Should the VA Have to Report to Congress on its Organizational Structure to Improve Care for Vets? (H.R. 1066)

What is H.R. 1066?

(Updated May 9, 2019)

This bill would require the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide Congressional committees with a report regarding the roles, responsibility, and accountability of elements and individuals of the VA. The report would include recommendations for legislation, and utilize the results of several recent studies and reports in making changes to improve the VA’s management structure and how it delivers care to veterans. It would be due within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.

Specifically, the VA would utilize the results of:

• The Independent Assessment of the Health Care Delivery Systems and Management Process of the VA established by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014;

• Any study or report by the Commission on Care established by the above legislation;

• Other studies or reports, including a report titled "Task Force on Improving Effectiveness of VHA Governance: Report to the VHA Under Secretary for Health," dated February 28, 2015.

The VA would also be required to establish clearly delineated roles and responsibilities to optimize the organizational effectiveness and accountability of each:

• Administration, staff office, or staff organization and each subordinate organization thereof;

• Key leader of the VA in relation to any Administration, staff office, or staff organization, Veteran Integrated Service Network, or medical facility.

Argument in favor

It’s no secret that the mismanagement at the VA led to lengthy wait times for veterans seeking care, and in some cases delays led to their deaths. This bill forces the VA move forward with fixing its organizational structure so that doesn’t happen in the future.

Argument opposed

The VA’s organizational structure doesn’t need a makeover to avoid the mismanagement pitfalls of the past. The existing structure works fine, there’s just a need for more funding.

Impact

The Dept. of Veterans Affairs; and Congress.

Cost of H.R. 1066

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2018-2022 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) introduced this bill to force the VA to fix its organizational structure to put an end to recent mismanagement issues and improve care for veterans:

“Veterans have sacrificed to protect us – we need to have their backs. Stories and reports about manipulated wait times and mismanagement in our VA system proved that systemic reforms were needed. We are calling on the VA to address management challenges and improve care so veterans get the services they have earned.”

Lead cosponsor Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) added:

“Every veteran deserves the highest level of care. The men and women who served in uniform demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice for our country, and now it’s our responsibility to ensure the VA undertakes a framework to address systemic problems. Rep. Kilmer and I are committed to ensuring our nation’s veterans have access to accountable, improved care.”

This legislation passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on a voice vote and has the support of 10 bipartisan cosponsors, including six Republicans and four Democrats.

Media:

• Lead Cosponsor Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) Press Release
  
• CBO Cost Estimate
  
• SunTribune