[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2420 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2420
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement a modern
information technology service to process claims for educational
assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States
Code.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 8, 2021
Mr. Moore of Alabama introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement a modern
information technology service to process claims for educational
assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States
Code.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Overseeing the GI Bill Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES USED TO PROCESS
CLAIMS FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) Modern Information Technology Service.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall implement an information technology service to
process claims for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35,
and 36 of title 38, United States Code, using one or more commercial
software systems. The Secretary shall complete such implementation not
later than August 1, 2024.
(b) Required Capabilities.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
modern information technology service under subsection (a) has the
following capabilities:
(1) As compared to legacy information technology systems--
(A) the ability to process claims faster and in a
more efficient manner by improving processing
integration and accuracy;
(B) improved data exchange and reporting; and
(C) improved customer integration and
simplification of the online experience.
(2) Timely communication by employees of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to individuals and educational institutions
using an online portal that can provide real-time information
on claims for educational assistance.
(3) The ability to be customized to address future
capabilities required by law.
(4) Fully automated to the extent practicable for all
original and supplemental claims, including with respect to
calculating accurate awards.
(5) The ability for individuals entitled to educational
assistance to electronically apply for, withdraw from, and
amend such entitlement, and to reallocate a transferred
entitlement.
(6) The ability to electronically process changes made by
educational institutions.
(7) The ability to verify attendance at an educational
institution.
(8) The ability to process validations made by an
educational institution.
(c) Initial Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date on
which the Secretary awards a contract for the modern information
technology service, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a
report containing information on the cost, schedule, and performance of
the project for implementing such system, including, with respect to
such project, the following:
(1) An estimate of acquisition, implementation, and life
cycle costs (including all direct and indirect costs to
acquire, implement, operate, and maintain such system).
(2) An intended implementation schedule indicating
significant milestones, initial operating capability, and full
operating capability or completion.
(3) Key business, functional, or performance objectives.
(4) With respect to both original claims and supplemental
claims processed on a monthly basis, statistics regarding--
(A) the number of such claims processed using
legacy information technology systems; and
(B) the number of such claims estimated to be
processed using the modern information technology
service.
(5) The amount of savings that are estimated to be realized
from using the modern information technology service rather
than legacy information technology systems.
(6) The estimated accuracy of processing claims.
(7) The estimated timeliness for--
(A) processing original claims; and
(B) processing supplemental claims.
(8) A description of how the modern information technology
service will--
(A) automate the processing of original claims; and
(B) automate the processing of supplemental claims.
(d) Updated Information.--
(1) Annual reports.--On an annual basis during the period
in which the Secretary is implementing the modern information
technology service, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Senate a report containing updated information
regarding the matters specified in subsection (c). Each such
updated report shall identify any changes to the cost,
schedule, or performance of the project to implement such
system.
(2) Notification.--
(A) Requirement.--Not later than 60 days after the
date on which an action described in subparagraph (B)
occurs, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and
the Senate a notification of such action, including a
description of and explanation for such action.
(B) Action described.--An action described in this
subparagraph is, with respect to the project to
implement the modern information technology service,
any of the following:
(i) With respect to the acquisition,
implementation, or life cycle cost of the
project, or an increment therein, a change or
variance that is 10 percent or greater compared
to the amount identified the most recent report
submitted under paragraph (1).
(ii) With respect to the schedule for
achieving a significant milestone, initial
operating capability, or final completion of
the project, a change or variance that is 180
days or greater compared to the schedule
identified the most recent report submitted
under paragraph (1).
(iii) With respect to the performance, an
instance where a key business, functional, or
performance objective is not attained, or is
not anticipated to be attained, in whole or in
part.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal years 2022
through 2024 a total of $250,000,000 to carry out this section.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``legacy information technology system'' means
an information technology system used by the Department of
Veterans Affairs to process claims for educational assistance
under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States
Code, before the date on which the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs awards a contract under subsection (a) for the modern
information technology service.
(2) The term ``modern information technology service''
means the information technology service implemented under
subsection (a) to process claims for educational assistance
under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States
Code.
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