,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #bfed  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bd1 #bjad,ms4   
,l&rieu introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
require ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
to conduct outrea* to vet]ans reg>d+ !  
effect ( c]ta9 delay$ paym5ts by !      
,secret>y1 to require ! ,secret>y to    
submit to ,congress an annual report    
reg>d+ su* delay$ paym5ts1 & = o!r      
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,vet]ans' ,cr$it           
,protection ,act4  #b4 ,outrea* to      
vet]ans reg>d+ effect ( delay$ paym5ts  
by ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks
  7a7 ,outrea*  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!        
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
conduct outrea*1 includ+ ?r\gh national 
& local vet]ans s]vice organizations1 to
 in=m vet]ans ( h[ to resolve cr$it     
issues caus$ by a delay$ paym5t4  7#b7  
,ability to report issues ,! ,secret>y  
%all e/abli% a toll-free telephone numb]

 = vet]ans to report cr$it issues       
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 to ! ,vet]ans  
,integrat$ ,s]vice ,networks ( !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7b7     
,annual report  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat]   
?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act1 & n less frequ5tly ?an        
annually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all      
submit to ,congress a report on !       
effectiv5ess ( ea* ,vet]ans ,integrat$  
,s]vice ,network 9 provid+ timely paym5t
 ( a prop] invoice by ! requir$ paym5t  
date dur+ bo? ! five-ye> p]iod prec$+ ! 
date ( ! report & ! "o-ye> p]iod prec$+ 
su* date4  7#b7 ,elem5ts ,ea* report    
requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all include1 =
 ea* p]iod cov]$ by ! report1 ! foll[+3 
7,a7 ,! numb] ( vet]ans :o contact$ !   
,secret>y reg>d+ a delay$ paym5t t      
negatively affect$1 or w pot5tially     
negatively affect1 ! cr$it ( ! vet]an4  
7,b7 ,! total am\nt ( int]e/ p5alties   
paid by ! ,secret>y "u section #cijb (  
title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 by      
reason ( a delay$ paym5t4  7,c7 ,! numb]

 ( prop] invoices submitt$1 li/$ 9 a    
table = ea* qu>t] & fiscal ye> ( ea* su*
 p]iod t includes ! foll[+3 7i7 ,! total
 am\nt ow$ by ! ,secret>y "u ! prop]    
invoices4  7ii7 ,! paym5t /atus ( ea*   
prop] invoice1 z ( ! date ( ! report4   
7iii7 ,! p]iod t elaps$ until ea* prop] 
invoice 0 paid1 includ+ an explanation (
 any delay$ paym5t4  7,d7 ,su* comm5ts  
made by m$ical provid]s reg>d+ delay$   
paym5ts to su* m$ical provid]s t !      
,secret>y has receiv$ & consid]s        
relevant4  7,e7 ,an id5tification ( !   
,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,network ) !
 lea/ numb] ( delay$ paym5ts & !        
,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,network ) !
 mo/ numb] ( delay$ paym5ts4  7,f7 ,a   
description ( ! be/ practices t a       
,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,network c  
c>ry out to provide timely paym5t ( a   
prop] invoice1 includ+ a plan =         
und]p]=m+ ,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice   
,networks to improve su* timely paym5ts4
  7c7 ,comptroll] ,g5]al /udy  7#a7 ,9  
g5]al ,! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$  

,/ates %all conduct a /udy t assesses ! 
effectiv5ess ( ea* ,vet]ans ,integrat$  
,s]vice ,network 9 provid+ timely paym5t
 ( a prop] invoice by ! requir$ paym5t  
date4  7#b7 ,submittal ,! ,comptroll]   
,g5]al %all submit to ,congress a report
 on ! /udy conduct$ "u p>agraph 7#a71   
includ+ ! total am\nt ( int]e/ p5alties 
paid by ! ,secret>y "u section #cijb (  
title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 by      
reason ( a delay$ paym5t4  7d7          
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,delay$
 paym5t ,! t]m delay$ paym5t means a    
prop] invoice t is n paid by ! ,secret>y
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs until aft] !       
requir$ paym5t date4  7#b7 ,prop]       
invoice ,! t]m prop] invoice has ! mean+
 giv5 t t]m 9 section #cija7;a7 ( title 
#ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#c7 ,requir$
 paym5t date ,! t]m requir$ paym5t date 
means ! date t paym5t is due = a        
contract pursuant to section #cijc7;a7 (
 title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#d7  
,vet]ans s]vice organization ,! t]m     
vet]ans s]vice organization means an    

organization recogniz$ by ! ,secret>y = 
! repres5tation ( vet]ans "u section    
#eijb ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4