Restructuring efforts in our health care system will continue in 2002. VA has begun an infrastructure reform initiative that will enhance our ability to provide health care to eligible veterans living in underserved geographic areas. Savings from this effort will allow us to redirect funds from the maintenance of underused facilities to patient care. One proposal would eliminate the vendee loan program and the other proposals would extend previously enacted mandatory savings authorities that would otherwise expire over the next several years. Finally, we will continue to reform our information technology.
New technology offers VA opportunities for innovation.
It also offers a means to break down the bureaucratic barriers that impede service delivery to veterans, divide VA from other Federal government departments, and create inefficiencies within VA itself. I have instructed my staff to convene a panel of world experts in the area of systems architecture to team with our Administrations and staff offices to develop a comprehensive Integrated Enterprise Architecture Plan. I expect to be able to deliver this plan to Congress in a matter of months. We will implement a technology plan that serves veterans first. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my formal remarks.