[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 180 (Tuesday, November 12, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8751-H8753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REDUCING HIGH RISK TO VETERANS AND VETERANS SERVICES ACT
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4477) to direct the Secretary
[[Page H8752]]
of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a plan to address certain
high risk areas identified by the Comptroller General of the United
States regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs in the 2019 High-
Risk List of the Government Accountability Office, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4477
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Reducing High Risk to
Veterans and Veterans Services Act''.
SEC. 2. REPORT AND PLANNED ACTIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ADDRESS CERTAIN HIGH-RISK
AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, in consultation with the Comptroller General of the
United States, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report
outlining the plan the Secretary has developed and the
actions the Secretary has taken to address the areas of
concern identified by the Comptroller General for the
Department of Veterans Affairs in the 2019 High-Risk List of
the Government Accountability Office (GAO-19-157SP)
regarding--
(1) acquisition management; and
(2) managing risks and improving health care.
(b) Elements.--The report under subsection (a) shall
include each of the following:
(1) Root causes of the areas of concern described in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
(2) Corrective actions and specific steps to address each
root cause, including--
(A) the progress of the Secretary in implementing those
actions and steps; and
(B) timelines and milestones the Secretary determines
feasible to complete each corrective action.
(3) Resources the Secretary determines are necessary to
implement corrective actions, including--
(A) funding;
(B) stakeholders;
(C) technology; and
(D) senior officials responsible for implementing the
corrective actions and reporting results.
(4) Metrics for assessing progress in addressing the areas
of concern described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection
(a).
(5) Key outcomes that demonstrate progress in addressing
the areas of concern described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subsection (a).
(6) Obstacles to implementation of the plan that the
Secretary identifies.
(7) Recommendations of the Secretary regarding legislation
or funding the Secretary determines necessary to implement
the plan.
(8) Any other information the Secretary determines is
relevant to understanding the progress of the Department
toward the removal of the areas of concern from the High Risk
List.
(c) Annual Updates.--
(1) Update required.--Not less than once each year during
the implementation period under paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall submit to Congress an update regarding implementation
of each element of the plan under subsection (b).
(2) Implementation period.--The implementation period
described in this paragraph begins on the date on which the
Secretary submits the report required under subsection (a)
and ends on the earlier of the following dates:
(A) The date on which the Comptroller General removes the
last area of concern for the Department from the most recent
High-Risk List of the Government Accountability Office.
(B) The date that is eight years after the date on which
the Secretary submits the plan required under subsection (a).
SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON
IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS OF
COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES
PERTAINING TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Annual Report Required.--Not later than 270 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less than once
during each of the subsequent three years, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives and to the
Comptroller General of the United States a report on the
implementation of priority recommendations of the Comptroller
General that pertain to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(b) Contents.--Each report submitted under subsection (a)
shall include, for the period covered by the report, the
following:
(1) The progress of the Secretary in implementing all open
priority recommendations of the Comptroller General for the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) An explanation for each instance where the Secretary
has decided not to implement, or has not fully implemented,
an open priority recommendation of the Comptroller General
for the Department.
(3) A summary of the corrective actions taken and remaining
steps the Secretary plans to take to implement open priority
recommendations of the Comptroller General.
(c) Supplement Not Supplant Certain Required Reports or
Written Statements.--The report under this section shall not
be construed to supplant any report or written statement
required under section 720 of title 31, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P.
Roe) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 4477, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4477, as amended, the
Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act.
The Government Accountability Office provides important oversight
across the Federal Government. As Congress' investigative arm, GAO
audits and examines Department of Veterans Affairs programs and
spending. The Comptroller General and his staff provide hundreds of
recommendations on how to improve services and benefits. However, too
often, GAO recommendations are ignored by the Department.
H.R. 4477, as amended, is bipartisan legislation offered by the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations' Chairman Pappas and
Ranking Member Bergman that seeks to address, in a systematic manner,
GAO's most notable and important findings and recommendations.
The act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a plan
to address the two areas within VA identified as high risk by the
Government Accountability Office. These are the Veterans Health
Administration and acquisition management.
Every 2 years, the Government Accountability Office releases its
High-Risk List of Federal Government programs most vulnerable to fraud,
waste, abuse, or mismanagement.
Included in 2015, the Veterans Health Administration, the largest
healthcare system in the country, remains on GAO's 2019 list.
This was the first year that VA acquisition management was placed on
the High-Risk List as a result of inefficient use of acquisition
funding and staffing resources, as well as numerous contracting
challenges. VA's acquisition management is vital to VA's functioning
because of its role in medical supplies procurement and construction,
both of which relate directly to VA's ability to serve veterans and
provide quality medical care.
The Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act requires
the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to address the two
areas within VA identified as high risk by the Government
Accountability Office.
{time} 1630
This plan will address the root causes of why these programs are at
high risk and include specific timelines to correct the problems. VA
will report to Congress on progress and ongoing challenges. The
Department will also provide their views on whether Congress needs to
take legislative action or provide additional resources.
This bill has the support of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign
Wars, and the DAV. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 4477, as amended, the Reducing High
Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act. This bill was introduced by
Congressman Chris Pappas from New Hampshire and my good friend,
Congressman Jack Bergman from Michigan, the chairman and ranking
member, respectively, of the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigation.
Every 2 years, the Government Accountability Office, the GAO,
publishes its High-Risk List identifying those activities that are
considered high risk due to their vulnerabilities to fraud, waste,
abuse, and mismanagement or that need transformation. GAO added
managing risks and improving Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare
to
[[Page H8753]]
its High-Risk List in 2015, and it remains there today.
Last Congress, the committee held a roundtable discussion with
representatives from VA and GAO to address VA's progress towards
addressing GAO's concerns. While it takes an agency, on average, 7
years to be removed from the list, VA has demonstrated little progress.
Additionally, GAO added that VA Acquisition Management to its 2019
list.
H.R. 4477, as amended, would require VA to develop a plan of action
to address deficiencies in acquisition management and healthcare that
led GAO to place VA on their High-Risk List in 2015 and again in 2017
and again in 2019. It would also incorporate a provision under H.R.
698, a bill introduced by Representative Jim Banks of Indiana, to
direct VA to report on its efforts to address GAO's priority
recommendations and GAO's top 30 open recommendations.
Our Nation's veterans and taxpayers deserve a VA that is high
performing and that acts quickly to address areas of concern as they
arise. This help will help ensure that they get it done.
I am grateful to Congressman Pappas and General Bergman for
sponsoring this bill, which has my full support, but I would be remiss
if I did not point out that this is another bill that did not go
through regular order.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am
prepared to close.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to
yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan
(Mr. Bergman), a lieutenant general--and for those of you all who don't
know what that is, it is three stars; I only made it to a major--to
describe his bill.
Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, basically, when you have three stars, it
just means you outlasted a lot of folks. But the point is the honor of
being able to serve among marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen, and
coastguardsmen is enough to make us all swell with pride because, you
know, yesterday was Veteran's Day, and it is a real special day
thanking the veterans of all wars for their service to our country.
I rise today in support of H.R. 4477, as amended, the Reducing High
Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act, a bill introduced by
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Chris Pappas and co-
led by myself.
Every 2 years, GAO publishes its High-Risk List identifying those
activities which are considered high risk due to their vulnerabilities
to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement or their need for
transformation. Sometimes things don't always stay the same, and we
need to move forward with the change.
As Ranking Member Roe stated, GAO added managing risks and improving
VA healthcare to its list in 2015 and added VA Acquisition Management
in 2019. This past May, the Comptroller General of the United States
testified before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, where I
am proud to serve as ranking member, concerning the Department's
efforts to add GAO recommendations.
Comptroller General Dodaro testified during the hearing: ``I want to
emphasize hardly any area in the high-risk area gets off the list
without sustained congressional oversight, as well, and action by the
Congress. The engagement by the Congress is absolutely critical to the
success of agencies coming off the High-Risk List.''
The intent of this bill is to focus VA on its efforts to remove these
two programs from GAO's High-Risk List and give Congress the
information needed to provide the sustained congressional oversight the
Comptroller General said was absolutely necessary and needed to remove
programs from the High-Risk List.
H.R. 4477 was amended in committee to incorporate provisions of H.R.
698, a bill introduced by Representative Banks, which would require VA
to report on its efforts to implement GAO's priority recommendations
for VA.
I strongly encourage all Members to support H.R. 4477, as amended.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members
to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 4477, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4477, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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