Overseeing the GI Bill Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2420 | Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Barry (R-AL)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Overseeing the GI Bill Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement an information technology service using one or more commercial software systems to process claims for VA educational assistance benefits. Under the bill, the VA must ensure the service has specified capabilities, including the ability for entitled individuals to electronically apply for, withdraw from, transfer, and amend their educational assistance entitlement.
The VA must annually report on the updated cost, schedule, and performance of the project for implementing the information technology service. Additionally, the VA must submit a notification if certain actions occur, such as an instance where a key business objective is not attained.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement a modern 
   information technology service to process claims for educational 
assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States 
                                 Code.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Overseeing the GI Bill Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES USED TO PROCESS 
              CLAIMS FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Modern Information Technology Service.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall implement an information technology service to 
process claims for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, 
and 36 of title 38, United States Code, using one or more commercial 
software systems. The Secretary shall complete such implementation not 
later than August 1, 2024.
    (b) Required Capabilities.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
modern information technology service under subsection (a) has the 
following capabilities:
            (1) As compared to legacy information technology systems--
                    (A) the ability to process claims faster and in a 
                more efficient manner by improving processing 
                integration and accuracy;
                    (B) improved data exchange and reporting; and
                    (C) improved customer integration and 
                simplification of the online experience.
            (2) Timely communication by employees of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs to individuals and educational institutions 
        using an online portal that can provide real-time information 
        on claims for educational assistance.
            (3) The ability to be customized to address future 
        capabilities required by law.
            (4) Fully automated to the extent practicable for all 
        original and supplemental claims, including with respect to 
        calculating accurate awards.
            (5) The ability for individuals entitled to educational 
        assistance to electronically apply for, withdraw from, and 
        amend such entitlement, and to reallocate a transferred 
        entitlement.
            (6) The ability to electronically process changes made by 
        educational institutions.
            (7) The ability to verify attendance at an educational 
        institution.
            (8) The ability to process validations made by an 
        educational institution.
    (c) Initial Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date on 
which the Secretary awards a contract for the modern information 
technology service, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a 
report containing information on the cost, schedule, and performance of 
the project for implementing such system, including, with respect to 
such project, the following:
            (1) An estimate of acquisition, implementation, and life 
        cycle costs (including all direct and indirect costs to 
        acquire, implement, operate, and maintain such system).
            (2) An intended implementation schedule indicating 
        significant milestones, initial operating capability, and full 
        operating capability or completion.
            (3) Key business, functional, or performance objectives.
            (4) With respect to both original claims and supplemental 
        claims processed on a monthly basis, statistics regarding--
                    (A) the number of such claims processed using 
                legacy information technology systems; and
                    (B) the number of such claims estimated to be 
                processed using the modern information technology 
                service.
            (5) The amount of savings that are estimated to be realized 
        from using the modern information technology service rather 
        than legacy information technology systems.
            (6) The estimated accuracy of processing claims.
            (7) The estimated timeliness for--
                    (A) processing original claims; and
                    (B) processing supplemental claims.
            (8) A description of how the modern information technology 
        service will--
                    (A) automate the processing of original claims; and
                    (B) automate the processing of supplemental claims.
    (d) Updated Information.--
            (1) Annual reports.--On an annual basis during the period 
        in which the Secretary is implementing the modern information 
        technology service, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        and the Senate a report containing updated information 
        regarding the matters specified in subsection (c). Each such 
        updated report shall identify any changes to the cost, 
        schedule, or performance of the project to implement such 
        system.
            (2) Notification.--
                    (A) Requirement.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                date on which an action described in subparagraph (B) 
                occurs, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
                Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
                the Senate a notification of such action, including a 
                description of and explanation for such action.
                    (B) Action described.--An action described in this 
                subparagraph is, with respect to the project to 
                implement the modern information technology service, 
                any of the following:
                            (i) With respect to the acquisition, 
                        implementation, or life cycle cost of the 
                        project, or an increment therein, a change or 
                        variance that is 10 percent or greater compared 
                        to the amount identified the most recent report 
                        submitted under paragraph (1).
                            (ii) With respect to the schedule for 
                        achieving a significant milestone, initial 
                        operating capability, or final completion of 
                        the project, a change or variance that is 180 
                        days or greater compared to the schedule 
                        identified the most recent report submitted 
                        under paragraph (1).
                            (iii) 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.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal years 2022 
through 2024 a total of $250,000,000 to carry out this section.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``legacy information technology system'' means 
        an information technology system used by the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs to process claims for educational assistance 
        under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States 
        Code, before the date on which the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs awards a contract under subsection (a) for the modern 
        information technology service.
            (2) The term ``modern information technology service'' 
        means the information technology service implemented under 
        subsection (a) to process claims for educational assistance 
        under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States 
        Code.
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