‘‘strategic and performance planning, measurement, 
analysis, regular assessment of progress, and use of 
performance information to improve the results 
achieved’’. 
(d) EVALUATION PLAN.—The Secretary shall pre-
pare an annual organization evaluation plan for the Vet-
erans Health Administration that is informed by the rec-
ommendations of the Comptroller General based on the 
management review conducted under section 2. 
(e) ASSISTANCE IN PILOT PROGRAM.—The Manage-
ment and Accountability Ombudsman described in section 
312B of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 
4(a), shall assist in the pilot program under subsection 
(a) by— 
(1) identifying areas in which employees of the 
Department have problems implementing the pilot 
program, including application of logic modeling, 
managing risk of perverse incentives, and other 
issues that the Ombudsman determine appropriate; 
(2) to the extent practicable, proposing changes 
in the administrative practices of the implementation 
of the pilot program to mitigate problems identified 
under paragraph (1); and 
(3) reviewing, examining, and making rec-
ommendations regarding logic modeling policies, 
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strategies, and programs of the Veterans Health Ad-
ministration. 
(f) BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days 
before the Secretary commences the pilot program 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide to 
the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate and the Comptroller 
General a briefing on— 
(A) a logic model of how the features of 
the pilot program will address the problems 
identified in the management review conducted 
under section 2; and 
(B) such other items as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate. 
(2) UPDATES.—Not later than 240 days after 
the Secretary commences the pilot program under 
subsection (a), and annually thereafter during the 
period in which the Secretary carries out the pilot 
program, the Secretary shall provide to the Commit-
tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Represent-
atives and the Senate and the Comptroller General 
a briefing on— 
(A) an evaluation of the implementation 
and effectiveness of carrying out this section, 
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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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