[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5001-H5002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PRINCIPLES OF BENEFITS AUTOMATION ACT
Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 7153) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit
to Congress a plan to modernize the information technology systems of
the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7153
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 ``Department of Veterans
Affairs Principles of Benefits Automation Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs should increase automation in the processing of
claims for benefits under the laws administered by the
Secretary in accordance with the following principles:
(1) The purpose of automation should be to increase the
speed and accuracy of claims processing decisions.
(2) Automation should be conducted in a manner that
enhances the productivity of employees of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
(3) Automation should be carried out in a manner that
achieves greater consistency in the processing and rating of
claims by relying on patterns of similar evidence in claim
files.
(4) To the greatest extent possible, automation should be
carried out by drawing from information in the possession of
the Department, other Government agencies, and claimants for
benefits.
(5) Automation of any claims process or determination
should not be end-to-end.
(6) Employees of the Department should continue to make
decisions with respect to the approval of claims and the
granting of benefits.
(7) Automation should not be carried out in a manner that
reduces or infringes upon--
(A) the due process rights of claimants for benefits under
the laws administered by the Secretary; or
(B) the duties of the Secretary to assist and notify
claimants.
(8) Automation should be carried out while taking all
necessary measures to protect the privacy of claimants and
their personally identifiable information.
(9) Automation of claims processing should not eliminate or
reduce the Veterans Benefits Administration workforce.
SEC. 3. PLAN FOR MODERNIZATION OF VETERANS BENEFITS
ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to appropriate congressional committees a plan
for the modernization of the information technology systems
of the Veterans Benefits Administration. The plan shall cover
the first fiscal year that begins after the date of the
enactment of this Act and the subsequent four fiscal years
and shall include each of the following:
(1) An identification of any information system to be
modernized or retired, if applicable, during the period
covered by the plan.
(2) A description of how the Secretary intends to
incorporate the principles referred to in section 2 into the
modernization of such information systems.
(3) An identification of targets, for each fiscal year, by
which the Secretary intends to complete the modernization of
each information system or major component or functionality
of such system identified under paragraph (1).
(4) Cost estimates for the modernization of each
information system identified under paragraph (1) for each
fiscal year covered by the plan and in total.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee
on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee
on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
[[Page H5002]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Trone) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. TRONE. 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. 7153, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7153, as amended, the
Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Benefits Automation Act,
introduced by Ranking Member Bost.
This bill provides clarification on the sense of Congress on the
automation of benefits claims and requires the VA to submit to Congress
a plan for modernization of the information technology systems of the
Veterans Benefits Administration.
As the VA moves toward greater automation, we must ensure that the VA
does automation the right way for all stakeholders, including both
veterans and the workforce. It is also important for the VA to identify
systems in need of modernization to support successful implementation
of bills, such as the PACT Act, and important initiatives such as the
Secretary's announcement of several new presumptions.
I will reinforce that. On the topic of automation, it is not the
intent of Congress or the VA to use automation on claims to eliminate,
reduce, or contract out the duties of the VBA workforce. We intend to
conduct close oversight of the use of automation and potential
expansion. This bill is part of those efforts.
When implemented in the right way, automation has the potential to
reduce the day-to-day burden of employees by diminishing menial tasks
and allowing the dedicated VA staff to focus on the kind of work that
truly needs a human touch. Such an approach stands to benefit the
ultimate consumer of the VA: our veterans.
Madam Speaker, I support this bill and encourage my colleagues to
support it as well, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 7153, the
Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Benefits Automation Act.
The VA is embracing automation more than ever before. The early
results are promising. When used properly, automation can improve
claims processing for veterans. However, I am concerned that the VA has
already started multiple automation projects without a clear plan or
measurable goals. There is no consistent guidance from the VA on when,
why, or how automation should be used.
H.R. 7153 will establish the sense of Congress that the VA should
increase automation in benefits processing, according to certain
principles. Automation should increase the speed, accuracy, and
consistency of claims processing. Automation should also enhance
employee productivity. Automation should always protect veterans'
privacy and preserve their rights to due process.
However, automation should not necessarily eliminate or reduce the
VBA workforce. Employees should always make the final decision about
approving claims and granting benefits. Let me be clear: The sense of
Congress is that automation should enhance and support VBA employees,
not replace them. I think these guiding principles will improve the
claims process for veterans and beneficiaries.
Finally, my bill will require VA to submit a plan to Congress to
modernize its benefits IT system over the next 5 years. This plan is
crucial.
The expansion of benefits for toxic-exposed veterans will put an
incredible strain on these IT systems. We need to be ready.
Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 7153, 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 New Jersey (Mr. Trone) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 7153, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the
yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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