,i  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #agga  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,m>* #bi1 #bjag,mr4   
,bilirakis 7= himself1 ,mrs4 ,mc,morris 
,rodg]s1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mr4 ,duncan (    
,t5nessee1 & ,mr4 ,gaetz7 introduc$ !   
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committee on             
,appropriations1 = a p]iod to be        
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to improve !       
organization ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs1 to ensure ! accuracy ( heal?  
c>e data us$ by ! ,dep>tm5t1 & = o!r    
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,,va ,guidance =           
,organizational ,re=m & ,data ,integrity
 = ,acc\ntability ,ne$s ,key = ,necess>y
 & ,optimal ,trans=mation ,act or ! ,,va
 ,,gordian ,,knot ,act4  #b4            
,organization ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs  7a7 ,indep5d5t assessm5t  7#a7

 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs %all seek to ent] into an      
agreem5t ) an indep5d5t entity to       
conduct an assessm5t ( ! organization ( 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7#b7  
,elem5ts ,! assessm5t "u p>agraph 7#a7  
%all include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,:e!r !     
curr5t organization ( ! ,dep>tm5t is    
conducive to meet+ ! p]=mance goals ( ! 
,dep>tm5t4  7,b7 ,an id5tification ( !  
mission /atem5t & function ( ea* elem5t 
( ! ,dep>tm5t1 includ+ :e!r any su*     
elem5ts h duplicative functions4  7,c7  
,id5tification ( ! /r5g?s & weaknesses (
 ! curr5t organization4  7,d7 ,h[ _m    
full-"t equival5t positions1 includ+ )  
respect to s5ior executives1 are 9 ea* (
 ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration1 !   
,national ,cemet]y ,adm9i/ration1 & !   
,c5tral ,(fice4  7,e7 ,a description ( !
 hi]>*y 9 ea* elem5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t4     
7,f7 ,an evaluation ( ! co/ to !        
,dep>tm5t ( provid+ hospital c>e &      
m$ical s]vices to vet]ans at m$ical     
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t z comp>$ to !  

co/ ( pay+ = su* c>e & s]vices furni%$  
by a non-,dep>tm5t provid] pursuant to !
 ,vet]ans ,*oice ,program e/abli%$ by   
section #aja ( ! ,vet]ans ,access1      
,*oice1 & ,acc\ntability ,act ( #bjad   
7#ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agja note7 or o!r       
provision ( law au?oriz+ non-,dep>tm5t  
hospital c>e or m$ical s]vices4  7,g7   
,to assi/ 9 develop+ a long-t]m         
su/a9able capital asset plann+ process1 
id5tification ( und]us$ facilities ( !  
,dep>tm5t t1 if clos$ or dispos$ (1 w\ld
 n negatively affect ! heal? c>e or     
b5efits provid$ to vet]ans4  7,h7 ,)    
respect to ! facilities describ$ 9      
subp>agraph 7,e71 a plan to engage      
vet]an populations1 vet]an s]vice       
organizations1 & o!r organizations &    
/akehold]s t "w ) vet]ans to id5tify su*
 facilities & det]m9e :e!r vet]ans h !  
ability to seek s]vices by non-,dep>tm5t
 provid]s "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !       
,secret>y4  7#c7 ,submission ,n lat] ?an
 "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !      

,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate !    
assessm5t "u p>agraph 7#a74  7b7 ,/atus 
( organization ,n lat] ?an ,octob] #a ( 
#bjbj1 & annually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y  
%all-- 7#a7 ei!r--  7,a7 update !       
organizational /ructure ( ! ,(fice ( !  
,secret>y1 ! ,vet]ans ,heal?            
,adm9i/ration1 ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits      
,adm9i/ration1 & ! ,national ,cemet]y   
,adm9i/ration to ensure t su* /ructure  
is be/ able to provide b5efits to       
vet]ans2 or  7,b7 c]tify to !           
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate t su*
 /ructure does n require su* updates2 & 
7#b7 make publically available su*      
update or c]tification1 z ! case may be1
 includ+ cle> organizational *>ts ( !   
,(fice ( ! ,secret>y1 ! ,vet]ans ,heal? 
,adm9i/ration1 ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits      
,adm9i/ration1 & ! ,national ,cemet]y   
,adm9i/ration4  #c4 ,improvem5ts to hir+
 & reta9+ employees  7a7 ,improvem5ts to
 hir+  7#a7 ,hir+ plan ,! ,secret>y (   

,vet]ans ,affairs %all ensure t ea*     
m$ical facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs1 includ+ community bas$       
outpati5t cl9ics1 has a hir+ plan to    
address ! heal? c>e ne$s ( ! facility4  
7#b7 ,%>+ ( in=mation ,! ,secret>y %all 
e/abli% a sy/em t li/s ea* vacant       
position 9 a m$ical facility ( !        
,dep>tm5t t is cov]$ "u ! hir+ plan "u  
p>agraph 7#a74 ,if ! ,secret>y det]m9es 
t an applicant = su* a vacant position  
is qualifi$ = ! position b is n select$ 
= ! position1 ! ,secret>y may consid] ! 
applicant = o!r simil> positions li/$ 9 
! sy/em4  7#c7 ,data ,! ,secret>y %all  
keep records on-- 7,a7 ! am\nt ( "t a   
vacant position describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7
 rema9s unfill$2  7,b7 positions t h be5
 vacant = a prolong$ p]iod & su*        
vacancy-- 7i7 is relat$ to a :i/lebl[]  
case2 &  7ii7 has affect$ ! ability ( ! 
,dep>tm5t to provide quality & timely   
heal? c>e ( vet]ans2 &  7,c7 :e!r an    
employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t :o transf]s f "o 
m$ical facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t to ano!r  

su* facility 0 reprim&$1 plac$ on       
adm9i/rative leave1 or appeal$ an       
allegation at ! previ\s position ( !    
employee )9 ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#d7          
,submission ,^u ! reque/ ( ei!r !       
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives or ! ,committee 
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate1 !     
,secret>y %all submit to ! committee !  
records specifi$ 9 p>agraph 7#c74  7b7  
,exit int]views ,! ,secret>y %all ensure
 t ea* employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t :o        
volunt>ily sep>ates f ! ,dep>tm5t is    
af=d$ ! opportunity to complete an      
int]view 9 ord] = ! ,secret>y to        
asc]ta9--  7#a7 ! reason ! employee is  
sep>at+2  7#b7 ! op9ion ( ! employee )  
respect to be+ employ$ at ! ,dep>tm5t2 &
  7#c7 ways 9 :i* ! ,secret>y c bett]   
improve ! ret5tion ( employees ( !      
,dep>tm5t4  #d4 ,integrity ( heal? c>e  
data  7a7 ,c]ta9 def9itions ,section    
#gcaa ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
is am5d$ by ins]t+ at ! end ! foll[+ new
 subsection3  7f7 ,= purposes ( det]m9+ 

! validity ( heal? c>e data collect$    
pursuant to ?is section or any o!r      
provision ( law reg>d+ ! employees ( !  
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration1 !        
,secret>y %all develop /&>d def9itions  
=--  7#a7 ! actions t con/itute !       
manipulation ( data reg>d+ s*$ul+       
appo9tm5ts = heal? c>e2 &  7#b7 ! ways 9
 :i* su* employees are held acc\ntable =
 su* manipulation4  4  7b7 ,v]ification 
( data  7#a7 ,designation ,! ,secret>y (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs %all ensure t a s+le 
position 9 ea* (fice describ$ 9 p>agraph
 7#b7 is designat$ z be+ responsible =  
v]ify+ ! accuracy ( ! data report$ f su*
 (fice to a sup]ior (fice4  7#b7 ,(fice 
describ$ ,an (fice describ$ 9 ?is       
p>agraph is ea* ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,a     
m$ical facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs4  7,b7 ,a ,vet]ans ,integrat$ 
,s]vice ,network4  7,c7 ,a regional     
(fice ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits             
,adm9i/ration4  7,d7 ,! c5tral (fice ( !
 ,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration4  7c7  
,assessm5t  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y  

%all seek to ent] into an agreem5t ) an 
indep5d5t1 non-gov]nm5tal entity to     
assess :e!r ?is section1 & ! am5dm5t    
made by ?is section1 improves ! accuracy
 ( data ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs4  7#b7 ,submission ,n lat] ?an 
"o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is   
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !      
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate !    
assessm5t conduct$ "u p>agraph 7#a74    
7d7 ,report ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] !   
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees  
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (       
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a report     
conta9+--  7#a7 a /udy on-- 7,a7 ! data 
collect$ or us$ by ! ,vet]ans ,heal?    
,adm9i/ration & ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits     
,adm9i/ration1 includ+ data t !         
,secret>y1 z ( ! date ( ! /udy1 all[s to
 be self-report$ by ! appropriate (fice2
 &  7,b7 :at metrics ! ,secret>y %\ld be
 us+ to track su* data2  7#b7 an        
implem5tation plan to correct any       

vuln]abilities reg>d+ ! accuracy ( su*  
data2  7#c7 a description ( !           
,dep>tm5t-wide m9imal /&>ds & guidel9es 
to reprim& employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t :o   
kn[+ly provide false in=mation to ,f$]al
 inve/igators or :o kn[+ly provide      
inaccurate in=mation :5 te/ify+ be=e a  
committee ( ,congress2 &  7#d7 an       
id5tification ( ! recomm5dations reg>d+ 
data integrity1 in=mation te*nology1    
organizational re=ms1 managem5t         
improvem5ts1 or hir+ & reta9+ employees 
report$ by or made by ! indep5d5t       
assessm5t "u section #bja ( ! ,vet]ans  
,access1 ,*oice1 & ,acc\ntability ,act (
 #bjad 7,public ,law #aac-adf2 #abh     
,/at4 #agfi71 ! ,commission on ,c>e1 !  
,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & 
! ,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs t1 z ( ! date ( !     
report1 h n be5 implem5t$1 & a plan to  
implem5t su* recomm5dations & track !   
progress ( su* implem5tation4  7e7 ,/udy
 ( co/s  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all
 conduct a /udy to det]m9e ! co/s to !  

,unit$ ,/ates relat+ to (ficials &      
employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs manipulat+ heal? c>e data1     
provid+ neglig5t managem5t1 & retaliat+ 
aga9/ :i/lebl[]s1 dur+ ! five-ye> p]iod 
prec$+ su* /udy4  7#b7 ,elem5ts ,! /udy 
"u p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! foll[+3 
7,a7 ,! am\nt ( money t ! ,f$]al        
,gov]nm5t has sp5t1 by fiscal ye>1 on   
settlem5ts 7includ+ confid5tial         
settlem5ts7 ) :i/lebl[]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t4 
7,b7 ,! numb] ( h\rs t employees ( !    
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t h sp5t to def5d !      
,dep>tm5t 9 adm9i/rative or judicial    
proce$+s ) respect to employees ( !     
,dep>tm5t accus$ ( manipulat+ heal? c>e 
data1 provid+ neglig5t managem5t1 or    
retaliat+ aga9/ :i/lebl[]s4  7,c7       
,ob/acles prev5t+ ! ,secret>y f demot+1 
remov+1 or t]m9at+ an employee ( !      
,dep>tm5t bas$ on p]=mance or           
misconduct4  7#c7 ,submission ,n lat]   
?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !  
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   

,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a    
report conta9+ ! /udy "u p>agraph 7#a74 
#e4 ,publication ( wait times  7a7      
,publication ( wait times ,! ,secret>y (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs %all make publically 
available on ! ,int]net website ( !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ! curr5t  
wait times = a vet]an enroll$ 9 ! heal? 
c>e sy/em e/abli%$ "u section #agje7;a7 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to    
receive an appo9tm5t = heal? c>e at a   
m$ical facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs4 ,su* wait "t %all be         
categoriz$ by prim>y c>e1 specialty c>e1
 & m5tal heal? s]vices & include an     
explanation on ! metrics us$ to det]m9e 
su* wait times4  7b7 ,transp>5cy ,!     
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all seek 
to ent] into an agreem5t ) ! ,comptroll]
 ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates or an         
indep5d5t entity to conduct an assessm5t
 ( ! accuracy ( ! wait times publi%$ "u 
subsection 7a74 ,! ,secret>y %all publi%
 in=mation reg>d+ su* assessm5t on !    
,int]net website describ$ 9 subsection  

7a74  7c7 ,wait "t def9$ ,9 ?is section1
 ! t]m wait "t means1 ) respect to a    
vet]an receiv+ an appo9tm5t at a m$ical 
facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs1 ! p]iod beg9n+ on ! date on   
:i* ! vet]an fir/ reque/s su* appo9tm5t 
& end+ on ! date on :i* su* appo9tm5t   
occurs4  #f4 ,transf] au?ority  7a7 ,9  
g5]al ,*apt] #a ( title #ch1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft]   
section #aag ! foll[+ new section3      
#aag;,a4 ,transf] au?ority  7a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,9 addition to any o!r provision ( law 
au?oriz+ ! transf] ( am\nts by !        
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 9 any    
fiscal ye> 9 :i* !re is a %ortfall1 !   
,secret>y may transf] cov]$ am\nts to   
acc\nts ( ! ,dep>tm5t = purposes (      
mitigat+ or remov+ su* %ortfall4  7b7   
,notification ,9 any fiscal ye> 9 :i*   
!re is a %ortfall & ! ,secret>y does n  
make a transf] "u subsection 7a71 !     
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committees  
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (       
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate ju/ifications

 = n mak+ su* transf]4  7c7 ,def9itions 
,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]m cov]$ am\nts
 means am\nts made available to !       
,secret>y = aw>ds or bonuses "u *apt]   
#de or #ec ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 or any o!r aw>ds or bonuses      
au?oriz$ "u su* title or ?is title4     
7#b7 ,! t]m %ortfall means ! ev5t1 z    
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y1 t ! funds made  
available to ! ,secret>y = a fiscal ye> 
are n suffici5t to provide ! b5efits "u 
! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y or       
o!rwise c>ry out ! responsibilities ( ! 
,dep>tm5t dur+ any p]iod ( su* fiscal   
ye>4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table (
 sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt] is    
am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to   
section #aag ! foll[+ new item3         
#aag;,a4 ,transf] au?ority4  4