Management of information technology in Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

Resources, budget, and personnel authority of chief information officer

Section 310 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

(c)To support the economical, efficient, and effective execution of the information technology objectives, policies, and plans of the Department in support of Department goals, the Secretary shall ensure that the Chief Information Officer has the authority and control necessary for the development, approval, implementation, integration, and oversight of policies, procedures, processes, activities, and systems of the Department relating to the management of information technology for the Department, including the management of all related mission applications, information resources, personnel, and infrastructure. (d)(1)The Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer, shall develop, implement, and maintain a process for the selection and oversight of information technology for the Department. (2)As components of the development of the process required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall develop for the Department— (A)an information technology strategic plan that includes performance measurements; and (B)an integrated enterprise architecture. (3)The information technology strategic plan shall set forth a multiyear plan for the use of information technology and related resources to support the accomplishment of the Department’s mission. (4)The Chief Information Officer shall review and update the information technology strategic plan and the integrated enterprise architecture on an ongoing basis to maintain the currency of the plan and the currency of the enterprise architecture with technological changes and changing mission needs of the Department. (e)(1)Funds may be obligated for information technology for the Department only in accordance with the process implemented under subsection (d), as otherwise specifically authorized or delegated by the Chief Information Officer, or as otherwise directed by the Secretary. (2)(A)Amounts appropriated for the Department for any fiscal year that are available for information technology shall be allocated within the Department, consistent with the provisions of appropriations Acts, in such manner as may be specified by, or approved by, the Chief Information Officer. (B)If for any fiscal year amounts referred to in subparagraph (A) that are available for the Veterans Health Administration (or are otherwise available for functions relating to medical care) are to be allocated under subparagraph (A) in a manner that is inconsistent with the allocation method known as the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation, such allocation may be made only with the approval of the Secretary and after the Under Secretary for Health is notified. (3)When the budget for any fiscal year is submitted by the President to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that identifies amounts requested for information technology for the Department. The report shall set forth those amounts both for each Administration within the Department and for the Department in the aggregate and shall identify, for each such amount, how that amount is aligned with and supports the information technology strategic plan under subsection (d), as then in effect. (f)(1)The Chief Information Officer shall select the Chief Information Officer for each of the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. Any such selection may only be made after consultation with the Under Secretary with responsibility for the Administration for which the selection is to be made. (2)Each Administration Chief Information Officer selected under paragraph (1)— (A)shall be designated as a Department Deputy Chief Information Officer; and (B)shall report to the Department Chief Information Officer. (3)The Department Deputy Chief Information Officers are responsible for implementing in their respective Administrations, as directed by the Department Chief Information Officer, the information technology strategic plan and the integrated enterprise architecture developed for the Department by the Department Chief Information Officer pursuant to subsection (d)(2). (4)To accomplish the policies, programmatic goals, information technology system acquisitions, and alignments prescribed, authorized, or directed by the Department Chief Information Officer, each Department Deputy Chief Information Officer shall maintain, for their respective Administrations, operational control of all information technology system assets and personnel necessary, including direct management of the Administration’s software and applications development activities. (5)The Department Deputy Chief Information Officers— (A)shall be the principal advocate for the information technology needs of their respective Administrations; and (B)shall assure, by coordinating with the Department Chief Information Officer, that the business and mission needs of their respective Administrations are met by considering requirements at all levels. (g)(1)The Secretary shall ensure that the annual report submitted by the Secretary pursuant to section 11313 of title 40 includes an identification of any obligation approved by the Chief Information Officer under subsection (e)(1), including the date, amount, and purpose of such obligation. (2)The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives an annual report, not later than March 1 of each year (beginning in 2009), providing the Secretary’s assessment of the implementation during the year covered by the report of the provisions of subsections (c), (d), and (e). Each such report shall include— (A)the assessment of the Secretary as to increased efficiency within the Department of information technology acquisition processes, management, responsibility, and accountability as a result of those provisions; and (B)estimated cost savings to the Department as a result of those provisions. (h)In this section, the term information technology has the meaning given that term in paragraph (6) of section 11101 of title 40.

(b)

Reports to Congress on implementation

(1)

Periodic progress reports

(A)

Reports required

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress progress reports on the implementation of subsections (c), (d), and (e), of section 310 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). (B)

Time for progress reports

A report under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted as expeditiously as feasible after the end of the 60-day period, the 90-day period, and the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (C)

Matter to be included

Each report under this paragraph shall set out the progress to date on the implementation of the provisions specified in subparagraph (A). (2)

Interim reports

After the completion of the first 12 months, and after the completion of the first 18 months, of the implementation of the provisions specified in paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall submit to Congress an interim report on the operation of those provisions to that date. Each such report shall include the following: (A)The assessment of the Secretary as to increased efficiency within the Department of Veterans Affairs of information technology acquisition processes, management, responsibility, and accountability. (B)Estimated cost savings to the Department as a result of those provisions. (3)

Final implementation report

Not later than January 1, 2008, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final report on the implementation of the provisions specified in paragraph (1)(A). The Secretary shall include in that report the matters specified in paragraph (2) and the Secretary’s recommendation for any modifications to information technology management within the Department of Veterans Affairs.