,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #gca ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #aa1 #bjba,mr4 ,tester 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,moran1 ,ms4 ,sinema1 and ,mrs4 ,blackburn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to improve the management of information technology projects and investments of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,information ,technology ,reform ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,management of major information technology projects 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #ha of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter3 ,,vi ,information technology projects and activities #haga4 ,definitions ,in this subchapter3 7#a7 ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and the ,subcommittee on ,military ,construction1 ,veterans ,affairs and ,related ,agencies of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and the ,subcommittee on ,military ,construction1 ,veterans ,affairs and ,related ,agencies of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,the term information technology has the meaning given that term in section #aaaja of title #dj4 7#c7 ,the term information technology project means a project or program of the ,department 7including a project or program of any element of the ,department7 for1 or including1 the acquisition or implementation of an information technology system4 7#d7 ,the term life cycle costs means all direct and indirect costs to acquire1 implement1 operate1 and maintain an information technology system4 7#e7 ,the term major information technology project means an information technology project if-- 7,a7 the project is designated-- 7i7 by the ,secretary or the ,chief ,information ,officer of the ,department as a major information technology project2 or 7ii7 by the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget as a major information technology investment1 as defined in section #aacjb of title #dj2 7,b7 the dollar value of the project or program is estimated by the ,secretary to exceed-- 7i7 #ej1jjj1jjj 7as adjusted for inflation pursuant to section #aijh of title #da7 for all project costs in a single fiscal year2 7ii7 #bjj1jjj1jjj 7as adjusted for inflation pursuant to section #aijh of title #da7 for all project acquisition or implementation costs for the duration of the project2 or 7iii7 #ejj1jjj1jjj 7as adjusted for inflation pursuant to section #aijh of title #da7 for the total life cycle costs of the project2 or 7,c7 any increment of the project separately meets the requirements of subparagraphs 7,a7 or 7,b74 #hagb4 ,management of major information technology projects 7a7 ,cost1 schedule1 and performance information 7#a7 ,the ,secretary may not obligate or expend funds for any major information technology project that begins after the date of the enactment of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,information ,technology ,reform ,act of #bjba unless the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief ,information ,officer of the ,department1 submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing information on the cost1 schedule1 and performance of such project4 7#b7 ,each report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 for a project shall include1 with respect to such project1 the following3 7,a7 ,an estimate of acquisition1 implementation1 and life cycle costs4 7,b7 ,an intended implementation schedule indicating significant milestones1 initial operating capability1 and full operating capability or completion4 7,c7 ,key business1 functional1 and performance objectives4 7b7 ,baseline 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall use the information on the cost1 schedule1 and performance of a major information technology project included in the report under subsection 7a7 as the baseline against which changes or variances are measured during the life cycle of such project4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 annually update the baseline of a major information technology project pursuant to subsection 7c72 and 7,b7 include such updated baseline in the documents providing detailed information on the budget for the ,department that the ,secretary submits to ,congress in conjunction with the ,president's budget submission pursuant to section #aaje of title #ca4 7c7 ,changes and variances 7#a7 ,not later than #fj days after the date on which the ,secretary identifies a change or variance described in paragraph 7#b7 in the cost1 schedule1 or performance of a major information technology project1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief ,information ,officer1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of such change or variance1 including a description and explanation for such change or variance4 7#b7 ,a change or variance in the cost1 schedule1 or performance of a major information technology project described in this paragraph is-- 7,a7 with respect to the acquisition1 implementation1 or life cycle cost of the project1 or an increment therein1 a change or variance that is #aj percent or greater compared to the baseline2 7,b7 with respect to the schedule for achieving a significant milestone1 initial operating capability1 or final completion of the project1 a change or variance that is #ahj days or greater compared to the baseline2 or 7,c7 with respect to the performance1 an instance where a key business1 functional1 or performance objective is not attained1 or is not anticipated to be attained1 in whole or in part4 7d7 ,management ,the ,secretary shall ensure that each major information technology project is managed by an interdisciplinary team consisting of the following3 7#a7 ,a project manager who is-- 7,a7 certified in project management at level three by the ,department or the ,department of ,defense pursuant to section #agja;a of title #aj1 or who holds an equivalent certification by a private sector project management certification organization1 as determined appropriate by the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 an employee of the ,office of ,information and ,technology of the ,department or an employee of an element of the ,department at which the project originates4 7#b7 ,a functional lead who is an employee of the element of the ,department at which the project originates4 7#c7 ,a technical lead who is an employee of the ,office of ,information and ,technology of the ,department4 7#d7 ,a contracting officer4 7#e7 ,sufficient other project management1 functional1 technical1 and procurement personnel as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 #hagc4 ,information technology activities of the ,financial ,services ,center 7a7 ,management ,consistent with sections #aacjb and #aacai of title #dj-- 7#a7 the ,chief ,information ,officer of the ,department shall-- 7,a7 exercise authority over the management1 governance1 and oversight processes relating to information technology of the ,financial ,services ,center of the ,department1 or such successor office2 and 7,b7 supervise the information technology employees and contractors of the ,financial ,services ,center2 and 7#b7 the ,director of the ,financial ,services ,center of the ,department1 or the head of such successor office1 may not enter into a contract or other agreement for information technology or information technology services unless the contract or other agreement has been reviewed and approved by the ,chief ,information ,officer4 7b7 ,oversight ,the ,chief ,information ,officer shall have oversight and operational authority over all information security practices of the ,financial ,services ,center of the ,department4 #hagd4 ,submission of annual reviews of information technology 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief ,information ,officer of the ,department1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees each annual review of the information technology portfolio of the ,department conducted pursuant to section #aacai7;d77#c7 of title #dj4 7b7 ,first submission ,the first annual review submitted under subsection 7a7 shall include a copy of each previous annual review conducted under section #aacai7;d77#c7 of title #dj4 #hage4 ,information technology matters to be included in budget justification materials for the ,department 7a7 ,list of information technology projects in effect 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that whenever the budget justification materials are submitted to ,congress in support of the ,department budget for a fiscal year 7as submitted with the budget of the ,president for such fiscal year under section #aaje7;a7 of title #ca71 such budget justification materials include a list of every information technology project currently in effect at the ,department4 7#b7 ,each list included under paragraph 7#a7 shall include1 for each information technology project included in the list1 the following3 7,a7 ,the expenditures to date4 7,b7 ,planned expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year4 7,c7 ,the scheduled completion date4 7,d7 ,any known deviation from the schedule1 such as whether the information technology project is behind schedule4 7,e7 ,the planned or actual functionality delivered4 7b7 ,prioritized list of unfunded projects 7#a7 ,in addition to the list included in the budget justification materials required by subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall ensure that the budget justification materials described in such subsection also include a prioritized list1 in rank order1 of every proposed project of the ,department that is unfunded as of the time of the inclusion of the list under this paragraph4 7#b7 ,in producing the list required by paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 ensure such list represents a ranking of all proposed projects that reflects the needs of all components of the ,department2 7,b7 produce one unified list for the entire ,department that shows how the various proposed projects of each of the components of the ,department rank in priority with the projects of the other components of the ,department2 and 7,c7 ensure that the list-- 7i7 does not disaggregate and rank projects based on component of the ,department2 and 7ii7 does identify the component of the ,department requesting the information technology project4 7#c7 7,a7 ,in producing each list under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall prioritize and rank each information technology project based on an assessment of each of the following factors3 7i7 ,tangible benefits to veterans created or produced by the information technology project4 7ii7 ,operational or efficiency benefits to employees of the ,department created or produced by the information technology project4 7iii7 ,the cost of the information technology project4 7iv7 ,the cost savings or cost avoidance yielded by the information technology project4 7v7 ,time to completion of the information technology project4 7vi7 ,the difficulty of the information technology project1 the likelihood the information technology project will be completed1 or the risks associated with undertaking the information technology project4 7vii7 ,such other factors as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7,b7 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that each list produced under paragraph 7#a7 includes1 for each information technology project included in the list1 a brief description of the findings of the ,secretary with respect to each assessment carried out by the ,secretary for each factor for the information technology project under subparagraph 7,a74 7c7 ,projected funding needs 7#a7 ,in addition to the matters included under subsections 7a7 and 7b71 the ,secretary shall ensure that the budget justification materials described in subsection 7a7 also include a projection of the one-year1 five-year1 and #aj-year funding needs of the ,department for information technology1 disaggregated by major business line of the ,department that requires the funding4 7#b7 ,in addition to the projections under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall include a description of the following1 with respect to each of the periods set forth in such paragraph1 disaggregated by major business line of the ,department3 7,a7 ,the information technology infrastructure and equipment requirements4 7,b7 ,the funding required for development4 7,c7 ,the funding required for operations and maintenance4 7,d7 ,the funding required by cybersecurity4 7,e7 ,such other categories of the information technology needs of the ,department as the ,secretary considers relevant and important4 7d7 ,decommissioning of information technology systems 7#a7 ,in addition to the matters included under subsections 7a71 7b71 and 7c71 the ,secretary shall ensure that the budget justification materials described in subsection 7a7 also include information about the decommissioning of information technology systems and applications of the ,department4 7#b7 ,information included under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a list of information systems and applications of the ,department that have been scheduled for decommissioning or the ,secretary proposes decommissioning4 7,b7 ,for each information technology system and application listed under subparagraph 7,a71 the following3 7i7 ,the cost of maintaining the information technology system or application4 7ii7 ,a projection of the cost avoided if the information technology system or application were to be decommissioned4 7iii7 ,a schedule for decommissioning the information technology system or application4 7iv7 ,whether a transition plan for the functionality of the information technology system or application to be provided1 when appropriate1 by other information technology systems or applications of the ,department has been developed4 7v7 ,performance data regarding whether the ,department has decommissioned the information technology system or application that was set forth under clause 7iii7 in the budget justification materials for the previous fiscal year4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,,subchapter ,,vi--,information technology projects and activities ,sec4 #haga4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #hagb4 ,management of major information technology projects4 ,sec4 #hagc4 ,information technology activities of the ,financial ,services ,center4 ,sec4 #hagd4 ,submission of annual reviews of information technology4 ,sec4 #hage4 ,information technology matters to be included in budget justification materials for the ,department4 4 7c7 ,application2 report 7#a7 ,current and new projects ,except as specifically provided in subsection 7a7 of section #hagb of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a7 of this section1 such section #hagb shall apply with respect to major information technology projects that begin before1 on1 or after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 ,report on current projects 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on each major information technology project that the ,secretary is carrying out as of the date of the report4 7,b7 ,contents ,the report submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall contain1 with respect to each project described in such subparagraph1 information on the cost1 schedule1 and performance of the project as described in subsection 7a7 of section #hagb of such title1 as so added4 7#c7 ,definitions ,in this subsection1 the terms appropriate congressional committees and major information technology project have the meanings given those terms in section #haga of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a7 of this section4 7d7 ,effective date of requirement for projects in budget justification materials ,subsection 7c7 of section #hage of such title1 as added by subsection 7a7 of this section1 shall take effect on the first ,monday in the second ,january beginning after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7e7 ,effective date of decommissioning performance element of budget justification materials ,clause 7v7 of section #hage7;d77#b77;,b7 of such title1 as added by subsection 7a7 of this section1 shall take effect on the first ,monday in the second ,january beginning after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #c4 ,assessment of suitability of cloud migration investments 7a7 ,assessment ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 acting through the ,chief ,information ,officer of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 shall conduct an assessment1 in accordance with guidance from the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 of all information technology investments of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to determine the suitability of the investments for migration to a cloud computing service4 7b7 ,consistent mechanism ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief ,information ,officer1 shall establish a consistent and repeatable mechanism to track savings and cost avoidances from-- 7#a7 the migration of information technology investments to cloud computing services2 and 7#b7 the deployment of cloud computing services4 #d4 ,report on information technology dashboard information 7a7 ,report ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 acting through the ,chief ,information ,officer of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing-- 7#a7 an explanation of the ratings1 rankings1 and risk categorizations used by the ,chief ,information ,officer pursuant to subparagraph 7,c7 of section #aacjb7;c77#c7 of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code1 with respect to the information technology dashboard of the ,office of ,management and ,budget developed under such section2 and 7#b7 copies of supporting or explanatory information provided by the ,chief ,information ,officer to the ,office of ,management and ,budget with respect to submissions by the ,chief ,information ,officer to the information technology dashboard for the fiscal year in which the report is submitted 7other than information not otherwise made public pursuant to such section74 7b7 ,appropriate congressional committees defined ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees has the meaning given such term in section #haga of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by section #b4