I 

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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Overseeing the GI Bill 

5 Act of 2021’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 

2 SERVICES USED TO PROCESS CLAIMS FOR 

3 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. 

4 (a) MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERV5 ICE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement 

6 an information technology service to process claims for 

7 educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 

8 of title 38, United States Code, using one or more com9 mercial software systems. The Secretary shall complete 

10 such implementation not later than August 1, 2024. 

11 (b) REQUIRED CAPABILITIES.—The Secretary shall 

12 ensure that the modern information technology service 

13 under subsection (a) has the following capabilities: 

14 (1) As compared to legacy information tech15 nology systems— 

16 (A) the ability to process claims faster and 

17 in a more efficient manner by improving proc18 essing integration and accuracy; 

19 (B) improved data exchange and reporting; 

20 and 

21 (C) improved customer integration and 

22 simplification of the online experience. 

23 (2) Timely communication by employees of the 

24 Department of Veterans Affairs to individuals and 

25 educational institutions using an online portal that 


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1 can provide real-time information on claims for edu2 cational assistance. 

3 (3) The ability to be customized to address fu4 ture capabilities required by law. 

5 (4) Fully automated to the extent practicable 

6 for all original and supplemental claims, including 

7 with respect to calculating accurate awards. 

8 (5) The ability for individuals entitled to edu9 cational assistance to electronically apply for, with10 draw from, and amend such entitlement, and to re11 allocate a transferred entitlement. 

12 (6) The ability to electronically process changes 

13 made by educational institutions. 

14 (7) The ability to verify attendance at an edu15 cational institution. 

16 (8) The ability to process validations made by 

17 an educational institution. 

18 (c) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 

19 the date on which the Secretary awards a contract for the 

20 modern information technology service, the Secretary shall 

21 submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

22 House of Representatives and the Senate a report con23 taining information on the cost, schedule, and perform24 ance of the project for implementing such system, includ25 ing, with respect to such project, the following: 


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1 (1) An estimate of acquisition, implementation, 

2 and life cycle costs (including all direct and indirect 

3 costs to acquire, implement, operate, and maintain 

4 such system). 

5 (2) An intended implementation schedule indi6 cating significant milestones, initial operating capa7 bility, and full operating capability or completion. 

8 (3) Key business, functional, or performance 

9 objectives. 

10 (4) With respect to both original claims and 

11 supplemental claims processed on a monthly basis, 

12 statistics regarding— 

13 (A) the number of such claims processed 

14 using legacy information technology systems; 

15 and 

16 (B) the number of such claims estimated 

17 to be processed using the modern information 

18 technology service. 

19 (5) The amount of savings that are estimated 

20 to be realized from using the modern information 

21 technology service rather than legacy information 

22 technology systems. 

23 (6) The estimated accuracy of processing 

24 claims. 

25 (7) The estimated timeliness for— 


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1 (A) processing original claims; and 

2 (B) processing supplemental claims. 

3 (8) A description of how the modern informa4 tion technology service will— 

5 (A) automate the processing of original 

6 claims; and 

7 (B) automate the processing of supple8 mental claims. 

9 (d) UPDATED INFORMATION.— 

10 (1) ANNUAL REPORTS.—On an annual basis 

11 during the period in which the Secretary is imple12 menting the modern information technology service, 

13 the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 

14 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 

15 and the Senate a report containing updated informa16 tion regarding the matters specified in subsection 

17 (c). Each such updated report shall identify any 

18 changes to the cost, schedule, or performance of the 

19 project to implement such system. 

20 (2) NOTIFICATION.— 

21 (A) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 60 

22 days after the date on which an action de23 scribed in subparagraph (B) occurs, the Sec24 retary shall submit to the Committees on Vet25 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 


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1 and the Senate a notification of such action, in2 cluding a description of and explanation for 

3 such action. 

4 (B) ACTION DESCRIBED.—An action de5 scribed in this subparagraph is, with respect to 

6 the project to implement the modern informa7 tion technology service, any of the following: 

8 (i) With respect to the acquisition, im9 plementation, or life cycle cost of the 

10 project, or an increment therein, a change 

11 or variance that is 10 percent or greater 

12 compared to the amount identified the 

13 most recent report submitted under para14 graph (1). 

15 (ii) With respect to the schedule for 

16 achieving a significant milestone, initial op17 erating capability, or final completion of 

18 the project, a change or variance that is 

19 180 days or greater compared to the 

20 schedule identified the most recent report 

21 submitted under paragraph (1). 

22 (iii) With respect to the performance, 

23 an instance where a key business, func24 tional, or performance objective is not atVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:44 Apr 28, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2420.IH H2420

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1 tained, or is not anticipated to be attained, 

2 in whole or in part. 

3 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

4 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans 

5 Affairs for fiscal years 2022 through 2024 a total of 

6 $250,000,000 to carry out this section. 

7 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 (1) The term ‘‘legacy information technology 

9 system’’ means an information technology system 

10 used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to proc11 ess claims for educational assistance under chapters 

12 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States Code, 

13 before the date on which the Secretary of Veterans 

14 Affairs awards a contract under subsection (a) for 

15 the modern information technology service. 

16 (2) The term ‘‘modern information technology 

17 service’’ means the information technology service 

18 implemented under subsection (a) to process claims 

19 for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, 

20 and 36 of title 38, United States Code. 

Æ 


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