office of the Department. 22

‘‘(c) PASTORAL SERVICES.—(1) A chaplain in the 23

Chaplain Service shall provide religious pastoral services 24

and care, which may include clinical services as a part of 25

their pastoral duties, across all of the components of the 26

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•HR 5890 IH

Department set forth in section 301(c) of this title, as the 1

Secretary and the Chief consider appropriate. 2

‘‘(2) A chaplain in the Chaplain Service may be hired 3

under section 7401(5) of this title for the provision of clin-4

ical services. 5

‘‘(3) A chaplain described in paragraph (2) shall be 6

considered an employee of the Chaplain Service and shall 7

furnish services across the Department as a whole, includ-8

ing the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans 9

Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Ad-10

ministration. 11

‘‘(4) The Chief shall coordinate with the Under Sec-12

retary for Health on the furnishing of clinical services by 13

chaplains described in paragraph (2). 14

‘‘(d) PROTECTION OF CHAPLAIN SERVICES.—The 15

Secretary may not require a chaplain in the Chaplain 16

Service to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony that is 17

contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious 18

beliefs of such chaplain. 19

‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue regu-20

lations implementing the protections afforded by this sec-21

tion.’’. 22

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-23

tions at the beginning of chapter 3 of such title is 24

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•HR 5890 IH

amended by adding at the end the following new 1

item: 2

‘‘324. Chaplain Service.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 3

(1) CONFORMING AMENDMENT FOR OFFICE OF 4

THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH.—Section 5

7306 of such title is amended— 6

(A) by striking subsection (e); and 7

(B) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-8

section (e). 9

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT REGARDING AP-10

POINTMENT OF CHAPLAINS FOR PROVISION OF CLIN-11

ICAL SERVICES.—Section 7401 of title 38, United 12

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 13

following new paragraph: 14

‘‘(5) Chaplains with demonstrated ability in the 15

provision of clinical services.’’. 16

Æ 

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		Superintendent of Documents
	2020-02-20T20:56:02-0500
	US GPO, Washington, DC 20401
	Superintendent of Documents
	GPO attests that this document has not been altered since it was disseminated by GPO