including any challenges encountered and les-
sons learned; 
(B) planned actions to improve the success 
of the pilot program, including a milestone plan 
for such actions; and 
(C) such other items as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate. 
(g) DURATION.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) commence the pilot program under sub-
section (a) by not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the Comptroller General submits the report 
under section 2(b); and 
(2) carry out the pilot program for a period of 
five years. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘logic modeling’’ means an ap-
proach, also referred to as program theory, program 
modeling, or theory of change, that articulates the 
assumptions of the strategy or tactics of a program 
or activity and how such strategy or tactics relate to 
the benefits that the program or activity is expected 
to contribute toward in order to achieve certain 
goals, objectives or responsibilities, and may in-
clude— 
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(A) the mapping of direct and indirect re-
lationships among relevant resources, activities, 
milestones, outputs, intermediate outcomes, and 
end outcomes; and 
(B) if significant coordination or coopera-
tion with entities external to a program or ac-
tivity may contribute to achieving the relevant 
goals, objectives, or responsibilities, the map-
ping of the roles of entities external to the pro-
gram or activity. 
(2) The term ‘‘risk management’’ means the 
processes that are used to identify, assess, monitor, 
mitigate, and report on risks to achieving the mis-
sions, goals, and objectives of a department, agency, 
or program using resources and processes appro-
priate to the nature of risks and resources available. 
SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OMBUDSMAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 312A 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 312B. Management and accountability ombudsman 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) There is in the Department 
an Office of the Management and Accountability Ombuds-
man (in this section referred to as the ‘Office’). There is 
at the head of the Office an Ombudsman, who shall be 
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appointed by the President from among individuals with 
a background in enterprise risk management. 
‘‘(2) The Ombudsman shall report directly to the Sec-
retary but the Secretary may not prevent or prohibit the 
Ombudsman from initiating, carrying out, or completing 
any responsibility of the Ombudsman. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall determine the appropriate 
level of staffing and distribution of responsibility to ensure 
the success of the Office. 
‘‘(4) The President shall include in the budget trans-
mitted to the Congress for each fiscal year pursuant to 
section 1105 of title 31 an estimate of the amount for 
the Office that is sufficient to provide for a number of 
full-time positions in the Office. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Ombudsman shall— 
‘‘(1) receive and address reports from employ-
ees and employee representatives of the Veterans 
Health Administration Affairs and assist in resolv-
ing problems with the management, administration, 
and delivery of care of the Veterans Health Agency; 
‘‘(2) communicate to the Secretary the observa-
tions and findings received pursuant to paragraph 
(1); 
‘‘(3) conduct inspections of medical facilities of 
the Veterans Health Administration, including non- 
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Department facilities that provide care pursuant to 
a contract entered into under chapter 17 of this title 
as necessary; 
‘‘(4) establish a program under which the Om-
budsman and the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) provide incentives to employees of the 
Veterans Health Administration who suggest 
methods to improve the management and oper-
ations of the Veterans Health Administration; 
‘‘(B) carry out in a pilot program the sug-
gestions that are likely to be successful; and 
‘‘(C) if such a pilot program demonstrates 
that a suggestion causes a marked improvement 
in such management and operations— 
‘‘(i) reward the employee who made 
such suggestion; and 
‘‘(ii) 
carry 
out 
such 
suggestion 
throughout the Veterans Health Adminis-
tration; and 
‘‘(5) not less frequently than once each calendar 
quarter, provide to the Secretary a summary and 
relevant statistics concerning the activities and find-
ings of the Ombudsman, including a summary of the 
suggestions made and carried out pursuant to para-
graph (4). 
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‘‘(c) REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATIONS.—The Ombuds-
man may request the Inspector General of the Department 
to conduct an inspection, investigation, or audit. Upon 
such a request, the Inspector General shall respond to the 
Ombudsman explaining the plan of the Inspector General 
to comply with such request or the rationale of the Inspec-
tor General for denying such request. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that each element of the Department has procedures to 
provide the Ombudsman with formal responses to any rec-
ommendation submitted by the Ombudsman to the head 
of such element. 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than June 30 of 
each year, the Ombudsman shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives a report on the objectives of the Ombuds-
man for the fiscal year beginning in such calendar year. 
Each report shall— 
‘‘(1) contain a full and substantive analysis, in 
addition to statistical information; and 
‘‘(2) set forth any recommendations the Om-
budsman has made on improving the management 
and accountability of the employees of the Depart-
ment and any responses received under subsection 
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