A resolution recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2019, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the Black community and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.
- Last Action
- 4/10/2019
Actions
- 2019-01-16Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2019-01-16Introduced in Senate
CRS Summary
As of 2019-01-16 (00)
Department of Veterans Affairs Contract, Leadership, and Ensuring Accountability and Reform Act of 2019 or the VA CLEAR Act of 2019
This bill addresses oversight of financial processes of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and also requires implementation of systems for maintaining specified records.
Among other elements, the bill requires the VA to
- include specified elements in contracts it enters for services (e.g., measurable metrics to ascertain the performance of the provider of the service),
- submit a justification and plan for contracts for services that would incur an obligation of more than $2 billion,
- contract with a third party to review and audit the VA's financial processes and provide recommendations for improvement, and
- submit a justification for requests for supplemental appropriations.
Additionally, the Inspector General of the VA and the Government Accountability Office must complete a review of a contract for services that would result in the VA incurring an obligation of more than $2 billion.
The bill authorizes the Inspector General of the VA, in the performance of the functions assigned to such office, to subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses.
Finally, the bill requires the VA to implement a centralized system to maintain and record completed reviews of administrative investigation boards, and the Veterans Health Administration must implement a centralized system for tracking instances where the VA has referred a clinician to a state's licensing board because of behavior or clinical outcomes.
Cosponsors (6)
- Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
- Patty Murray (D-WA)
- Timothy Kaine (D-VA)
- Michael Bennet (D-CO)
- Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
Subjects
- Accounting and auditing
- Appropriations
- Congressional oversight
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Evidence and witnesses
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Government information and archives
- Government studies and investigations
- Health information and medical records
- Health personnel
- Medical ethics
- Performance measurement
- Public contracts and procurement
- Veterans' medical care
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.