WINGMAN Act

To title 38, United States Code, to permit veterans to grant access to their records in the databases of the Veterans Benefits Administration to certain designated congressional employees, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act WINGMAN Act 2. Provision of access to case-tracking information (a) In general Chapter 59 5906. Access of certain congressional employees to veteran records (a) In general (1) The Secretary shall provide to each veteran who submits a claim for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary an opportunity to permit a covered congressional employee employed in the office of the Member of Congress representing the district where the veteran resides to have access to all of the records of the veteran in the databases of the Veterans Benefits Administration. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon receipt of permission from the veteran under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide read-only access to such records to such a covered congressional employee in a manner that does not allow such employee to modify the data contained in such records or in any part of a database of the Veterans Benefits Administration. (3) A Member of Congress may designate not more than two employees of the Member as covered congressional employees. (b) Covered congressional employees (1) In this section, a covered congressional employee is a permanent, full-time employee of a Member of Congress— (A) whose responsibilities include assisting the constituents of the Member with issues regarding departments or agencies of the Federal Government; (B) who satisfies the criteria required by the Secretary for recognition as an agent or attorney under this chapter; and (C) who is designated by a Member of Congress as a covered congressional employee for purposes of this section. (2) The Secretary may not impose any requirement other than the requirements under paragraph (1) before treating an employee as a covered congressional employee for purposes of this section. (c) Nonrecognition A covered congressional employee may not be recognized as an agent or attorney under this chapter. (d) Limitation on use of funds None of the amounts made available to carry out this section may be used to design, develop, or administer any training for purposes of providing training to covered congressional employees. (e) No authorization of appropriations No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section. This section may only be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated, of which, during the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2022, not more than $10,000,000 may be obligated or expended for such purpose. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The term database of the Veterans Benefits Administration (2) The term Member of Congress . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 5906. Access of certain congressional employees to veteran records. .

Summary: Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide veterans with the option to grant read-only access to their records in the databases of the Veterans Benefits Administration to covered congressional employees. The covered congressional employees must be employed in the office of the Member of Congress who represents the district where the veteran resides. Under the bill, a covered congressional employee is (1) a permanent, full-time employee of a Member of Congress who is responsible for assisting constituents with federal agencies and departments; (2) designated by the Member; and (3) someone who satisfies the criteria required by the VA for recognition as an agent or attorney. However, the bill specifies that a covered congressional employee may not be recognized as an agent or attorney with respect to veterans' benefit claims.