United States · Law · S
S. 1156 (108th)
Veterans Health Care, Capital Asset, and Business Improvement Act of 2003
Introduced
23 May 2003
Last action
6 December 2003 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 108-170.
Sponsors
Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA], Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Subjects
Healthcare, Defence
Source updated
29 May 2026
Summary
Department of Veterans Affairs Long-Term Care and Personnel Authorities Enhancement Act of 2003 - Extends through 2008: (1) the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat noninstitutional extended care services as medical services; and (2) the requirement that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provide nursing home care to veterans in need of such care who have service-connected disabilities rated at 50 (currently 70) percent or more. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into agreements for furnishing nursing home and adult day health care in non-Department facilities; and (2) carry out specified major medical facility projects. Adds various health care personnel to personnel that may be appointed by the Secretary if found necessary for the medical care of veterans. Allows the Secretary to appoint such personnel on a temporary, part-time, or without-compensation basis. Allows employees of the Veterans' Canteen Service to be considered for appointment in Department positions in the competitive service in the same manner as Department employees in the competitive service are considered for transfer to the Service. Revises effective dates with respect to the treatment for retirement annuity purposes of certain part-time service of VHA health professionals. Makes permanent the authority of the Secretary to use contract physicians to perform Department disability examinations (currently a pilot program).
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
23 May 2003
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7154-7155)
Source: IntroReferral
23 May 2003
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7154)
Source: IntroReferral
23 May 2003
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
29 July 2003
Committee
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 108-623.
Source: Committee
30 September 2003
Reported
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
10 November 2003
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 383.
Source: Calendars
10 November 2003
Reported
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Specter with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 108-193.
Source: Committee
10 November 2003
Reported
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Specter with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 108-193.
Source: Committee
19 November 2003
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
19 November 2003
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
19 November 2003
Reported
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S15123-15133; text as reported in Senate: CR S15123-15126)
Source: Floor
19 November 2003
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Floor
21 November 2003
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
21 November 2003
Vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 2 (Roll no. 658). (text: CR H12137-12143)
Source: Floor
21 November 2003
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 2 (Roll no. 658).(text: CR H12137-12143)
Source: Floor
21 November 2003
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H12137-12157)
Source: Floor
21 November 2003
Vote
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Source: Floor
21 November 2003
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1156.
Source: Floor
21 November 2003
Floor
Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Source: Floor
25 November 2003
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
25 November 2003
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
6 December 2003
Became law
Became Public Law No: 108-170.
Source: President
6 December 2003
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
6 December 2003
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
- Public Law · 6 December 2003 · Download file
- Engrossed in Senate · 19 November 2003 · Download file
- Reported to Senate · 10 November 2003 · Download file
- Introduced in Senate · 23 May 2003 · Download file
Documents
12 official files
Enrolled Bill (text)
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Leesvertaling
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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 6 December 2003
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 6 December 2003
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Public Law
summary · EN · 6 December 2003
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 19 November 2003
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Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 19 November 2003
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 10 November 2003
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 10 November 2003
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 23 May 2003
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 23 May 2003
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 23 May 2003
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Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY] · R · Cosponsor
- · hsvr00 · Standing
- · ssva00 · Standing
Related records
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- related to → To name the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic located in New London, Connecticut, as the "John P. McGuirk Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic".
- related to → To name the health care facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 820 South Damen Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the "Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center".
- related to → VA Medical Workforce Enhancement Act of 2003
- related to → To authorize certain major medical facility projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- related to → To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs health care for certain Filipino World War II veterans residing in the United States.
- related to → Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2003
- related to → Department of Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Employment Act
- amends ← To amend the title.
- amends ← To propose a substitute.
Showing 10 of 14 related records.
Related across the Repo ecosystem
Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.
Direct relationships
- Legal framework · Veterans Health Care, Capital Asset, and Business Improvement Act of 2003 · S. 1156 (108th) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 108-s-1156 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Veterans Health Care, Capital Asset, and Business Improvement Act of 2003
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1156
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/108/s/1156
- us · 108-s-1156 · source updated 29 May 2026