Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 3.djvu/687

 PUBLIC LAW 100-527—OCT. 25, 1988

102 STAT. 2639

(i) the conduct of and accountability for any acquisitions made pursuant to a delegation of authority under section 759 of title 40, United States Code; (ii) the implementation of all applicable government-wide and Department information policies, principles, standards, and guidelines with respect to information collection, paperwork reduction, privacy and security of records, sharing and dissemination of information, acquisition and use of information technology, and other information resource management functions; (iii) the periodic evaluation of and, as needed, the planning and implementation of improvements in the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of data and records contained within Department information systems; and (iv) the development and annual revision of a five-year plan for meeting the Department's information technology needs; and (C) report to the Secretary as required by section 3506 of title 44, United States Code. (e) DESIGNATION OF FUNCTIONS PRIOR TO CONFIRMATION.—When-

Reports. President of U.S.

ever the President submits the name of an individual to the Senate for confirmation as Assistant Secretary under this section, the President shall state the particular functions of the Department such individual will exercise upon taking office. (f) CONTINUING PERFORMANCE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FUNCTIONS PENDING CONFIRMATION.—An individual who, on the effective date

of this Act, is performing any of the functions required by this section to be performed by an Assistant Secretary of the Department may continue to perform such functions until such functions are assigned to an individual appointed under this Act as an Assistant Secretary of the Department. SEC. 5. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. (a) EsTABusHMENT OF POSITIONS.—There shall be in the Department of Veterans Affairs such number of Deputy Assistant Secretaries, not exceeding 18, as the Secretary may determine. (b) APPOINTMENTS.—Each Deputy Assistant Secretary— (1) shall be appointed by the Secretary; and (2) shall perform such functions as the Secretary shall prescribe. (c) MINIMUM NUMBER OF DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARIES WITH CONTINUOUS SERVICE IN CIVIL SERVICE.—(1) At legist two-thirds of

the number of positions established under subsection (a) and filled under subsection (b) shall be filled by individuals who have at least 5 years of continuous service in the Federal civil service in the executive branch immediately preceding their appointment under subsection (b) as a Deputy Assistant Secretary. (2) For purposes of determining the continuous service of an individual pursuant to paragraph (1), there shall not be included any service by such individual in a position— (A) of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; (B) in which such individual served as a noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as such term is defined in section 3132(a)(7) of title 5, United States Code; or (C) to which such individual was appointed by the President, with or without the advice and consent of the Senate.

38 USC 201 note.

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