,,ib ,union ,cal5d> ,no4 #bib #aai?     
,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 ,r4 #cdee 
,report ,no4 #aai-cdj ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(
 ,,repres5tatives  ,may #ae1 #bjbe,ms4  
,mace introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,octob] #aj1 #bjbe;,committ$  
to ! ,committee ( ! ,:ole ,h\se on !    
,/ate ( ! ,union & ord]$ to be pr9t$  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to direct ! ,secret>y (       
,vet]ans ,affairs to conduct a          
compreh5sive /udy on ! use ( di/ribut$  
l$g] te*nology 9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans 
,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort  
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,vet]ans
 ,affairs ,di/ribut$ ,l$g] ,innovation  
,act ( #bjbe4  #b4 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x 
is ! s5se ( ,congress t-- 7#a7 vet]ans  
des]ve effici5t1 transp>5t1 & secure    
access to b5efits & s]vices e>n$ ?r\gh  
_! honorable s]vice2  7#b7 di/ribut$    
l$g] te*nology (f]s promis+ solutions = 
enhanc+ data integrity1 security1 &     
transp>5cy2 &  7#c7 explor+ innovative  
te*nologies su* z di/ribut$ l$g]        

te*nology c\ld significantly improve !  
allocation ( b5efits1 managem5t (       
insurance programs1 & ma9t5ance (       
records )9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs4  #c4 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs /udy on use ( di/ribut$ l$g]   
te*nology  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y (  
,vet]ans ,affairs %all conduct a        
compreh5sive /udy on ! feasibility1     
pot5tial b5efits1 & risks associat$ )   
implem5t+ di/ribut$ l$g] te*nology to   
improve claims adjudication & prev5t    
fraud1 wa/e1 & abuse )9 ! ,dep>tm5t's   
b5efits adm9i/ration sy/ems4  7b7       
,matt]s = exam9ation ,9 conduct+ ! /udy 
"u subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all     
exam9e h[ di/ribut$ l$g] te*nology      
c\ld-- 7#a7 improve ! cl>ity1           
traceability1 & reliability ( vet]ans'  
b5efits claims by securely record+ key  
/eps 9 ! adjudication process2  7#b7    
r$uce ! risk ( fraudul5t & inaccurate   
claims by v]ification processes2  7#c7  
improve acc\ntability 9 claims h&l+2 &  
7#d7 aid 9 id5tify+ irregul>ities 9     

b5efits deliv]y4  7c7 ,consultation ,9  
conduct+ ! /udy "u subsection 7a71 !    
,secret>y %all consult )-- 7#a7 exp]ts 9
 di/ribut$ l$g] te*nology2  7#b7        
repres5tatives ( vet]ans s]vice         
organizations2  7#c7 ! heads ( o!r      
,f$]al ag5cies ) exp]i5ce us+ di/ribut$ 
l$g] te*nology2 &  7#d7 any o!r         
/akehold]s ! ,secret>y det]m9es         
appropriate4  7d7 ,report ,n lat] ?an "o
 ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !      
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,s5ate & ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a      
report on ! f9d+s ( ! /udy "u subsection
 7a74 ,su* report %all include ea* ( !  
foll[+3 7#a7 ,! f9d+s ( ! /udy reg>d+ ! 
feasibility ( implem5t+ di/ribut$ l$g]  
te*nology 9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs4  7#b7 ,a description (        
pot5tial b5efits & risks associat$ ) !  
implem5tation ( su* te*nology 9 !       
,dep>tm5t4  7#c7 ,any recomm5dations ( !
 ,secret>y reg>d+ pilot programs or o!r 
initiatives t %\ld be implem5t$ to te/ !

 use ( di/ribut$ l$g] te*nology 9       
specific areas ( ,dep>tm5t op]ations1   
su* z b5efits di/ribution or insurance  
claims4  7#d7 ,any legislative or       
adm9i/rative actions requir$ to implem5t
 su* te*nology 9 ! ,dep>tm5t4  7e7      
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]m 
di/ribut$ l$g] means a l$g] t is-- 7,a7 
is %>$ across a set ( di/ribut$ nodes1  
:i* are devices or processes1 t         
p>ticipate 9 a network & /ore a complete
 or p>tial replica ( ! l$g]2  7,b7 is   
syn*roniz$ betwe5 ! nodes2  7,c7 has    
data app5d$ to x by foll[+ a specifi$   
cons5sus me*anism2  7,d7 publicly       
accessible or re/rict$ to a subset (    
p>ticipants2 &  7,e7 may require        
p>ticipants to h au?orization to p]=m   
c]ta9 actions or require no             
au?orization4  7#b7 ,! t]m di/ribut$    
l$g] te*nology means te*nology t enables
 ! op]ation & use ( di/ribut$ l$g]s4    
,octob] #aj1 #bjbe;,committ$ to !       
,committee ( ! ,:ole ,h\se on ! ,/ate ( 
! ,union & ord]$ to be pr9t$