I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9216 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2024 Ms. Mace introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive study on the use of distributed ledger technology in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Affairs Distributed Ledger Innovation Act of 2024 . 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) veterans deserve efficient, transparent, and secure access to benefits and services earned through their honorable service; (2) distributed ledger technology offers promising solutions for enhancing data integrity, security, and transparency; and (3) exploring innovative technologies such as distributed ledger technology could significantly improve the allocation of benefits, management of insurance programs, and maintenance of records within the Department of Veterans Affairs. 3. Department of Veterans Affairs study on use of distributed ledger technology (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility, potential benefits, and risks associated with using distributed ledger technology across various programs and services of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) Matters for examination In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall examine how distributed ledger technology could— (1) improve the efficiency and accuracy of benefits allocation to veterans; (2) enhance the management and security of veterans’ records and personal data; (3) streamline insurance claim processes for veterans; and (4) increase transparency and accountability in the delivery of services to veterans. (c) Consultation In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with— (1) experts in distributed ledger technology; (2) representatives of veterans service organizations; (3) the heads of other Federal agencies with experience using distributed ledger technology; and (4) any other stakeholders the Secretary determines appropriate. (d) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the findings of the study under subsection (a). Such report shall include each of the following: (1) The findings of the study regarding the feasibility of implementing distributed ledger technology in the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) A description of potential benefits and risks associated with the implementation of such technology in the Department. (3) Any recommendations of the Secretary regarding pilot programs or other initiatives that should be implemented to test the use of distributed ledger technology in specific areas of Department operations, such as benefits distribution or insurance claims. (4) Any legislative or administrative actions required to implement such technology in the Department. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) The term distributed ledger means a ledger that is— (A) is shared across a set of distributed nodes, which are devices or processes, that participate in a network and store a complete or partial replica of the ledger; (B) is synchronized between the nodes; (C) has data appended to it by following a specified consensus mechanism; (D) publicly accessible or restricted to a subset of participants; and (E) may require participants to have authorization to perform certain actions or require no authorization. (2) The term distributed ledger technology means technology that enables the operation and use of distributed ledgers.