IB 

Union Calendar No. 156 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 813 

[Report No. 113–212] 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for advance appropriations 

for certain discretionary accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 25, 2013 

Mr. MILLER of Florida (for himself and Mr. MICHAUD) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 

Additional sponsors: Mrs. ROBY, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. GENE

GREEN of Texas, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. O’ROURKE, Mr. LYNCH, Mrs. 

KIRKPATRICK, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. HOLT, Ms. 

MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. 

JONES, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. WITTMAN, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. 

STIVERS, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. VEASEY, and Mr. LATHAM

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 

on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 


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A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for advance appropriations for certain discretionary accounts 

of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 


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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 ‘‘Putting Veterans 

5 Funding First Act of 2013’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CERTAIN DISCRE7 TIONARY ACCOUNTS OF THE DEPARTMENT 

8 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 117 of title 38, United 

10 States Code, is amended— 

11 (1) by striking ‘‘medical care accounts of the 

12 Department’’ each place it appears and inserting 

13 ‘‘discretionary accounts of the Department’’; 

14 (2) in subsection (c)— 

15 (A) by striking ‘‘medical care accounts of 

16 the Veterans Health Administration, Depart17 ment of Veterans Affairs account’’ and insert18 ing ‘‘accounts of the Department of Veterans 

19 Affairs account’’; 

20 (B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘Vet21 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(1)’’; 

22 (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘Vet23 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(2)’’; 

24 (D) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘Vet25 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(3)’’; 


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1 (E) by adding at the end the following new 

2 paragraphs: 

3 ‘‘(4) Veterans Health Administration, Medical 

4 Research and Support. 

5 ‘‘(5) National Cemetery Administration. 

6 ‘‘(6) Veterans Benefits Administration, Native 

7 American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account. 

8 ‘‘(7) Departmental Administration, General Ad9 ministration, General Operating Expenses. 

10 ‘‘(8) Departmental Administration, General Op11 erating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration. 

12 ‘‘(9) Departmental Administration, Information 

13 Technology Systems. 

14 ‘‘(10) Departmental Administration, Office of 

15 the Inspector General. 

16 ‘‘(11) Departmental Administration, Construc17 tion, Major Projects. 

18 ‘‘(12) Departmental Administration, Construc19 tion, Minor Projects. 

20 ‘‘(13) Departmental Administration, Grants for 

21 Construction of State Extended Care Facilities. 

22 ‘‘(14) Departmental Administration, Grants for 

23 Construction of Veterans Cemeteries.’’; and 


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1 (F) in the subsection heading, by striking 

2 ‘‘MEDICAL CARE ACCOUNTS’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS’’; and 

4 (3) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘cer5 tain medical care accounts’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘certain discretionary accounts’’. 

7 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

8 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2016 

9 and each subsequent fiscal year. 

10 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

11 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Putting Veterans Fund12 ing First Act of 2013’’. 

13 SEC. 2. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

14 The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 

15 complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 

16 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 

17 ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this Act, 

18 submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 

19 Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that 

20 such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on pas21 sage. 


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1 SEC. 3. ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CERTAIN DISCRE2 TIONARY ACCOUNTS OF THE DEPARTMENT 

3 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 117 of title 38, United 

5 States Code, is amended— 

6 (1) by striking ‘‘medical care accounts of the De7 partment’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘dis8 cretionary accounts of the Department’’; 

9 (2) in subsection (c)— 

10 (A) by striking ‘‘medical care accounts of 

11 the Veterans Health Administration, Department 

12 of Veterans Affairs account’’ and inserting ‘‘ac13 counts of the Department of Veterans Affairs ac14 count’’; 

15 (B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘Vet16 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(1)’’; 

17 (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘Vet18 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(2)’’; 

19 (D) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘Vet20 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(3)’’; 

21 (E) by adding at the end the following new 

22 paragraphs: 

23 ‘‘(4) Veterans Health Administration, Medical 

24 and Prosthetic Research. 

25 ‘‘(5) National Cemetery Administration. 


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1 ‘‘(6) Veterans Benefits Administration, Native 

2 American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account. 

3 ‘‘(7) Departmental Administration, General Ad4 ministration, General Operating Expenses. 

5 ‘‘(8) Departmental Administration, General Op6 erating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration. 

7 ‘‘(9) Departmental Administration, Information 

8 Technology Systems. 

9 ‘‘(10) Departmental Administration, Office of 

10 the Inspector General. 

11 ‘‘(11) Departmental Administration, Construc12 tion, Major Projects. 

13 ‘‘(12) Departmental Administration, Construc14 tion, Minor Projects. 

15 ‘‘(13) Departmental Administration, Grants for 

16 Construction of State Extended Care Facilities. 

17 ‘‘(14) Departmental Administration, Grants for 

18 Construction of Veterans Cemeteries.’’; and 

19 (F) in the subsection heading, by striking 

20 ‘‘MEDICAL CARE ACCOUNTS’’ and inserting 

21 ‘‘DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS’’; and 

22 (3) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘certain 

23 medical care accounts’’ and inserting ‘‘cer24 tain discretionary accounts’’. 


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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

2 the beginning of chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code, 

3 is amended by striking the item relating to section 117 and 

4 inserting the following new item: 

‘‘117. Advance appropriations for certain discretionary accounts.’’. 

5 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub6 section (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2016 and 

7 each subsequent fiscal year. 

8 SEC. 4. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT 

9 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE BUDG10 ET SUBMISSION. 

11 Section 4 of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform 

12 and Transparency Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–81; 38 

13 U.S.C. 117 note) is amended to read as follows: 

14 ‘‘SEC. 4. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT 

15 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE BUDG16 ET SUBMISSION. 

17 ‘‘(a) REVIEW OF BUDGET SUBMISSION; REPORTS.— 

18 For each of fiscal years 2015, 2016, and 2017, the Comp19 troller General of the United States shall— 

20 ‘‘(1) review the budget requests for the medical 

21 care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

22 in the President’s budget request submitted pursuant 

23 to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code; and 

24 ‘‘(2) submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af25 fairs, Appropriations, and the Budget of the Senate 


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1 and House of Representatives a report or reports on 

2 the results of each such review. 

3 ‘‘(b) TIMING AND SCOPE OF REPORTS.—In deter4 mining the timing and scope for the submittal of the report 

5 or reports required under subsection (a), the Comptroller 

6 General shall consult with the Committees on Veterans’ Af7 fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives. 

8 ‘‘(c) MEDICAL CARE ACCOUNTS.—In this section, the 

9 term ‘medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans 

10 Affairs’ means the following medical care accounts of the 

11 Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans 

12 Affairs account: 

13 ‘‘(1) Medical Services. 

14 ‘‘(2) Medical Support and Compliance. 

15 ‘‘(3) Medical Facilities.’’. 

16 SEC. 5. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET 

17 PLANNING REFORM. 

18 (a) FUTURE-YEARS VETERANS PROGRAM.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 38, United 

20 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol21 lowing new section: 

22 ‘‘§ 119. Future-Years Veterans Program 

23 ‘‘(a) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall 

24 submit to Congress each year, at or about the time that 

25 the President’s budget is submitted to Congress pursuant 


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1 to section 1105(a) of title 31, a Future-Years Veterans Pro2 gram reflecting the estimated expenditures and proposed 

3 appropriations included in that budget. Any such Future4 Years Veterans Program shall cover the fiscal year with re5 spect to which the budget is submitted and at least the four 

6 succeeding fiscal years. 

7 ‘‘(b) CONSISTENCY.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure 

8 that amounts described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph 

9 (2) for any fiscal year are consistent with amounts de10 scribed in subparagraph (B) of such paragraph for that fis11 cal year. 

12 ‘‘(2) Amounts referred to in paragraph (1) are the fol13 lowing: 

14 ‘‘(A) The amounts specified in program and 

15 budget information submitted to Congress by the Sec16 retary in support of expenditure estimates and pro17 posed appropriations in the budget submitted to Con18 gress by the President under section 1105(a) of title 

19 31 for any fiscal year, as shown in the Future-Years 

20 Veterans Program submitted pursuant to subsection 

21 (a). 

22 ‘‘(B) The total amounts of estimated expendi23 tures and proposed appropriations necessary to sup24 port the programs, projects, and activities of the De25 partment of Veterans Affairs included pursuant to 


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1 paragraph (5) of section 1105(a) of title 31 in the 

2 budget submitted to Congress under that section for 

3 any fiscal year. 

4 ‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—The Future-Years Veterans Program 

5 under subsection (a) shall set forth the five-year plan of the 

6 Department to address the commitment of the United States 

7 to veterans and the resources necessary to meet that commit8 ment and shall be developed and updated, as appropriate, 

9 annually by the Secretary. Each Future-Years Veterans 

10 Program shall include an explanation of— 

11 ‘‘(1) the information that was used to develop 

12 program planning guidance for the Future-Years Vet13 erans Program; and 

14 ‘‘(2) how the resource allocations included in the 

15 Future-Years Veterans Program correlate to such five16 year strategy.’’. 

17 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec18 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 

19 inserting after the item relating to section 118 the fol20 lowing new item: 

‘‘119. Future-Years Veterans Program.’’. 

21 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 119 of title 38, 

22 United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall 

23 apply with respect to the preparation and submission 

24 of the fiscal year 2018 budget request for the Depart25 ment of Veterans Affairs. 


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1 (b) QUADRENNIAL VETERANS REVIEW.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—Such chapter is further 

3 amended by adding after section 119, as added by 

4 subsection (a)(1), the following new section: 

5 ‘‘§ 120. Quadrennial veterans review 

6 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—(1) Not later than fiscal year 

7 2017, and every fourth year thereafter, the Secretary shall 

8 conduct a review of the strategy for meeting the commit9 ment of the United States to veterans and the resources nec10 essary to meet that commitment (in this section referred 

11 to as a ‘quadrennial veterans review’). 

12 ‘‘(2) Each quadrennial veterans review shall include 

13 a comprehensive examination of the policies and strategies 

14 of the United States with respect to veterans, including rec15 ommendations regarding the long-term strategy and prior16 ities for programs, services, benefits, and outcomes regard17 ing veterans and guidance on the programs, assets, capa18 bilities, budget, policies, and authorities of the Department. 

19 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall conduct each quadrennial vet20 erans review in consultation with key officials of the De21 partment, the heads of other Federal agencies, and other rel22 evant governmental and nongovernmental entities, includ23 ing State, local, and tribal government officials, members 

24 of Congress, veterans service organizations, private sector 

25 representatives, academics, and other policy experts. 


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1 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall ensure that each quadrennial 

2 veterans review is coordinated with the Future-Years Vet3 erans Program required under section 119 of this title. 

4 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF REVIEW.—In each quadrennial vet5 erans review, the Secretary shall— 

6 ‘‘(1) delineate a veterans strategy consistent with 

7 the commitment of the United States to veterans and 

8 refine a strategy for the types of, and provision of, 

9 programs, services, benefits, and outcomes consistent 

10 with current authorities and requirements; 

11 ‘‘(2) outline and prioritize the full range of pro12 grams and capabilities regarding veterans provided 

13 by the Federal Government; 

14 ‘‘(3) identify the budget plan required to provide 

15 sufficient resources to successfully execute the full 

16 range of such programs and capabilities; 

17 ‘‘(4) include an assessment of the organizational 

18 alignment of the Department with respect to the strat19 egy referred to in paragraph (1) and the programs 

20 and capabilities referred to in paragraph (2); 

21 ‘‘(5) review and assess the effectiveness of the 

22 mechanisms of the Department for executing the proc23 ess of turning the requirements identified in the quad24 rennial veterans review into a plan to meet such reVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:36 Sep 17, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H813.RH H813

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1 quirements, including an expenditure plan for the De2 partment; and 

3 ‘‘(6) identify emerging trends, problems, oppor4 tunities, and issues that could affect veterans or the 

5 Department during the ten-year period following the 

6 period covered by the review. 

7 ‘‘(c) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—(1) The Secretary 

8 shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

9 Senate and the House of Representatives a report regarding 

10 each quadrennial veterans review. The Secretary shall sub11 mit the report in the year following the year in which the 

12 review is conducted, but not later than the date on which 

13 the President submits the budget for the next fiscal year 

14 to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States 

15 Code. 

16 ‘‘(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall 

17 include— 

18 ‘‘(A) the results of the quadrennial veterans re19 view; 

20 ‘‘(B) a description of the challenges to, and op21 portunities for, the assumed or defined veterans-re22 lated interests of the Nation that were examined for 

23 the purposes of that review; 


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1 ‘‘(C) the strategy for meeting the Nation’s com2 mitment to veterans, including a prioritized list of 

3 the missions of the Department; 

4 ‘‘(D) a description of the interagency coopera5 tion, preparedness of Federal assets, infrastructure, 

6 budget plan, and other elements of the programs and 

7 policies of the Nation associated with the strategy re8 ferred to in subsection (b)(1) that are required to exe9 cute successfully the full range of programs and capa10 bilities identified in such strategy and the programs 

11 and capabilities outlined under subsection (b)(2); 

12 ‘‘(E) an assessment of the organizational align13 ment of the Department with the strategy referred to 

14 in subsection (b)(1) and the programs and capabili15 ties outlined under subsection (b)(2), including the 

16 Department’s organizational structure, management 

17 systems, budget and accounting systems, human re18 sources systems, procurement systems, and physical 

19 and technical infrastructure; 

20 ‘‘(F) a discussion of the status of cooperation 

21 among Federal agencies in the effort to promote na22 tional support for veterans; 

23 ‘‘(G) a discussion of the status of cooperation be24 tween the Federal Government and State, local, and 

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1 viding programs, services, benefits, and outcomes to 

2 assist veterans; 

3 ‘‘(H) an explanation of any underlying assump4 tions used in conducting the review; and 

5 ‘‘(I) any other matter the Secretary considers 

6 appropriate.’’. 

7 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec8 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 

9 inserting after the item relating to section 119, as 

10 added by subsection (a)(2), the following new item: 

‘‘120. Quadrennial veterans review.’’. 

11 (c) POLICY GUIDANCE.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Such chapter is further 

13 amended by adding after section 120, as added by 

14 subsection (b)(1), the following new section: 

15 ‘‘§ 121. Policy guidance 

16 ‘‘The Secretary shall provide annually to the appro17 priate officials of the Department written policy guidance 

18 for the preparation and review of the planning and pro19 gram recommendations and budget proposals of the ele20 ments of the Department of such officials. Such guidance 

21 shall include guidance on the objectives of the Department 

22 in accordance with Future-Years Veterans Program under 

23 section 119 of this title and the quadrennial veterans review 

24 under section 120 and the resource levels projected to be 


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1 available for the period of time for which such recommenda2 tions and proposals are to be effective.’’. 

3 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec4 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 

5 inserting after the item relating to section 120, as 

6 added by subsection (b)(2), the following new item: 

‘‘121. Policy guidance.’’. 

7 (d) CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT

8 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 

10 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol11 lowing new section: 

12 ‘‘§ 323. Chief Strategy Officer 

13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall designate the 

14 Assistant Secretary whose functions include planning, stud15 ies, and evaluations as the Chief Strategy Officer of the De16 partment. The Chief Strategy Officer shall advise the Sec17 retary on long-range strategy and implications. 

18 ‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Chief Strategy Officer 

19 is the principal advisor to the Secretary and other senior 

20 officials of the Department, and shall provide independent 

21 analysis and advice to the Secretary and such officials. The 

22 Chief Strategy Officer shall carry out the following respon23 sibilities: 

24 ‘‘(1) Conducting cost estimation and cost anal25 ysis for the programs of the Department. 


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1 ‘‘(2) Establishing policies for, and overseeing the 

2 integration of, the planning, programming, budgeting 

3 and execution process for the Department. 

4 ‘‘(3) Providing analysis and advice on matters 

5 relating to the planning and programming phase of 

6 the planning, programming, budgeting and execution 

7 process, and the preparation of materials and guid8 ance for such process, as directed by the Secretary, 

9 working in coordination with the Assistant Secretary 

10 for Management. 

11 ‘‘(4) Developing and executing the Future-Years 

12 Veterans Program of the Department, as specified 

13 under section 119 of this title. 

14 ‘‘(5) Developing resource discussions relating to 

15 requirements under consideration in the quadrennial 

16 veterans review under section 120 of this title. 

17 ‘‘(6) Formulating study guidance for analysis of 

18 alternatives for programs and initiatives, including 

19 any necessary acquisitions, development, or procure20 ment commensurate with such alternatives, and per21 formance of such analysis as directed by the Sec22 retary. 

23 ‘‘(7) Reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating pro24 grams for executing approved strategies and policies, 


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1 ensuring that information on programs and expected 

2 outcomes is presented accurately and completely. 

3 ‘‘(8) Ensuring that the costs of programs and al4 ternatives are presented accurately and completely by 

5 assisting in establishing standards, policies, and pro6 cedures for the conduct of cost estimation and cost 

7 analysis throughout the Department, including guid8 ance relating to the proper selection of confidence lev9 els in cost estimates generally and for specific pro10 grams of the Department. 

11 ‘‘(9) Conducting studies at the request of the Sec12 retary regarding costs, policy assumptions, and stra13 tegic implications of current policies and possible al14 ternatives. 

15 ‘‘(10) Communicating directly to the Secretary 

16 and the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs about 

17 matters for which the Chief Strategy Officer is re18 sponsible without obtaining the approval or concur19 rence of any other official within the Department.’’. 

20 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec21 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 

22 inserting after the item relating to section 322 the fol23 lowing new item: 

‘‘323. Chief Strategy Officer.’’. 


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1 SEC. 6. STUDY ON THE FUNCTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL 

2 STRUCTURE OF THE OFFICE OF THE SEC3 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND OF THE 

4 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

5 (a) SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS STUDY.—The 

6 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study of the 

7 functions and organizational structure of the Office of the 

8 Secretary and of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

9 (b) CONTENTS OF STUDY.—In conducting the study 

10 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider whether 

11 the allocation of functions and the organizational structure 

12 of the Department, as of the date of the enactment of this 

13 Act, constitute the most effective, efficient, and economical 

14 allocation and structure to assist the Secretary in carrying 

15 out the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary. The Sec16 retary shall also consider— 

17 (1) whether the organization of the Office and 

18 the Department is— 

19 (A) optimally structured to assist the Sec20 retary in the effective exercise of control over the 

21 Department, including— 

22 (i) policy development and strategic 

23 planning; 

24 (ii) programming, planning, and 

25 budget development and policy, program, 

26 and budget execution; and 


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1 (iii) contingency planning; and 

2 (B) the most effective and efficient organiza3 tion for the initiation, development, and articu4 lation of veterans’ policy and the provision of 

5 benefits and services; 

6 (2) means of improving and strengthening the 

7 oversight and accountability within the Office and 

8 Department; 

9 (3) factors inhibiting efficient and effective exe10 cution of the functions of the Office and the Depart11 ment, including factors relating to— 

12 (A) any duplication of functions (both with13 in and between the Office and Department); 

14 (B) the availability to the Secretary of suf15 ficient and detailed information regarding the 

16 operation of the Department to enable effective 

17 planning, policy execution, and oversight; and 

18 (C) the sufficiency of resources, including 

19 personnel, to carry out current and projected re20 quirements in a more effective and efficient man21 ner; and 

22 (4) possible alternative allocations and realign23 ments of authorities and functions within the Office 

24 and Department to improve the Department’s overall 

25 operation and better provide benefits and services. 


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1 (c) INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STUDY.—The Sec2 retary shall enter into a contract with an appropriate enti3 ty under which the entity shall carry out an independent 

4 study of the same matters required to be considered by the 

5 Secretary under subsection (b). The Secretary shall ensure 

6 that the entity has full access to such information as the 

7 contractor requires in order to conduct the study and that 

8 the contractor otherwise receives full cooperation from all 

9 officials and entities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

10 (d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than one year 

11 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

12 of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Vet13 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 

14 a report on the Secretary’s study under subsection (a). The 

15 report shall include— 

16 (1) the findings and conclusions of the Secretary 

17 with respect to each of the matters set forth in sub18 section (b); 

19 (2) any recommendations of the Secretary for or20 ganizational changes in the Office of the Secretary 

21 and the overall Department and a description of the 

22 means for implementing each recommendation; and 

23 (3) a copy of the report of the independent con24 tractor under subsection (c), together with such comVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:36 Sep 17, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H813.RH H813

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1 ments on such report as the Secretary considers ap2 propriate. 

3 SEC. 7. PERFORMANCE AWARDS IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE 

4 SERVICE. 

5 For each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, the Sec6 retary of Veterans Affairs may not pay any performance 

7 awards under section 5384 of title 5, United States Code. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to amend title 

38, United States Code, to provide for advance appropriations for certain discretionary accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to direct the Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a Future-Years 

Veterans Program and a quadrennial veterans review, to 

establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Chief 

Strategy Officer, and for other purposes.’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 156 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 813 

[Report No. 113–212] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide 

Affairs. tionary accounts of the Department of Veterans for advance appropriations for certain discreSEPTEMBER 17, 2013 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 

dered to be printed of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and orVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:36 Sep 17, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H813.RH H813

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