Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022

To require the Archivist of the United States to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan for reducing the backlog of requests for records from the National Personnel Records Center, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022 2. Plan to eliminate records backlog at the National Personnel Records Center (a) Plan required Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Archivist of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive plan to eliminate the backlog of requests for records from the National Personnel Records Center and to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of operations at the National Personnel Records Center, that includes, at a minimum, the following: (1) The number and percentage of unresolved veteran record requests that have been pending for more than— (A) 20 days; (B) 90 days; and (C) one year. (2) Target timeframes to eliminate the backlog. (3) A detailed plan for using existing funds to improve information technology infrastructure, including secure access to appropriate agency Federal records, to prevent future backlogs. (4) Actions to improve customer service for requesters. (5) Measurable goals with respect to the comprehensive plan and metrics for tracking progress toward such goals. (6) Strategies to prevent future record request backlogs, including backlogs caused by an event that prevents employees of the Center from reporting to work in person. (b) Updates Not later than 90 days after the date on which the comprehensive plan is submitted under subsection (a), and semiannually thereafter until the National Personnel Records Center resolves 90 percent of all requests for separation documents (other than documents subject to fees or involving records damaged or lost in the 1973 fire) in 20 days or less, the Archivist of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an update of such plan that— (1) describes progress made by the National Personnel Records Center during the preceding 180-day period with respect to record request backlog reduction and efficiency and responsiveness improvement; (2) provides data on progress made toward the goals identified in the comprehensive plan; and (3) describes any changes made to the comprehensive plan. (c) Consultation requirement In carrying out subsections (a) and (b), the Archivist of the United States shall consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees (1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives. 3. Additional funding In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is authorized to be appropriated to the National Archives and Records Administration, $20,000,000 to address backlogs in responding to requests from veterans for military personnel records. and Records Administration, $60,000,000 to address backlogs in responding to requests from veterans for military personnel records, improve cybersecurity, improve digital preservation and access to archival Federal records, and address backlogs in requests made under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act 4. Additional staffing Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Archivist of the United States shall ensure that the National Personnel Records Center maintains staffing levels that enable the maximum processing of records requests possible in order to achieve the performance goal of responding to 90 percent of all requests for separation documents (other than documents subject to fees or involving records damaged or lost in the 1973 fire) serviced in 20 days or less. 5. Additional reporting The Inspector General for the National Archives and Records Administration shall, for two years following the date of the enactment of this Act, include in every semiannual report submitted to Congress pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, a detailed summary of— (1) efforts taken by the National Archives and Records Administration to address the backlog of records requests at the National Personnel Records Center; and (2) any recommendations for action proposed by the Inspector General related to reducing the backlog of records requests at the National Personnel Records Center and the status of compliance with those recommendations by the National Archives and Records Administration. December 15, 2022 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022 This bill directs the Office of the Archivist of the United States to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan for eliminating the backlog of requests for records from, and improving the efficiency and responsiveness of operations at, the National Personnel Records Center. Such plan must include the number and percentage of unresolved veteran record requests that have been pending for more than 20 days, 90 days, and one year; target time frames to eliminate the backlog; a detailed plan for using existing funds to improve technology infrastructure, including secure access to appropriate agency federal records, to prevent future backlogs; actions to improve customer service for requesters; measurable goals with respect to the comprehensive plan and metrics for tracking progress toward such goals; and strategies to prevent future record request backlogs, including backlogs caused by an event that prevents employees of the center from reporting to work in person. The office must submit updates of such plan at specified intervals.