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.
VA: New Office for Congressional Communication
This bill is currently being reviewed by a subcommittee within the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. It recently had a hearing and is actively moving through the early stages of the legislative process. There are no further actions scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
While oversight is a popular topic, bills that include automatic budget freezes for agencies often face significant opposition and rarely pass without major changes.
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.
Milestones
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 10.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
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.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.