H. R. 2617—1027 
(c) REPORTING HARASSMENT AND EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION 
COMPLAINTS.—Subsection (a) of such section is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) The Sec-
retary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the employment discrimi-
nation complaint resolution system established under paragraph 
(1) requires that any manager of the Department who receives 
a sexual or other harassment or employment discrimination com-
plaint reports such complaint to the Office of Resolution Manage-
ment, or successor office, immediately, or if such immediate 
reporting is impracticable, not later than two days after the date 
on which the manager receives the complaint.’’. 
(d) TRAINING.—Subsection (c) of such section is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph 
Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement 
Act of 2022, the Secretary shall provide to each employee of the 
Department mandatory annual training on identifying and 
addressing sexual and other harassment and employment discrimi-
nation, including with respect to processes under the Harassment 
Prevention Program of the Department, or such successor program. 
‘‘(B) An employee of the Department who is hired on or after 
such date shall receive the first such mandatory annual training 
not later than 60 days after being hired.’’. 
(e) HARASSMENT AND EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION POLICIES 
AND DIRECTIVES.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(1) by not later than the date that is 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and on a regular basis 
thereafter, review the policies relating to sexual and other 
harassment and employment discrimination of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs to ensure that such policies are complete 
and in accordance with the sexual and other harassment and 
employment discrimination policies established by the Office 
of Resolution Management of the Department, or successor 
office; and 
(2) by not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, issue a final directive and a handbook for 
the Harassment Prevention Program of the Department. 
(f) SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and semiannually thereafter 
for one year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on the progress the Secretary has made in carrying out this section 
and section 516 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by 
this section, including with respect to reporting sexual and other 
harassment and employment discrimination complaints pursuant 
to subsection (a)(2) of such section 516. 
SEC. 403. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INFORMATION TECH-
NOLOGY REFORM ACT OF 2022. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:
H. R. 2617—1028 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VI—INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS 
AND ACTIVITIES 
‘‘§ 8171. Definitions 
‘‘In this subchapter: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘information technology’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 11101 of title 40. 
‘‘(3)(A) The term ‘information technology project’ means 
a project or program of the Department (including a project 
or program of any element of the Department) for, or including, 
the acquisition or implementation of information technology. 
‘‘(B) In cases where the Secretary transmits to the Director 
of the Office of Management and Budget information regarding 
information technology investments, which may consist of indi-
vidual or multiple projects, the term ‘information technology 
project’ refers to an individual project or program or a grouping 
of multiple projects or programs resulting in the acquisition 
or implementation of discrete information technology. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘life cycle costs’ means all direct and indirect 
costs to acquire, implement, operate, and maintain information 
technology, including with respect to costs of any element of 
the Department. 
‘‘(5) The term ‘major information technology project’ means 
an information technology project if— 
‘‘(A) the project is designated by the Secretary, the 
Chief Information Officer of the Department, or the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget as a 
major information technology investment, as defined in 
section 11302 of title 40; or 
‘‘(B) the dollar value of the project is estimated by 
the Secretary to exceed— 
‘‘(i) $1,000,000,000 (as adjusted for inflation pursu-
ant to section 1908 of title 41) for the total life cycle 
costs of the project; or 
‘‘(ii) $200,000,000 (as adjusted for inflation pursu-
ant to section 1908 of title 41) annually. 
‘‘(6) The term ‘business owner’ means, with respect to an 
information technology project, the program manager, project 
manager, or other supervisory official of the Department 
responsible for the project. 
‘‘§ 8172. Management of major information technology 
projects 
‘‘(a) COST, SCHEDULE, AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.—(1) 
The Secretary shall, acting through the Chief Information Officer 
of the Department, submit to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees a report containing information on the cost, schedule, and 
performance of each major information technology project that 
begins after the date of the enactment of the Joseph Maxwell 
Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and
H. R. 2617—1029 
Health Care Improvement Act of 2022, as generated by the business 
owner of the project, prior to the commencement of such project. 
‘‘(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) for a project 
shall include, with respect to such project, the following: 
‘‘(A) An estimate of acquisition costs, implementation costs, 
and life cycle costs. 
‘‘(B) An intended implementation schedule indicating 
significant milestones, initial operating capability, and full oper-
ating capability or completion. 
‘‘(C) Key business, functional, and performance objectives. 
‘‘(b) BASELINE.—(1) The Secretary shall use the information 
on the cost, schedule, and performance of a major information 
technology project included in the report under subsection (a) as 
the baseline against which changes or variances are measured 
during the life cycle of such project. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) annually update the baseline of a major information 
technology project pursuant to subsection (c); and 
‘‘(B) include such updated baseline in the documents pro-
viding detailed information on the budget for the Department 
that the Secretary submits to Congress in conjunction with 
the President’s budget submission pursuant to section 1105 
of title 31. 
‘‘(c) CHANGES
AND VARIANCES.—(1) Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Secretary identifies a change or variance 
described in paragraph (2) in the cost, schedule, or performance 
of a major information technology project, the Secretary, acting 
through the Chief Information Officer, shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a notification of such change or 
variance, including a description and explanation for such change 
or variance. 
‘‘(2) A change or variance in the cost, schedule, or performance 
of a major information technology project described in this para-
graph is— 
‘‘(A) with respect to the acquisition, implementation, or 
life cycle cost of the project, or development increment therein, 
a change or variance that is 10 percent or greater compared 
to the baseline; 
‘‘(B) with respect to the schedule for a development incre-
ment or for achieving a significant milestone, initial operating 
capability, or full operating capability, or for the final comple-
tion of the project, a change or variance that is 180 days 
or greater compared to the baseline; or 
‘‘(C) with respect to the performance, an instance where 
a key business, functional, or performance objective is not 
attained, or is not anticipated to be attained, in whole or 
in part. 
‘‘(d) MANAGEMENT.—The Secretary shall ensure that each major 
information technology project is managed by an interdisciplinary 
team consisting of the following: 
‘‘(1) A project manager who— 
‘‘(A)(i) is certified in project management at level three 
by— 
‘‘(I) the Department; 
‘‘(II) the Federal Acquisition Institute pursuant 
to section 1201 of title 41; or
H. R. 2617—1030 
‘‘(III) the Department of Defense pursuant to sec-
tion 1701a of title 10; or 
‘‘(ii) holds an equivalent certification by a private sector 
project management certification organization, as deter-
mined appropriate by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) is an employee of the Office of Information and 
Technology of the Department or an employee of an element 
of the Department at which the project originates. 
‘‘(2) A functional lead who is an employee of the element 
of the Department at which the project originates. 
‘‘(3) A technical lead who is an employee of the Office 
of Information and Technology of the Department. 
‘‘(4) A contracting officer. 
‘‘(5) Sufficient other project management, functional, tech-
nical, and procurement personnel as the Secretary determines 
appropriate. 
‘‘§ 8173. Information technology activities of the Financial 
Services Center 
‘‘(a) MANAGEMENT.—Consistent with sections 11302 and 11319 
of title 40— 
‘‘(1) the Chief Information Officer of the Department shall— 
‘‘(A) exercise authority over the management, govern-
ance, and oversight processes relating to existing or pro-
posed information technology of the Financial Services 
Center of the Department, or such successor office; and 
‘‘(B) supervise the information technology employees 
and contractors of the Financial Services Center; and 
‘‘(2) the Director of the Financial Services Center of the 
Department, or the head of such successor office, may not 
enter into a contract or other agreement for information tech-
nology or information technology services unless the contract 
or other agreement has been reviewed and approved by the 
Chief Information Officer. 
‘‘(b) OVERSIGHT.—The Chief Information Officer shall have over-
sight and operational authority over all information security prac-
tices of the Financial Services Center of the Department. 
‘‘§ 8174. Submission of annual reviews of information tech-
nology 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Chief 
Information Officer of the Department, shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees each annual review of the informa-
tion technology portfolio of the Department conducted pursuant 
to section 11319(d)(3) of title 40. 
‘‘(b) FIRST SUBMISSION.—The first annual review submitted 
under subsection (a) shall include a copy of each previous annual 
review conducted under section 11319(d)(3) of title 40. 
‘‘§ 8175. Information technology matters to be included in 
budget justification materials for the Department 
‘‘(a) LIST OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS IN EFFECT.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that whenever the budget justification 
materials are submitted to Congress in support of the Department 
budget for a fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the 
President for such fiscal year under section 1105(a) of title 31),
H. R. 2617—1031 
such budget justification materials include a list of every informa-
tion technology project currently in effect at the Department 
(including not only congressional projects and subprojects as deter-
mined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
or the Secretary). 
‘‘(b) PRIORITIZED LIST OF UNFUNDED PROJECTS.—(1) In addition 
to the list included in the budget justification materials required 
by subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the budget jus-
tification materials described in such subsection also include sum-
mary descriptions and a prioritized list, in rank order, of every 
information technology project of the Department, proposed or 
intended to be proposed for the following one, two, or three fiscal 
years, that is unfunded as of the time of the inclusion of the 
list under this paragraph. 
‘‘(2) In producing the list required by paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(A) ensure such list represents a ranking of all proposed 
information technology projects that reflects the needs of all 
elements of the Department; 
‘‘(B) produce one unified list for the entire Department 
demonstrating how the various proposed information technology 
projects of each of the elements of the Department rank in 
priority with the information technology projects of the other 
elements of the Department; and 
‘‘(C) ensure that the list— 
‘‘(i) does not disaggregate and rank information tech-
nology projects based on element of the Department; and 
‘‘(ii) does identify the element of the Department 
requesting the information technology project. 
‘‘(3)(A) In producing each list under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall prioritize and rank each information technology project based 
on an assessment of each of the following factors: 
‘‘(i) Degree of collaboration between business owners and 
the Chief Information Officer with respect to joint functional- 
technical planning, requirements, and management. 
‘‘(ii) Operational or efficiency benefits to employees of the 
Department created or produced by the information technology 
project. 
‘‘(iii) The life cycle cost of the information technology 
project. 
‘‘(iv) The cost savings or cost avoidance yielded by the 
information technology project. 
‘‘(v) Time to completion of the information technology 
project. 
‘‘(vi) The difficulty of the information technology project, 
the likelihood the information technology project will be com-
pleted, or the risks associated with undertaking the information 
technology project. 
‘‘(vii) Tangible benefits to veterans created or produced 
by the information technology project. 
‘‘(viii) Such other factors as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall ensure that each list produced under 
paragraph (1) includes, for each information technology project 
included in the list, a brief description of the findings of the Sec-
retary with respect to each assessment carried out by the Secretary
H. R. 2617—1032 
for each factor for the information technology project under subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(c) PROJECTED FUNDING NEEDS.—(1) In addition to the matters 
included under subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary shall ensure 
that the budget justification materials described in subsection (a) 
also include a projection of the one-year, two-year, and three-year 
funding needs of the Department for information technology, 
disaggregated by— 
‘‘(A) portfolio; and 
‘‘(B) the product line of the Department that requires the 
funding. 
‘‘(2) In addition to the projections under paragraph (1), with 
respect to each of the periods set forth in such paragraph, the 
Secretary shall include a description of the funding required for 
each technology business management category used by the Office 
of Information Technology of the Department (commonly referred 
to as ‘cost pools’ and ‘towers’).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VI—INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES 
‘‘Sec. 8171. Definitions. 
‘‘Sec. 8172. Management of major information technology projects. 
‘‘Sec. 8173. Information technology activities of the Financial Services Center. 
‘‘Sec. 8174. Submission of annual reviews of information technology. 
‘‘Sec. 8175. Information technology matters to be included in budget justification 
materials for the Department.’’. 
(c) APPLICATION
AND REPORT REGARDING MANAGEMENT
OF 
MAJOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS.— 
(1) CURRENT AND NEW MAJOR PROJECTS.—Except as specifi-
cally provided in subsection (a) of section 8172 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, 
such section 8172 shall apply with respect to major information 
technology projects that begin before, on, or after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) REPORT ON CURRENT PROJECTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on each major information technology 
project that the Secretary is carrying out as of the date 
of the report. 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under subpara-
graph (A) shall contain, with respect to each project 
described in such subparagraph, information on the cost, 
schedule, and performance of the project as described in 
subsection (a) of section 8172 of such title, as so added. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the terms ‘‘appro-
priate congressional committees’’ and ‘‘major information tech-
nology project’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 
8171 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a) of this section. 
(d) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES OF THE FINANCIAL 
SERVICES CENTER.— 
(1) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 8173 of such title, as added 
by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
H. R. 2617—1033 
(2) APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (a)(2) of such section shall 
apply with respect to contracts and agreements entered into 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE OF REQUIREMENT FOR PROJECTS IN BUDGET 
JUSTIFICATION MATERIALS.—Subsection (c) of section 8175 of such 
title, as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall take effect 
on the first Monday in the second January beginning after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 404. REPORT ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DASHBOARD 
INFORMATION. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting 
through the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, shall submit to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees a report containing— 
(1) an explanation of the ratings, rankings, and risk cat-
egorizations used by the Chief Information Officer pursuant 
to subparagraph (C) of section 11302(c)(3) of title 40, United 
States Code, with respect to the information technology dash-
board, or successor system, of the Office of Management and 
Budget developed under such section; and 
(2) copies of supporting or explanatory information provided 
by the Chief Information Officer to the Office of Management 
and Budget with respect to submissions by the Chief Informa-
tion Officer to the information technology dashboard, or suc-
cessor system, for the fiscal year in which the report is sub-
mitted (other than information not otherwise made public 
pursuant to such section). 
(b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.—In 
section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 8171 of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by section 403. 
SEC. 405. IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSPARENCY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT 
OPERATIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—Section 902 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(e)(1) The Secretary shall publish on the internet website 
of each facility of the Department the following information with 
respect to the facility: 
‘‘(A) Summaries and statistics covering the previous five- 
year period regarding— 
‘‘(i) arrests made by and tickets issued by Department 
police officers; 
‘‘(ii) prosecutions, ticketing, and other actions relating 
to such arrests; 
‘‘(iii) the use of force and weapons discharge by Depart-
ment police officers; and 
‘‘(iv) 
complaints, 
investigations, 
and 
disciplinary 
actions regarding Department police officers. 
‘‘(B) Contact information for employees of the Department 
and the public to directly contact the police force of the facility, 
including for an individual (or the representative, attorney, 
or authorized agent of the individual) to request information 
regarding the arrest, ticketing, detainment, use of force, or 
other police matters pertaining to that individual.
H. R. 2617—1034 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that each police force of a 
facility of the Department is able to provide to an individual who 
contacts the police force pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) the informa-
tion described in such paragraph.’’. 
(b) USE OF BODY WORN CAMERAS BY DEPARTMENT POLICE OFFI-
CERS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Subsection (a) of such section 902 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole 
Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act 
of 2022, the Secretary shall require Department police officers to 
use cameras worn on the individual police officer’s person that 
record and store audio and video (commonly known as ‘body worn 
cameras’).’’. 
(2) GUIDANCE.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall issue, and make publicly available, guidance on the use 
of body worn cameras by Department police officers pursuant 
to section 902(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, as amended 
by paragraph (1). 
(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall issue the guidance 
under paragraph (2) in consultation with veterans service 
organizations, civil rights organizations, law enforcement 
organizations, law enforcement accreditation organizations, pri-
vacy rights organizations, and other relevant organizations or 
experts. 
(c) DATA AND REPORTING ON POLICE INCIDENTS.—Section 902 
of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(f) POLICE INCIDENTS.—(1)(A) The Secretary shall track and 
analyze the following information regarding the police force of the 
Department: 
‘‘(i) Arrests made by and tickets issued by Department 
police officers. 
‘‘(ii) Prosecutions, ticketing, and other actions relating to 
such arrests. 
‘‘(iii) The use of force and weapons discharge. 
‘‘(iv) Complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall carry out subparagraph (A) by imple-
menting one or more Department-wide data systems. 
‘‘(2)(A) Beginning not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph 
Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement 
Act of 2022, the Secretary shall ensure that each incident described 
in subparagraph (C) is promptly reported to the Assistant Secretary 
with responsibility for operations, preparedness, security, and law 
enforcement functions. 
‘‘(B) The Assistant Secretary shall, in a timely manner— 
‘‘(i) review each incident described in subparagraph (C)(i) 
that is reported under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) investigate each incident described in subparagraph 
(C)(ii) that is reported under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) An incident described in this subparagraph is either of 
the following:
H. R. 2617—1035 
‘‘(i) An incident, including an allegation, of the use of 
force by a Department police officer. 
‘‘(ii) An incident, including an allegation, of the use of 
force by a Department police officer that results in any person 
receiving medical attention.’’. 
(d) PLAN ON POLICE STAFFING.—The Secretary shall develop 
a plan that establishes minimum standards for police staffing at 
each facility of the Department, including with respect to— 
(1) the number of Department police officers assigned to 
each facility; and 
(2) the pay grades for such officers. 
(e) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 
a report on the implementation of this section and the amend-
ments made by this section. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) With respect to the staffing needs of the Depart-
ment police force— 
(i) identification of the amount of turnover among 
Department police officers; 
(ii) how the compensation for Department police 
officers affects such turnover; 
(iii) a comparison of such compensation with the 
compensation provided to specialty police units, such 
as police units at medical facilities and other police 
units in the same locality pay area; and 
(iv) the plan developed under subsection (d), 
including— 
(I) estimates on the costs to carry out the 
plan; and 
(II) 
any 
recommendations 
for 
legislative 
actions required to carry out the plan. 
(B) With respect to body worn cameras, a review of 
the implementation and use of body worn cameras by 
Department police officers, including under pilot programs 
carried out by the Secretary during the five-year period 
preceding the date of the report. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BODY WORN CAMERA.—The term ‘‘body worn camera’’ 
means a camera worn on an individual police officer’s person 
that records and stores audio and video. 
(2) DEPARTMENT POLICE OFFICER.—The term ‘‘Department 
police officer’’ means an employee of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs described in section 902(a) of title 38, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 406. PLAN FOR REDUCTION OF BACKLOG OF FREEDOM OF 
INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS. 
(a) PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish and carry out a plan for the Secretary to meet, by 
not later than five years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the requirements of section 552 of title 5, United