Barrett Introduces Plan to Streamline VA Purchases to Protect Veterans and Taxpayers

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) introduced legislation to enhance oversight and streamline the Department of Veterans Affairs' process for acquiring IT and medical systems, logistics platforms, and large service contracts. This includes technology used to implement Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM), Digital GI Modernization, and online scheduling.

The Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment (ARCA) Act would restructure the currently disjointed acquisition and contracting processes under a newly established Office of Acquisition. It also strengthens internal checks to prevent waste and fraud and requires Congressional reauthorization every two years.

"Inefficiency at the VA directly - and too often negatively - affects the level of services and standard of care veterans receive," Barrett said. "Every dollar wasted on overpriced and inefficient technology is a dollar not spent helping the men and women who defended our nation. Meanwhile, delayed projects and failing IT systems are compromising the benefits and health care America promised them. The ARCA Act is long overdue legislation to streamline purchasing and strengthen accountability so the VA can achieve its mission of putting veterans first while preserving taxpayer dollars."

The bill is part of a larger package by Republicans on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee to restore accountability, reform problems at the VA, and deliver efficient benefits and care for veterans. Many essential VA functions, including the contract and procurement process, are currently operating under expired, nonexistent, or lapsed authorization from Congress, but still receiving yearly appropriations. This leads to a lack of the routine congressional oversight that's needed to address failures in the programs.

Specifically, the ARCA Act would create a process at the VA for procurement and contracting under a newly established Office of Acquisition that would:

• Oversee all major acquisition, contracting, and logistics at the VA;

• Streamline procurement and contracting processes; and

• Enhance accountability through independent evaluations and reporting.

Barrett's legislation is the House companion to the Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment (ARCA) Act (S. 1591) introduced by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). S. 1591 passed the Senate unanimously.

Click here to read the full bill text.

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