Veterans Accountability Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-1804
Sponsor: Rep. Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1]
Introduced: 2013-04-26 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Transportation costs
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: 
Foreign Travel Accountability Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report semiannually to the congressional veterans committees on foreign travel made by VA employees while on official business. Requires each report to include the name of each employee and the destination, purpose, duration, and total cost of such travel.

action_date: 2013-09-25
text: 
Veterans Accountability Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report semiannually to the congressional veterans committees on covered travel made by VA employees while on official business. Defines covered travel as travel: (1) outside the United States or its territories, possessions, or territorial waters, if paid for by the VA or another element of the government; or (2) to any location, if paid for by any person or entity other than the government. Requires each report to include the name of each employee and the destination, purpose, duration, total cost, and identity of a payor other than the government.
 
Directs the Secretary to report each case of reportable infectious disease or condition (a disease or condition that a state requires to be reported) that occurs at a VA medical facility to the appropriate state entity and to report to the accrediting organization of such facility each case classified as a health-care-associated infection sentinel event. Requires the Secretary, upon a failure to report, to pay to a state the same penalty that a non-federal facility of such state would pay for a failure to report. Allows a state to file a civil action against the VA for the recovery of such amount. Requires the VA Inspector General to investigate and suspend and impose other appropriate administrative disciplinary action against a director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network who has failed to comply with such requirement.
 
Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to ensure that any visual recording made by the Secretary of a patient during the course of furnishing care through the VA is carried out only with the full and informed consent of that patient. Allows the Secretary to waive such requirement if the recording is made: (1) upon a determination by a physician or psychologist that the recording is medically necessary or necessary for the patient's safety, (2) pursuant to a warrant or order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (3) in a public setting where a person would not have a reasonable expectation to privacy (such as a waiting room or hallway) and the recording is for general security purposes not particularized to the patient.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-10-07
text: Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, H. Rept. 113-227, Part II.
action_date: 2013-10-07
text: Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, H. Rept. 113-227, Part II.
action_date: 2013-10-04
text: SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT FILING AUTHORITY - Mr. Miller of Florida asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be permitted to file a supplemental report on H.R. 1804. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-09-25
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 167.
action_date: 2013-09-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-227.
action_date: 2013-09-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-227.
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2013-08-01
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-06-27
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2013-06-27
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-04-26
text: Introduced in House