[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1823 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1823


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 20, 2025

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller General 
  of the United States to report on certain funding shortfalls in the 
                    Department of Veterans Affairs.

    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 ``VA Budget Shortfall Accountability 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FUNDING SHORTFALLS IN CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT 
              OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: REVIEWS; REPORTS.

    (a) First GAO Review.--
            (1) Review required.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
        United States shall begin a review regarding the circumstances 
        surrounding, and the causes of--
                    (A) the shortfall in the funding of the Veterans 
                Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024; and
                    (B) the expected shortfall in the funding of the 
                Veterans Health Administration in fiscal year 2025.
            (2) Elements.--The review under this subsection shall 
        include the following elements:
                    (A) A comparison of monthly obligations and 
                expenditures in relevant accounts against the spending 
                plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
                    (B) Any transfers between accounts described in 
                subparagraph (A).
                    (C) The reasons for any significant diversions of 
                obligations or expenditures from such spending plan.
                    (D) An analysis of the accuracy of any projections 
                or estimates relevant to diversions described in 
                subparagraph (C).
                    (E) Remedial actions the Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs may take--
                            (i) to improve the accuracy of supporting 
                        information submitted under section 1105(a) of 
                        title 31, United States Code, with respect to 
                        the Department; and
                            (ii) to prevent funding shortfalls for the 
                        Department.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completing such 
        review, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary 
        of Veterans Affairs a written report containing the results and 
        findings of such review.
    (b) Subsequent GAO Reviews.--In each of the five calendar years 
following the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General shall conduct a review including the elements described in 
subsection (a)(2), and submit a report described in subsection (a)(3), 
regarding the funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 
most recent fiscal year to end before the date of such review.
    (c) Reports of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.--Not later than 
30 days after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives a report of 
the Comptroller General under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary 
shall submit such report to--
            (1) the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives and the Senate; and
            (2) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives and the Senate.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2025.

            Attest:

                                             KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

                                                                 Clerk.