WINGMAN Act

Bill: 115-hr-512
Sponsor: Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3]
Introduced: 2017-01-12 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional officers and employees
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government information and archives
Members of Congress
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: 

Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide each veteran who submits a claim for VA benefits with an opportunity to permit a covered congressional employee in the office of the veteran's Member of Congress to have read-only access to all of the veteran's records in the Veterans Benefits Administration databases. A Member may designate up to two such covered congressional employees.
 
A covered congressional employee may not be recognized as an agent or attorney with respect to veterans' benefit claims.
 
Funds under this bill may not be used to design or administer any training for covered congressional employees. 
 
The bill makes funds available for FY2018 through FY2021 for such congressional employee access program.

action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide each veteran who submits a claim for VA benefits with an opportunity to permit a covered congressional employee in the office of the veteran's Member of Congress to have read-only access to all of the veteran's records in the Veterans Benefits Administration databases. A Member may designate up to two such covered congressional employees.
 
A covered congressional employee may not be recognized as an agent or attorney with respect to veterans' benefit claims.
 
Funds under this bill may not be used to design or administer any training for covered congressional employees. 
 
The bill makes up to $10 million available for obligation or expenditure for FY2018 through FY2021 for such congressional employee access program.
 
 No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-14
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1106)
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1106)
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 512.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1106-1108)
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2017-02-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H397)
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Introduced in House