[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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