Blackburn introduces bipartisan bill reforming VA’s information technology system

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is the lead cosponsor for the newly introduced bipartisan Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Reform Act of 2019.

“We have to bring our veterans’ care into the 21st century,” Sen. Blackburn said. “Congress appropriated the proper funds for updated technology, and those funds need to be used responsibly by the VA.” 

Sen. Blackburn proposed S. 2336 on July 30 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) to improve the information technology (IT) system at the VA.

“I join Senator Tester in demanding that the VA improve its management of information technology projects and investments,” said Sen. Blackburn, who serves on the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee with Sen. Tester, who is the ranking member. 

The VA’s IT program has remained on the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) High-Risk List since 2015 and continues to receive low-compliance scores in several areas of the annual Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act scorecard, according to a summary provided by Sen. Blackburn’s office. 

If enacted, S. 2336 would hold the VA accountable by increasing transparency into proposed and current IT spending, according to the summary.

For instance, the VA would be required to submit a plan that would “rectify the budget discrepancy and improve the accuracy of the budget formulation process of the Department,” the text of the bill says. 

Additionally, among several other provisions, S. 2336 would require the VA to institute numerous GAO recommendations related to the department’s planning, management, and operation of its Office of Information Technology, according to the senator’s summary.

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee is now reviewing the bill.