[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 131 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT 
                            IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 17, 2005

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing legislation, along 
with Ranking Member Evans and other distinguished Members of the 
Committee, will introduce legislation that will mandate the Department 
of Veterans' Affairs to empower the Department's Chief Information 
Officer with authority over resources, budget and personnel related to 
information technology for the Department.
  Since coming to Congress in 1993, I have witnessed this Committee 
struggle with VA's inability to adequately manage its IT funding and IT 
modernization efforts.
  While there have been significant improvements in VA's IT 
modernization efforts, the improvements have come at significant cost 
to our Veterans: $600 million plus for a decade of VETSNET--the 
automated compensation and pension claims processing system that still 
has not been implemented in 10 years. $342 million for CoreFLS--the 
failed financial management system. $300 million for the HR Links--the 
failed automated personnel system. $485 million annually to maintain 
VISTA, VA's 25-year-old medical information system.
  This legislation, the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Information 
Technology Management Improvement Act'' will ensure accountability in 
VA IT spending, and reorganize VA's IT infrastructure to better serve 
our nation's veterans.

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