Sponsors (3)
Creates an independent commission to deliver timely, expert reviews and recommendations to improve VHA care and congressional oversight, while imposing new federal costs and raising potential privacy, procurement, and governance concerns that require safeguards.
Veterans will receive systematic, independent reviews of VHA operations with recommendations to improve access to and quality of care.
Congress and other policymakers will get timely, expert analysis on VHA policy and budget impacts (annual report by March 15), improving oversight and legislative decisions.
GAO, CRS, and CBO will have rapid access to the Commission's nonproprietary records, enabling more impartial and informed congressional analysis.
Veterans' sensitive VA data will be accessed by the Commission and shared through contracts, creating privacy and data‑sharing risks if safeguards are inadequate.
Establishing and operating the Commission will require federal funding, increasing costs for taxpayers.
Waiving federal procurement advertising requirements for the Commission's contracts could reduce competition and raise risks of higher costs or favoritism.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a GAO‑appointed 17‑member advisory commission to review VHA operations, access VA data, hire staff, and deliver an annual report to Congress.
Creates a new Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission: a 17-member, GAO‑appointed advisory body that reviews VHA operations, may hire staff and contractors, obtains information from federal agencies and the VA, coordinates with the VA Inspector General and congressional committees, and issues an annual report to Congress by March 15. The commission's members serve staggered five‑year terms, receive per diem while on business, and must provide GAO, CBO, and CRS timely access to their nonproprietary records; initial appointments occur after the first appropriation to the commission.
Official title: Amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Bill Cassidy · Last progress December 19, 2025