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116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 80
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program
to improve the ability of Members of Congress to assist constituents
with respect to benefits for veterans.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 3, 2019
Mr. BIGGS (for himself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GOSAR, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, and
Mrs. LESKO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a pilot program to improve the ability of Members of
Congress to assist constituents with respect to benefits
for veterans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Phoenix VA Congres-
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sional Oversight Act’’.
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•HR 80 IH
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE CONSTITUENT SERV-
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ICES.
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(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
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fairs shall carry out a pilot program to improve the ability
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of Members of Congress to assist constituents pursuant
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to subsections (b) and (c).
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(b) CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS TEAM.—In carrying
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out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary
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shall establish a dedicated congressional relations team at
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the location specified in subsection (d). Such team shall
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consist of employees of the Department of Veterans Af-
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fairs whose only duties relate to assisting Members and
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committees of Congress with respect to casework issues
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at each health care system of the Department in such loca-
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tion.
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(c) USE OF SPACE.—Upon request of any Member
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of Congress from the State of the location specified in sub-
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section (d), the Secretary shall authorize the Member to
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use a facility of the Department at such location for the
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purposes of meeting with constituents of the Member.
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(d) LOCATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the
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pilot program in Arizona, including at the Phoenix health
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care system of the Department.
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(e) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date
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of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
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to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of
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•HR 80 IH
Representatives and the Senate a report on the pilot pro-
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gram under subsection (a), including whether the Sec-
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retary recommends expanding such pilot program.
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