#aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dcfj ,,an ,,act ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to improve the due process accorded veterans with respect to recovery of overpayments made by the ,department and other amounts owed by veterans to the ,united ,states1 to improve the processing of veterans benefits by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,va ,overpayment ,accountability ,act4 #b4 ,repair of credit 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #ec of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #ecbj4 ,correction of erroneous information submitted to consumer reporting agencies 7a7 ,correcting errors by the ,department ,in any case in which the ,secretary finds that the ,department has submitted erroneous information to a consumer reporting agency about the indebtedness of any person who has been determined by the ,secretary to be indebted to the ,united ,states by virtue of the participation of that person in a benefits program administered by the ,secretary1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 instruct the consumer reporting agency to remove such erroneous information from the consumer report of such person or take such other action as may be required to ensure that such erroneous information is not included in the report of such person2 and 7#b7 transmit to the consumer reporting agency such information as the consumer reporting agency may require to take such appropriate actions4 7b7 ,correcting errors by debt collectors ,in any case in which the ,secretary finds that a debt collector acting on behalf of the ,department has submitted erroneous information to a consumer reporting agency about the indebtedness of any person who has been determined by the ,secretary to be indebted to the ,united ,states by virtue of the participation of that person in a benefits program administered by the ,secretary1 the ,secretary shall instruct the debt collector to request the consumer reporting agency remove such erroneous information from the consumer report of such person or take such other action as may be required to ensure such erroneous information is not included in the report of such person4 7c7 ,notice ,not later than #fj days after the date on which the ,secretary issues an instruction under subsection 7a77#a7 or 7b7 with respect to a person1 the ,secretary shall notify the person that the ,secretary issued such instruction4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the terms consumer report and consumer reporting agency have the meanings given such terms in section #fjc of the ,fair ,credit ,reporting ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afha;a74 7#b7 ,the term debt collector has the meaning given such term in section #hjc of the ,fair ,debt ,collection ,practices ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afib;a74 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #ec of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item3 #ecbj4 ,correction of erroneous information submitted to consumer reporting agencies4 4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act and shall apply with respect to deductions made under section #ecad of such title1 administrative costs under section #ecae of such title1 and suits filed under section #ecaf of such title on or after such date4 #c4 ,improved processing of benefits by ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall improve the information technology of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 7including the e,benefits system or successor system7 as may be necessary to achieve the following3 7#a7 ,notification of debts incurred ,the ,secretary shall provide a notification to a person who-- 7,a7 is entitled to a payment from the ,secretary under a benefits program administered by the ,secretary2 7,b7 incurs a debt to the ,united ,states under that benefits program2 and 7,c7 elects to receive such notifications4 7#b7 ,review of information regarding dependents ,a person entitled to a payment from the ,secretary under a benefits program administered by the ,secretary may review information relating to dependents of that person4 7#c7 ,tracking metrics ,the ,secretary shall be able to track-- 7,a7 the number and amount of payments made by the ,secretary to a person entitled to a payment from the ,secretary under a benefits program administered by the ,secretary who incurs a debt to the ,united ,states under such program2 7,b7 the average debt to the ,united ,states incurred by a person described in subparagraph 7,a72 7,c7 how frequently the ,secretary approves and denies applications for relief under section #ecjb7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2 and 7,d7 such other metrics the ,secretary determines appropriate4 #d4 ,audit of erroneous payments by ,veterans ,benefits ,administration2 plan of correction 7a7 ,audit ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall complete an audit to determine the following3 7#a7 ,the frequency by which the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs makes an error that results in a payment to a person by virtue of such person's participation in a benefits program administered by the ,secretary that such person is not entitled to or in an amount that exceeds the amount to which the person is entitled4 7#b7 ,whether and to what degree vacant positions in the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration affect such frequency4 7b7 ,plan ,not later than #cj days after the completion of the audit under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and ,house of ,representatives a plan and description of resources necessary to align information technology systems to ensure that errors described in subsection 7a77#a7 are not the result of communication or absence of communication between information technology systems4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,november #ab1 #bjai4;,clerk4