H.R. 1823 — what changed

VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 1 section amended and 1 added between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Short title

added This Act may be cited as the “VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act”.

(a)

removed GAO review—

(1)

removed 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)

removed the shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024; and

(B)

removed the expected shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Health Administration in fiscal year 2025.

(2)

removed Elements— The review under this subsection shall include the following elements:

(A)

removed A comparison of monthly obligations and expenditures in relevant accounts against the spending plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(B)

removed Any transfers between accounts described in subparagraph (A).

(C)

removed The reasons for any significant diversions of obligations or expenditures from such spending plan.

(D)

removed An analysis of the accuracy of any projections or estimates relevant to diversions described in subparagraph (C).

(E)

removed Remedial actions the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may take—

(i)

removed 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)

removed to prevent funding shortfalls for the Department.

(3)

removed 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)

removed Report of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs— Not later than 30 days after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives the report of the Comptroller General under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit such report to the appropriate congressional committees.

(c)

removed Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(1)

removed the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

(2)

removed the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Sec. 2 Funding shortfalls in certain administrations of the Department of Veterans Affairs: reviews; reports

added

(a)

added First GAO review—

(1)

added 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)

added the shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024; and

(B)

added the expected shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Health Administration in fiscal year 2025.

(2)

added Elements— The review under this subsection shall include the following elements:

(A)

added A comparison of monthly obligations and expenditures in relevant accounts against the spending plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(B)

added Any transfers between accounts described in subparagraph (A).

(C)

added The reasons for any significant diversions of obligations or expenditures from such spending plan.

(D)

added An analysis of the accuracy of any projections or estimates relevant to diversions described in subparagraph (C).

(E)

added Remedial actions the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may take—

(i)

added 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)

added to prevent funding shortfalls for the Department.

(3)

added 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)

added 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)

added 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)

added the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

(2)

added the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.