VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act

Bill: 119-hr-1823
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
Introduced: 2025-03-04
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Department of Veterans Affairs

Executive agency funding and structure

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2025-05-20
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-03-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and report on the circumstances and causes of the shortfall in funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for FY2024 and the expected shortfall in funding of the Veterans Health Administration in FY2025. The Department of Veterans Affairs must submit such GAO report to Congress.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1823 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 20, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller General of the United States to report on certain funding shortfalls in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act . 2. Funding shortfalls in certain administrations of the Department of Veterans Affairs: reviews; reports (a) First GAO review (1) Review required Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall begin a review regarding the circumstances surrounding, and the causes of— (A) the shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024; and (B) the expected shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Health Administration in fiscal year 2025. (2) Elements The review under this subsection shall include the following elements: (A) A comparison of monthly obligations and expenditures in relevant accounts against the spending plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (B) Any transfers between accounts described in subparagraph (A). (C) The reasons for any significant diversions of obligations or expenditures from such spending plan. (D) An analysis of the accuracy of any projections or estimates relevant to diversions described in subparagraph (C). (E) Remedial actions the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may take— (i) to improve the accuracy of supporting information submitted under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the Department; and (ii) to prevent funding shortfalls for the Department. (3) Report Not later than 30 days after completing such review, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a written report containing the results and findings of such review. (b) Subsequent GAO reviews In each of the five calendar years following the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct a review including the elements described in subsection (a)(2), and submit a report described in subsection (a)(3), regarding the funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the most recent fiscal year to end before the date of such review. (c) Reports of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Not later than 30 days after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives a report of the Comptroller General under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary shall submit such report to— (1) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and (2) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1823 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller General of the United States to report on certain funding shortfalls in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act . 2. Funding shortfalls in certain administrations of the Department of Veterans Affairs: reviews; reports (a) First GAO review (1) Review required Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall begin a review regarding the circumstances surrounding, and the causes of— (A) the shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024; and (B) the expected shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Health Administration in fiscal year 2025. (2) Elements The review under this subsection shall include the following elements: (A) A comparison of monthly obligations and expenditures in relevant accounts against the spending plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (B) Any transfers between accounts described in subparagraph (A). (C) The reasons for any significant diversions of obligations or expenditures from such spending plan. (D) An analysis of the accuracy of any projections or estimates relevant to diversions described in subparagraph (C). (E) Remedial actions the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may take— (i) to improve the accuracy of supporting information submitted under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the Department; and (ii) to prevent funding shortfalls for the Department. (3) Report Not later than 30 days after completing such review, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a written report containing the results and findings of such review. (b) Subsequent GAO reviews In each of the five calendar years following the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct a review including the elements described in subsection (a)(2), and submit a report described in subsection (a)(3), regarding the funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the most recent fiscal year to end before the date of such review. (c) Reports of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Not later than 30 days after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives a report of the Comptroller General under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary shall submit such report to— (1) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and (2) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 74 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1823 [Report No. 119–101] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 4, 2025 Mr. Bergman (for himself and Mr. Bost ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs May 17, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 4, 2025 A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller General of the United States to report on certain funding shortfalls in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act . 2. Funding shortfalls in certain administrations of the Department of Veterans Affairs: reviews; reports (a) First GAO review (1) Review required Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall begin a review regarding the circumstances surrounding, and the causes of— (A) the shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024; and (B) the expected shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Health Administration in fiscal year 2025. (2) Elements The review under this subsection shall include the following elements: (A) A comparison of monthly obligations and expenditures in relevant accounts against the spending plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (B) Any transfers between accounts described in subparagraph (A). (C) The reasons for any significant diversions of obligations or expenditures from such spending plan. (D) An analysis of the accuracy of any projections or estimates relevant to diversions described in subparagraph (C). (E) Remedial actions the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may take— (i) to improve the accuracy of supporting information submitted under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the Department; and (ii) to prevent funding shortfalls for the Department. (3) Report Not later than 30 days after completing such review, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a written report containing the results and findings of such review. (b) Subsequent GAO reviews In each of the five calendar years following the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct a review including the elements described in subsection (a)(2), and submit a report described in subsection (a)(3), regarding the funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the most recent fiscal year to end before the date of such review. (c) Reports of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Not later than 30 days after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives a report of the Comptroller General under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary shall submit such report to— (1) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and (2) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

May 17, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1823 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 4, 2025 Mr. Bergman (for himself and Mr. Bost ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller General of the United States to report on certain funding shortfalls in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Funding shortfalls in certain administrations of the Department of Veterans Affairs: review; report (a) GAO review (1) Review required Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall begin a review regarding the circumstances surrounding, and the causes of— (A) the shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Benefits Administration for fiscal year 2024; and (B) the expected shortfall in the funding of the Veterans Health Administration in fiscal year 2025. (2) Elements The review under this subsection shall include the following elements: (A) A comparison of monthly obligations and expenditures in relevant accounts against the spending plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (B) Any transfers between accounts described in subparagraph (A). (C) The reasons for any significant diversions of obligations or expenditures from such spending plan. (D) An analysis of the accuracy of any projections or estimates relevant to diversions described in subparagraph (C). (E) Remedial actions the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may take— (i) to improve the accuracy of supporting information submitted under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the Department; and (ii) to prevent funding shortfalls for the Department. (3) Report Not later than 30 days after completing such review, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a written report containing the results and findings of such review. (b) Report of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Not later than 30 days after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives the report of the Comptroller General under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit such report to the appropriate congressional committees. (c) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and (2) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.