[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 55 (Monday, May 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
NEW ORLEANS VA BENEFITS OFFICE EMPLOYS OWN COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR GREATER 
                               EFFICIENCY

                                 ______


                      HON. G.V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 9, 1994

  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, before the now common buzzwords of 
modernization and reengineering came into fashion, the New Orleans 
Regional Office automated its Loan Guaranty Division using only in-
house resources. The director, Tony Lentini, in response to the 
burgeoning rating workload, took the initiative and directed his 
adjudication officer and IRM team to develop in-house a computer rating 
application. Unlike many contractor-developed products, the rating 
application, Word Assisted Rating System [WARS], was developed with 
involvement by rating specialists who would eventually use it. It was 
offered to any regional office that might benefit from its employment 
and has since been adopted for VBA-wide use. Its application at the New 
Orleans Regional Office not only improved quality of rating decisions, 
but also allowed Lentini to dismantle his typing pool and redistribute 
those valuable human resources to other functions in the regional 
office. The stations' philosophy under Lentini's leadership has been 
one of including employees, embracing technology, and of welcoming 
change.
  I want to recognize and pay tribute to the employees of the New 
Orleans VA Regional Office who are responsible for developing a program 
that will revolutionize the way VA rates disability claims. Testimony 
before our committee recently revealed that by the end of the year, 
more than 900,000 claims will be pending before the regional offices. 
VA is doing something to change the way it conducts its business and 
this is but one example of creative initiatives in the field that will 
help solve a major problem in claims adjudication.
  WARS is an automation tool for assisting Veterans Benefits 
Administration [VBA] employees in completing documents related to the 
disability claims within the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]. The 
software, which is fully compatible with the initial stage of VA's new 
computer modernization effort, leads rating specialists and other 
technicians through the steps in completing complex disability 
evaluations.
  The system automatically generates decision and appeal documents in 
the proper format. Users have at their disposal electronic text from 
the disability rating schedule as well as all of the pertinent laws and 
regulations related to disability claims. What separates this system 
from ordinary word processors is the structure. The system uses a 
decision tree approach in its organization which leads the user through 
the process. Simple keystroke answers generate much of the needed text 
for many rating decisions. In this way the documents are more 
consistent and many of the errors associated with traditional dictating 
systems are eliminated. Other electronic aids, such as medical 
dictionaries, are also part of the system. Operating in a windows 
environment allows the user to interface with other automated systems 
such as the Automated Medical Information System [AMIE] and gives great 
potential for future interfacing.

  In mid-1993 it became apparent that the need existed for interim 
solutions to automating rating document creation and that the voice 
recognition solution would be more of a long term possibility. Because 
of the major investment in system design and development in the voice 
recognition area, New Orleans VA Regional Office director, Anthony R. 
Lentini, directed his adjudication officer, Sandy Bowron, to lead a new 
effort to capitalize on that investment by converting the decision tree 
approach used in voice to a system that would be compatible with the 
new stage I equipment being delivered to field offices. The southern 
area director, James Maye, supported this initiative and authorized the 
assistance of Vernon Boggs from the Atlanta Regional Office. The result 
was a utilization of many of the same field office personnel who had 
worked together in the AMIE project, the voice project, and now the 
WARS project. With their efforts, they designed an application that 
retained much of the positive features of the voice system. At the New 
Orleans Regional Office, Ms. Denise Engolia and other IRM technicians 
began the labor-intensive task of reprogramming the system in stage I 
compatible software. By July 1993 the initial software, WARS, was ready 
for testing.
  During July 1993, the rating board at the New Orleans Regional Office 
began converting from the traditional methods for dictating rating 
decisions to the WARS system. This transition was completed during 
October 1993. As a direct result of this project, the New Orleans 
VARO's centralized transcription activity [CTA] was abolished and the 
personnel were reassigned to the Adjudication Division. In early 1994, 
the system was made available to all regional offices seeking to create 
rating documents using the stage I equipment.
  Finally, in March 1994, the Systems Development Service in Central 
Office accepted WARS as an interim solution to assist with the 
completion of rating documents and accepted responsibility for 
including WARS in the inventory of approved VBA applications. This is 
another example of meeting Vice President Gore's challenge to reinvent 
government by empowering employees to develop creative solutions for 
meeting customer needs.
  Mr. Speaker, there are a number of other new programs developed by 
regional offices that will enhance the VA's ability to deliver timely 
services to veterans. To all of those in the field and in Central 
Office who continue to work so diligently for our Nation's veterans, 
and especially to those in the New Orleans Regional Offices I have 
singled out for special recognition, I office congratulations and our 
thanks for what they are doing. We are very proud of them.

                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, 1994, may be found in the 
Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                                 MAY 11
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         Business meeting, to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-366
       Environment and Public Works
       Clean Air and Nuclear Regulation Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the possible health effects 
           to non-smokers of environmental tobacco smoke.
                                                            SH-216
     10:00 a.m.
       Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
         To hold hearings to examine the Administration's crop 
           insurance proposal.
                                                            SR-332
       Appropriations
       Interior Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the National Park Service, Department of 
           the Interior.
                                                    S-128, Capitol
       Armed Services
       Defense Technology, Acquisition, and Industrial Base 
           Subcommittee
         To resume hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Department of 
           Defense, and the future years defense program, focusing 
           on the Technology Reinvestment Program.
                                                            SR-222
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine discrimination in homeowners 
           insurance.
                                                            SD-538
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To resume hearings on S. 1822, to safeguard and protect 
           the public interest while permitting the growth and 
           development of new communications technologies, 
           focusing on electric utilities entry into 
           telecommunications.
                                                            SR-253
       Foreign Relations
         To hold hearings on the International Convention on the 
           Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Ex. 
           C, 95th Congress, 2nd Session).
                                                            SD-419
       Labor and Human Resources
         Business meeting, to mark up S. 1981, the Orphan Drug Act 
           Amendments, and S. 784, Dietary Supplement Health and 
           Education Act, and to consider pending nominations.
                                                            SD-430
     2:00 p.m.
       Armed Services
       Nuclear Deterrence, Arms Control, and Defense Intelligence 
           Subcommittee
         To resume hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Department of 
           Defense and the future years defense program, focusing 
           on the ballistic missile defense program.
                                                            SR-222
     2:30 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Treasury, Postal Service, General Government Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the General Services Administration.
                                                            SD-116

                                 MAY 12
     9:00 a.m.
       Armed Services
         To hold closed (SH-219) and open (SH-216) hearings on 
           United States military operations in Somalia during 
           United Nations Operations in Somalia II (UNOSOM II).
                                                            SH-219
       Office of Technology Assesment Board meeting, to consider 
           pending business.
                                                   EF-100, Capitol
     9:30 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Transportation Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to review the proposed plan to make 
           independent the air traffic control services of the 
           Federal Aviation Administration.
                                                            SD-138
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings on the Environmental Protection Agency's 
           proposed renewable oxygenate standard.
                                                            SD-366
       Rules and Administration
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Federal Election 
           Commission.
                                                            SR-301
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Corporation for National and 
           Community Service.
                                                            SD-106
       Appropriations
       Legislative Branch Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for Architect of the Capitol.
                                                            SD-116
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To continue hearings on S. 1822, to safeguard and protect 
           the public interest while permitting the growth and 
           development of new communications technologies, 
           focusing on long-distance services.
                                                            SR-253
       Labor and Human Resources
         To hold hearings on S. 1964, to authorize funds to States 
           for programs for worker reemployment and retraining.
                                                            SD-430
       Labor and Human Resources
       Education, Arts and Humanities Subcommittee
         Business meeting, to mark up S. 1513, authorizing funds 
           for programs of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
           Act.
                                                            SD-430
     1:30 p.m.
       Armed Services
       Coalition Defense and Reinforcing Forces Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine United Nations peace 
           operations.
                                                            SD-628
     2:00 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense, focusing on C-
           17.
                                                            SD-192
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Public Lands, National Parks and Forests Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 1549, to revise the Act 
           establishing Golden Gate National Recreation Area to 
           provide for the management of the Presidio by the 
           Secretary of the Interior, and S. 1639, to provide for 
           the management of the portions of the Presidio under 
           the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.
                                                            SD-366
     2:30 p.m.
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
       Securities Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the impact of the U.S. 
           Supreme Court Decision in Central Bank of Denver v. 
           First Interstate Bank of Denver.
                                                            SD-538
       Small Business
       Export Expansion Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine export assistance efforts for 
           small business.
                                                           SR-428A
       Joint Printing
         Business meeting, to consider the financial position of 
           the Government Printing Office, and related measures.
                                                    S-324, Capitol

                                 MAY 13
     9:30 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Foreign Operations Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for foreign assistance programs, focusing on 
           the global land mines crisis.
                                                            SH-216
       Appropriations
       Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Departments of Labor, Health and 
           Human Services, and Education.
                                                            SD-192
       Governmental Affairs
       Regulation and Government Information Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on adjusting poverty data for 
           differences in cost-of-living.
                                                            SD-342

                                 MAY 16
     4:00 p.m.
       Foreign Relations
         To hold hearings on the nomination of Joseph R. Paolino, 
           Jr., of Rhode Island, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
           of Malta.
                                                    S-116, Capitol

                                 MAY 17
     9:30 a.m.
       Governmental Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine issues relating to bomb 
           exports in the 1990's.
                                                            SD-342
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense, focusing on 
           environmental programs.
                                                            SD-192
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         Business meeting, to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SR-253
     2:30 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Foreign Operations Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for foreign assistance programs.
                                                            SD-138
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for the earthquake disaster program.
                                                            SR-253
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Public Lands, National Parks and Forests Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 112, to establish the Hudson River 
           Artists National Historical Park in the State of New 
           York, S. 1660 and H.R. 3498, bills to establish the 
           Great Falls Historic District, S. 1683, to authorize 
           the Secretary of the Interior to provide funds for the 
           Palisades Interstate Park Commission for acquisition of 
           land in the Sterling Forest area of New York/New Jersey 
           Highlands Region, and S. 1999, to establish the Lower 
           East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site.
                                                            SD-366

                                 MAY 18
     10:00 a.m.
       Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
         To resume hearings on S. 1614, authorizing funds through 
           fiscal year 1998 for programs of the Child Nutrition 
           Act and the National School Lunch Act.
                                                            SR-332

                                 MAY 19
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense.
                                                            SD-192
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Veteran's Affairs, and 
           the Selective Service System.
                                                            SD-106
     2:00 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Public Lands, National Parks and Forests Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on H.R. 3252, to provide for the 
           conservation, management, or study of certain rivers, 
           parks, trail and historic sites, and H.R. 4034, to 
           revise the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 
           1978 to authorize grants for the expansion of 
           recreation opportunities for at risk youth in urban 
           areas with a high prevalence of crime.
                                                            SD-366

                                 MAY 20
     9:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Departments of Veteran's Affairs and 
           Housing and Urban Development, and independent 
           agencies.
                                                            SD-138

                                 MAY 24
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings on the science concerning global climate 
           change.
                                                            SD-366
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense, focusing on 
           strategic programs.
                                                            SD-192
     2:30 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Foreign Operations Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for foreign assistance programs, focusing on 
           export promotion.
                                                            SD-138

                                 MAY 25
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Interior Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of the Interior.
                                                    S-128, Capitol

                                 MAY 26
     9:30 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To hold hearings on S. 1350, to revise the Earthquake 
           Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to provide for an 
           expanded Federal program of hazard mitigation and 
           insurance against the risk of catastrophic natural 
           disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and 
           volcanic eruptions.
                                                            SR-253
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings to examine policy options for the 
           disposition of excess weapons plutonium.
                                                            SD-366
       Rules and Administration
         Business meeting, to mark up S. 1824, Legislative 
           Reorganization Act, H.R. 877, Smithsonian National 
           African American Museum, an original bill authorizing 
           appropriations for fiscal year 1995 for the Federal 
           Election Commission, S. Res. 196, printing resolution 
           for Aging Committee, an original resolution authorizing 
           the purchase of 1995 wall calendars, H. Con. Res. 222, 
           authorizing acceptance and placement of a bust in the 
           Capitol, and other legislative business.
                                                            SR-301
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the National Aeronautics and Space 
           Administration.
                                                            SD-106

                                 JUNE 8
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Interior Subcommittee
         To hold hearings proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Energy.
                                                    S-128, Capitol
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine water quality and quantity 
           problems and opportunities facing the lower Colorado 
           River area.
                                                            SD-366

                                 JUNE 9
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To continue hearings on water quality and quantity 
           problems and opportunities facing the lower Colorado 
           River area.
                                                            SD-366

                             CANCELLATIONS

                                 MAY 10
     10:30 a.m.
       Foreign Relations
         To resume hearings on the Convention on the Prohibition 
           of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of 
           Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, opened for 
           signature and signed by the United States at Paris on 
           January 13, 1993 (Treaty Doc. 103-21).
                                                            SD-419