VIPER Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-5721
Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]
Introduced: 2021-10-25 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Medical research
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-25
text: 

VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021 or the VIPER Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses research activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly those within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
 
First, the bill provides statutory authority for the VHA's Office of Research and Development to serve veterans through a full spectrum of research, technology transfer, and application.
 
Next, the bill exempts VA research activities from the Paperwork Reduction Act, including research conducted via the Office of Research and Development
 
The VA is authorized to appoint statisticians, economists, data scientists, and other professionals within the VHA.
 
The bill provides a three-year authorization for the VA to enter into transactions, other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants, with nontraditional contractors to carry out extramural basic or applied research. Such transactions must meet specified criteria (e.g., the research must not be duplicative of other VA research under another program). Additionally, the VA must notify Congress within 30 days of entering into a transaction and must provide specified information and records to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Congress upon request.
 
The Office of Research and Development is authorized to establish a grant program for certain individuals employed by specified research institutions to conduct research related to health care furnished by the VA.
 
The GAO must study the amount of time dedicated for research for clinician-scientists appointed by the VA.
 
Finally, the bill updates the process by which the VA uses commercial institutional review boards in sponsored clinical trials. 

action_date: 2022-11-14
text: 

VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021 or the VIPER Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses research activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly those within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
 
First, the bill provides statutory authority for the VHA's Office of Research and Development to serve veterans through a full spectrum of research, technology transfer, and application.
 
Next, the bill exempts VA research activities from the Paperwork Reduction Act, including research conducted via the Office of Research and Development
 
The VA is authorized to appoint statisticians, economists, data scientists, and other professionals within the VHA.
 
The bill provides a three-year authorization for the VA to enter into transactions, other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants, with nontraditional contractors to carry out extramural basic or applied research. Such transactions must meet specified criteria (e.g., the research must not be duplicative of other VA research under another program). Additionally, the VA must notify Congress within 30 days of entering into a transaction and must provide specified information and records to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Congress upon request.
 
The Office of Research and Development is authorized to establish a grant program for certain individuals employed by specified research institutions to conduct research related to health care furnished by the VA.
 
The GAO must study the amount of time dedicated for research for clinician-scientists appointed by the VA.
 
Finally, the bill updates the process by which the VA uses commercial institutional review boards in sponsored clinical trials. 

action_date: 2022-11-17
text: 

VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021 or the VIPER Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses research activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly those within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
 
Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for the VHA's Office of Research and Development to serve veterans through a full spectrum of research, technology transfer, and application.
 
The bill exempts VA research activities from the Paperwork Reduction Act, including research conducted via the Office of Research and Development
 
The bill also waives certain time limitations and other restrictions related to individuals who perform research for the VA under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program.
 
The VA is authorized to appoint statisticians, economists, data scientists, and other professionals within the VHA.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-11-17
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2022-11-17
text: Pursuant to section 2 of H. Res. 1464, and the motion offered by Mr. Carter (LA), the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 4275, as amended; H.R. 5502, as amended; H.R. 5721, as amended; H.R. 6290, as amended; H.R. 7277, as amended; H.R. 7299, as amended; and H.R. 8416, as amended. (consideration: CR H8566-8574; text: CR H8568-8569)
action_date: 2022-11-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 2 of H. Res. 1464, and the motion offered by Mr. Carter (LA), the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 4275, as amended; H.R. 5502, as amended; H.R. 5721, as amended; H.R. 6290, as amended; H.R. 7277, as amended; H.R. 7299, as amended; and H.R. 8416, as amended.
action_date: 2022-11-17
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1464, proceedings on H.R. 5721 are considered vacated.
action_date: 2022-11-14
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2022-11-14
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5721.
action_date: 2022-11-14
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8461-8464; text: CR H8461-8462)
action_date: 2022-11-14
text: Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2022-11-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 395.
action_date: 2022-11-14
text: Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 117-551.
action_date: 2022-11-14
text: Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 117-551.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Subcommittee on Health Discharged.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-11-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2021-10-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-10-25
text: Introduced in House