```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9996 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9996

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
 the laws relating to patient advocacy for patients who receive health 
  care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 15, 2024

  Mr. Yakym introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
 the laws relating to patient advocacy for patients who receive health 
  care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``National Veterans Advocate Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL VETERANS' ADVOCATE IN 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 7309A of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and inserting the 
        following new section heading:
``Sec. 7309A. Office of the National Veterans' Advocate'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``within the Office of the Under 
                Secretary for Health'' and inserting ``within the 
                Office of the Secretary'';
                    (B) by striking ``an office'' and inserting ``an 
                independent office''; and
                    (C) by striking ```Office of Patient Advocacy''' 
                and inserting ```Office of the National Veterans' 
                Advocate''';
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Office of 
                Patient Advocacy'' and inserting ``Office of the 
                National Veterans' Advocate''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``Office of Patient 
                        Advocacy'' and inserting ``Office of the 
                        National Veterans' Advocate'';
                            (ii) by striking ``by the Under Secretary 
                        for Health'' and inserting ``by the 
                        Secretary''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``shall report directly 
                        to the Under Secretary for Health'' and 
                        inserting ``shall be independent of the 
                        Secretary'';
            (4) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking the subsection heading and 
                inserting ``(c) Functions.--'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``function'' and inserting 
                        ``functions'';
                            (ii) by striking ``is'' and inserting 
                        ``are''; and
                            (iii) by inserting before the period at the 
                        end the following: ``and to monitor Department 
                        processes and make recommendations to Congress 
                        on how to improve the Department's efficiency 
                        and care for veterans''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
    ``(4) On a quarterly basis, the Director shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives independent legislative recommendations for the 
improvement of health outcomes for veterans, the quality of health care 
and benefits provided by the Department, and the cost efficiency of the 
Department. Such recommendations may not be reviewed by the Secretary 
or by any other official of the Department prior to submission.
    ``(5) The Office shall have a designated publicly accessible 
website that includes access to the information technology system 
required under paragraph (3).'';
            (5) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
            (6) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
        subsection (f):
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2025 through 2029.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 73 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 7309A and inserting the following new item:

``7309A. Office of the National Veterans' Advocate.''.
                                 <all>
```