IIB 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 216 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MARCH 25, 2015 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
AN ACT 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a Fu-
ture-Years Veterans Program and a quadrennial veterans 
review, to establish in the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs a Chief Strategy Officer, and for other purposes. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Vet-
erans Affairs Budget Planning Reform Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF STRATEGIC PLANS TO IM-
PROVE PROGRAMS AND BENEFITS FOR VET-
ERANS. 
(a) FUTURE-YEARS VETERANS PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 119. Future-Years Veterans Program 
‘‘(a) SUBMISSION
TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 
shall submit to Congress each year, at or about the time 
that the President’s budget is submitted to Congress pur-
suant to section 1105(a) of title 31, a Future-Years Vet-
erans Program reflecting the estimated expenditures and 
proposed appropriations included in that budget. Any such 
Future-Years Veterans Program shall cover the fiscal year 
with respect to which the budget is submitted and at least 
the four succeeding fiscal years. 
‘‘(b) CONSISTENCY.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure 
that amounts described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph 
(2) for any fiscal year are consistent with amounts de-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
scribed in subparagraph (B) of such paragraph for that 
fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) Amounts referred to in paragraph (1) are the 
following: 
‘‘(A) The amounts specified in program and 
budget information submitted to Congress by the 
Secretary in support of expenditure estimates and 
proposed appropriations in the budget submitted to 
Congress by the President under section 1105(a) of 
title 31 for any fiscal year, as shown in the Future- 
Years Veterans Program submitted pursuant to sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(B) The total amounts of estimated expendi-
tures and proposed appropriations necessary to sup-
port the programs, projects, and activities of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs included pursuant to 
paragraph (5) of section 1105(a) of title 31 in the 
budget submitted to Congress under that section for 
any fiscal year. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—The Future-Years Veterans Pro-
gram under subsection (a) shall set forth the five-year 
plan of the Department to address the commitment of the 
United States to veterans and the resources necessary to 
meet that commitment and shall be developed and up-
dated, as appropriate, annually by the Secretary. Each 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
Future-Years Veterans Program shall include an expla-
nation of— 
‘‘(1) the information that was used to develop 
program planning guidance for the Future-Years 
Veterans Program; and 
‘‘(2) how the resource allocations included in 
the Future-Years Veterans Program correlate to 
such five-year strategy. 
‘‘(d) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish on 
a publically accessible Internet website of the Department 
each Future-Years Veterans Program submitted pursuant 
to subsection (a).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 118 
the following new item: 
‘‘119. Future-Years Veterans Program.’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 119 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), 
shall apply with respect to the preparation and sub-
mission of the budget request for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2020 and fiscal 
years thereafter. 
(b) QUADRENNIAL VETERANS REVIEW.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Such chapter is further 
amended by adding after section 119, as added by 
subsection (a)(1), the following new section: 
‘‘§ 120. Quadrennial veterans review 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—(1) Not later than fiscal year 
2019, and every fourth year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
conduct a review of the strategy for meeting the commit-
ment of the United States to veterans and the resources 
necessary to meet that commitment (in this section re-
ferred to as a ‘quadrennial veterans review’). 
‘‘(2) Each quadrennial veterans review shall include 
a comprehensive examination of the policies and strategies 
of the United States with respect to veterans, including 
recommendations regarding the long-term strategy and 
priorities for programs, services, benefits, and outcomes 
regarding veterans and guidance on the programs, assets, 
capabilities, budget, policies, and authorities of the De-
partment. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall conduct each quadrennial 
veterans review in consultation with key officials of the 
Department, the heads of other Federal agencies, and 
other relevant governmental and nongovernmental enti-
ties, including State, local, and tribal government officials, 
members of Congress, veterans service organizations, pri-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
vate sector representatives, academics, and other policy ex-
perts. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall ensure that each quadren-
nial veterans review is coordinated with the Future-Years 
Veterans Program required under section 119 of this title. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF REVIEW.—In each quadrennial 
veterans review, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) delineate a veterans strategy consistent 
with the commitment of the United States to vet-
erans and refine a strategy for the types of, and pro-
vision of, programs, services, benefits, and outcomes 
consistent with current authorities and require-
ments; 
‘‘(2) outline and prioritize the full range of pro-
grams and capabilities regarding veterans provided 
by the Federal Government; 
‘‘(3) identify the budget plan required to pro-
vide sufficient resources to successfully execute the 
full range of such programs and capabilities; 
‘‘(4) include an assessment of the organiza-
tional alignment of the Department with respect to 
the strategy referred to in paragraph (1) and the 
programs and capabilities referred to in paragraph 
(2); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
‘‘(5) review and assess the effectiveness of the 
mechanisms of the Department for executing the 
process of turning the requirements identified in the 
quadrennial veterans review into a plan to meet such 
requirements, including an expenditure plan for the 
Department; and 
‘‘(6) identify emerging trends, problems, oppor-
tunities, and issues that could affect veterans or the 
Department during the ten-year period following the 
period covered by the review. 
‘‘(c) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—(1) The Secretary 
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives a report re-
garding each quadrennial veterans review. The Secretary 
shall submit the report in the year following the year in 
which the review is conducted, but not later than the date 
on which the President submits to Congress the budget 
for the next fiscal year under section 1105 of title 31. 
‘‘(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
shall include— 
‘‘(A) the results of the quadrennial veterans re-
view; 
‘‘(B) a description of the challenges to, and op-
portunities for, the assumed or defined veterans-re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
lated interests of the Nation that were examined for 
the purposes of that review; 
‘‘(C) the strategy for meeting the Nation’s com-
mitment to veterans, including a prioritized list of 
the missions of the Department; 
‘‘(D) a description of the interagency coopera-
tion, preparedness of Federal assets, infrastructure, 
budget plan, and other elements of the programs 
and policies of the Nation associated with the strat-
egy referred to in subsection (b)(1) that are required 
to execute successfully the full range of programs 
and capabilities identified in such strategy and the 
programs and capabilities outlined under subsection 
(b)(2); 
‘‘(E) an assessment of the organizational align-
ment of the Department with the strategy referred 
to in subsection (b)(1) and the programs and capa-
bilities outlined under subsection (b)(2), including 
the Department’s organizational structure, manage-
ment systems, budget and accounting systems, 
human resources systems, procurement systems, and 
physical and technical infrastructure; 
‘‘(F) a discussion of the status of cooperation 
among Federal agencies in the effort to promote na-
tional support for veterans; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
‘‘(G) a discussion of the status of cooperation 
between the Federal Government and State, local, 
and tribal governments in supporting veterans and 
providing programs, services, benefits, and outcomes 
to assist veterans; 
‘‘(H) an explanation of any underlying assump-
tions used in conducting the review; and 
‘‘(I) any other matter the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
‘‘(d) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish on 
a publically accessible Internet website of the Department 
each quadrennial veterans review submitted pursuant to 
subsection (c). 
‘‘(e) INDEPENDENT VETERANS REVIEW PANEL.—(1) 
Not later than February 1 of a year in which a quadren-
nial veterans review is conducted under this section, the 
Secretary shall establish an independent panel to be 
known as the Independent Veterans Review Panel (in this 
subsection referred to as the ‘Panel’). The Panel shall 
have the duties set forth in this subsection. 
‘‘(2) The Panel shall be composed of 10 members who 
are recognized experts in matters relating to veterans. The 
members shall be appointed as follows: 
‘‘(A) Two by the chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
‘‘(B) Two by the chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate. 
‘‘(C) Two by the ranking member of the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
‘‘(D) Two by the ranking member of the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate. 
‘‘(E) Two by the Secretary, who shall serve as 
co-chairs of the panel. 
‘‘(3) Members shall be appointed for the life of the 
Panel. Any vacancy in the Panel shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment. 
‘‘(4) The Panel shall have the following duties with 
respect to a quadrennial veterans review: 
‘‘(A) While the review is being conducted, the 
Panel shall review the updates from the Secretary 
required under paragraph (7) on the progress of the 
conduct of the review. 
‘‘(B) The Panel shall— 
‘‘(i) review the Secretary’s terms of ref-
erence and any other materials providing the 
basis for, or substantial inputs to, the work of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs on the 
quadrennial veterans review; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
‘‘(ii) conduct an assessment of the assump-
tions, strategy, findings, and risks included in 
the report on the quadrennial veterans review 
required in subsection (c); 
‘‘(iii) conduct an independent assessment 
of a variety of strategies for delivering services 
and support to veterans; 
‘‘(iv) review the resource requirements 
identified pursuant to subsection (b)(3) and, to 
the extent practicable, make a general compari-
son to the resource requirements to support the 
strategies assessed under this subparagraph; 
and 
‘‘(v) provide to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives and the Secretary, through the 
report under paragraph (7), any recommenda-
tions the Panel determines appropriate. 
‘‘(5) If the Secretary has not appointed members to 
the Panel under paragraph (2)(E) by February 1 of a year 
in which a quadrennial veterans review is conducted under 
this section, the Panel shall convene for its first meeting 
with the remaining members. 
‘‘(6) Not later than three months after the date on 
which the report on a quadrennial veterans review is sub-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
mitted under subsection (c) to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives, the Panel shall submit to such committees a report 
containing an assessment of the quadrennial veterans re-
view, including a description of the items addressed under 
paragraph (4) with respect to that quadrennial veterans 
review. 
‘‘(7) Periodically, but not less often than every 60 
days during the life of the panel, or at the request of the 
co-chairs, the Secretary shall brief the Panel on the 
progress of the conduct of the quadrennial veterans re-
view. 
‘‘(8)(A) The Panel may request directly from the De-
partment such information as the Panel considers nec-
essary to carry out its duties under this subsection. The 
Secretary shall cooperate with the Panel to ensure that 
information requested by the Panel under this subpara-
graph is promptly provided to the maximum extent prac-
tical. 
‘‘(B) Upon the request of the co-chairs, the Secretary 
shall make available to the Panel the services of any feder-
ally funded research and development center that is cov-
ered by a sponsoring agreement of the Department. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
‘‘(C) The Panel shall have the authorities provided 
in section 3161 of title 5 and shall be subject to the condi-
tions set forth in such section. 
‘‘(D) Funds for activities of the Panel shall be pro-
vided from amounts available to the Department. 
‘‘(9) The Panel shall terminate 45 days after the date 
on which the Panel submits the report on the quadrennial 
veterans review under paragraph (6).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 119, 
as added by subsection (a)(2), the following new 
item: 
‘‘120. Quadrennial veterans review.’’. 
(c) POLICY GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Such chapter is further 
amended by adding after section 120, as added by 
subsection (b)(1), the following new section: 
‘‘§ 121. Policy guidance 
‘‘The Secretary shall provide annually to the appro-
priate officials of the Department written policy guidance 
for the preparation and review of the planning and pro-
gram recommendations and budget proposals of the ele-
ments of the Department of such officials. Such guidance 
shall include guidance on the objectives of the Department 
in accordance with Future-Years Veterans Program under 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
section 119 of this title and the quadrennial veterans re-
view under section 120 and the resource levels projected 
to be available for the period of time for which such rec-
ommendations and proposals are to be effective.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 120, 
as added by subsection (b)(2), the following new 
item: 
‘‘121. Policy guidance.’’. 
SEC. 3. CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 323. Chief Strategy Officer 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall designate 
the Assistant Secretary whose functions include planning, 
studies, and evaluations as the Chief Strategy Officer of 
the Department. The Chief Strategy Officer shall advise 
the Secretary on long-range strategy and implications. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Chief Strategy Officer 
is the principal advisor to the Secretary and other senior 
officials of the Department, and shall provide independent 
analysis and advice to the Secretary and such officials. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
The Chief Strategy Officer shall carry out the following 
responsibilities: 
‘‘(1) Conducting cost estimation and cost anal-
ysis for the programs of the Department. 
‘‘(2) Establishing policies for, and overseeing 
the integration of, the planning, programming, 
budgeting and execution process for the Depart-
ment. 
‘‘(3) Providing analysis and advice on matters 
relating to the planning and programming phase of 
the planning, programming, budgeting and execution 
process, and the preparation of materials and guid-
ance for such process, as directed by the Secretary, 
working in coordination with the Assistant Secretary 
for Management. 
‘‘(4) Developing and executing the Future- 
Years Veterans Program of the Department, as 
specified under section 119 of this title. 
‘‘(5) Developing resource discussions relating to 
requirements under consideration in the quadrennial 
veterans review under section 120 of this title. 
‘‘(6) Formulating study guidance for analysis of 
alternatives for programs and initiatives, including 
any necessary acquisitions, development, or procure-
ment commensurate with such alternatives, and per-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
formance of such analysis as directed by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(7) Reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating pro-
grams for executing approved strategies and policies, 
ensuring that information on programs and expected 
outcomes is presented accurately and completely. 
‘‘(8) Ensuring that the costs of programs and 
alternatives are presented accurately and completely 
by assisting in establishing standards, policies, and 
procedures for the conduct of cost estimation and 
cost analysis throughout the Department, including 
guidance relating to the proper selection of con-
fidence levels in cost estimates generally and for spe-
cific programs of the Department. 
‘‘(9) Conducting studies at the request of the 
Secretary regarding costs, policy assumptions, and 
strategic implications of current policies and possible 
alternatives. 
‘‘(10) Communicating directly to the Secretary 
and the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs about 
matters for which the Chief Strategy Officer is re-
sponsible without obtaining the approval or concur-
rence of any other official within the Department.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 216 RFS
after the item relating to section 322 the following new 
item: 
‘‘323. Chief Strategy Officer.’’. 
SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON NEW APPROPRIATIONS. 
No additional funds are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act or the amendments made 
by this Act. This Act and such amendments shall be car-
ried out using amounts otherwise available for the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. 
Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 
2015. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:37 Mar 26, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H216.RFS
H216
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS