I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9216 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive 
study on the use of distributed ledger technology in the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 30, 2024 
Ms. MACE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 
comprehensive study on the use of distributed ledger 
technology in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Veterans Affairs Dis-
tributed Ledger Innovation Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:26 Aug 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9216.IH
H9216
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) veterans deserve efficient, transparent, and 
secure access to benefits and services earned through 
their honorable service; 
(2) distributed ledger technology offers prom-
ising solutions for enhancing data integrity, security, 
and transparency; and 
(3) exploring innovative technologies such as 
distributed ledger technology could significantly im-
prove the allocation of benefits, management of in-
surance programs, and maintenance of records with-
in the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS STUDY ON 
USE OF DISTRIBUTED LEDGER TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility, po-
tential benefits, and risks associated with using distrib-
uted ledger technology across various programs and serv-
ices of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) MATTERS FOR EXAMINATION.—In conducting the 
study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall examine 
how distributed ledger technology could— 
(1) improve the efficiency and accuracy of bene-
fits allocation to veterans; 
(2) enhance the management and security of 
veterans’ records and personal data; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:26 Aug 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9216.IH
H9216
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(3) streamline insurance claim processes for 
veterans; and 
(4) increase transparency and accountability in 
the delivery of services to veterans. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with— 
(1) experts in distributed ledger technology; 
(2) representatives of veterans service organiza-
tions; 
(3) the heads of other Federal agencies with ex-
perience using distributed ledger technology; and 
(4) any other stakeholders the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report on the findings of the 
study under subsection (a). Such report shall include each 
of the following: 
(1) The findings of the study regarding the fea-
sibility of implementing distributed ledger technology 
in the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(2) A description of potential benefits and risks 
associated with the implementation of such tech-
nology in the Department. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:26 Aug 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9216.IH
H9216
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(3) Any recommendations of the Secretary re-
garding pilot programs or other initiatives that 
should be implemented to test the use of distributed 
ledger technology in specific areas of Department 
operations, such as benefits distribution or insurance 
claims. 
(4) Any legislative or administrative actions re-
quired to implement such technology in the Depart-
ment. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘distributed ledger’’ means a 
ledger that is— 
(A) is shared across a set of distributed 
nodes, which are devices or processes, that par-
ticipate in a network and store a complete or 
partial replica of the ledger; 
(B) is synchronized between the nodes; 
(C) has data appended to it by following a 
specified consensus mechanism; 
(D) publicly accessible or restricted to a 
subset of participants; and 
(E) may require participants to have au-
thorization to perform certain actions or require 
no authorization. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:26 Aug 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9216.IH
H9216
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) The term ‘‘distributed ledger technology’’ 
means technology that enables the operation and use 
of distributed ledgers. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:26 Aug 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H9216.IH
H9216
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS