To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Key Points

• This bill creates a new office within the Department of Veterans Affairs to handle all communication with Congress. It aims to make sure lawmakers get the information they need to oversee veterans' programs and services.
• The office would be led by a team of both political appointees and career experts. To keep things professional, at least 65 percent of the staff must be regular government employees rather than political picks.
• The VA would have to follow strict deadlines when Congress asks for information. They must acknowledge a request within two days and provide a full answer within 45 days. If the request is very complicated, they can get a short extension.
• If the VA misses these deadlines, the office's budget for salaries and expenses will be frozen. This means they cannot spend money on staff pay or office costs until they provide the requested information.
• The bill prevents VA officials from hiding records or delaying information for political reasons. It requires them to provide original documents and data instead of just providing short summaries of the facts.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.