The bill titled the “Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act” contains provisions to enhance healthcare for veterans, including improving mental health and dental care, supporting veterans' caregivers, and expanding educational and employment opportunities for veterans. It also focuses on modernizing electronic health records, improving reemployment rights for armed forces members, offering direct home loan improvements to Native American veterans, and providing increased support for homeless veterans.

During a two-year period, starting 180 days after this act becomes law, agreements between veterans and their clinicians about the veterans' medical needs are considered final and cannot be changed by the Department of Veterans Affairs unless there is a legal problem. Veterans and their clinicians are allowed to fix any mistakes in these agreements, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must report to Congress about the care provided during this period.

The bill mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs conduct outreach to inform veterans about the availability and process of obtaining care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, including how to request and appeal such services. Information must be widely accessible and displayed in medical facilities and online, with regular updates provided to veterans, and includes a provision for a report on the effectiveness of these outreach efforts to be submitted to Congress within two years.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to annually review and report on waivers for payment rates under the Veterans Community Care Program. The report must detail the number of waivers requested and granted, the approval process, and how the waivers impact veterans' access to healthcare, along with any identified trends, with the first report due within 180 days of the act's enactment.

The section mandates updates to the quality of care standards by the Department of Veterans Affairs, aligning them with industry benchmarks, ensuring efficient data use, and consulting relevant entities. It also requires periodic reports to Congress regarding these updates and audits by external entities to evaluate and improve the quality metrics used by the Department.

The section outlines a standardized process for assessing whether veterans qualify for certain mental health treatment programs. It mandates swift screening and admission procedures, allows for care at non-VA facilities if necessary, and sets conditions under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs can make these determinations, with the authority expiring two years after the law’s enactment.

The section outlines improvements to the Department of Veterans Affairs' Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program. It mandates the creation of performance metrics, addresses transportation needs for veterans, allows input on placement decisions, establishes an appeals process, requires tracking of availability and wait times, and includes provisions for staff training, care coordination, and continuous oversight, along with the submission of reports to Congress.

The bill establishes a pilot program aimed at enhancing the Veterans Community Care Program by offering different incentives to health care providers for better appointment management, medical documentation, and veteran care services. It also requires periodic reports on improvements in scheduling, medical documentation, care quality, and provider training participation, along with defining key terms related to the program.

The bill section mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs to start a pilot program for streamlining dental care approval by hiring general dentists and specialists at selected facilities. This program will be evaluated through reports, and its authority will end two years after enactment unless extensions or expansions are recommended and approved.

The text outlines a plan to establish a working group tasked with creating a strategic plan for implementing value-based healthcare in the Veterans Health Administration. This plan includes a pilot program to test its strategies, aiming to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes for veterans through specific initiatives at selected service networks across different regions.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to adopt national health information standards for veterans' care, improving data exchange and coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and community care providers, particularly focusing on small and rural providers. It also mandates a plan and reports on the electronic exchange of veterans' health records, ensuring regular updates to Congress on these efforts.

The section mandates that within a year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must report to Congress about using value-based payment models in the Veterans Community Care Program to improve care quality for veterans. This report will include an evaluation of the department's efforts and potential recommendations for changes, and it clarifies that this section isn't a pilot program.

The Inspector General must assess how veterans’ medical centers are doing in identifying and informing veterans about their eligibility for health care and providing it promptly. Every two years, these assessments will be briefed to Congress, explaining the findings and methods used.

The Comptroller General is required to submit a report about dental care for veterans within the Veterans Community Care Program. This report will assess the impact of current payment rates on the availability of dental services, how satisfied dental providers are with the approval process, and how emergency dental care is currently managed.

The bill increases the spending limit for certain types of noninstitutional care for veterans from 65% to 100% of what the cost would be for nursing home care. It also allows for this limit to be exceeded in special cases, such as for veterans with severe conditions like ALS or spinal cord injuries, based on specific needs or circumstances.

The bill requires that if a medical center for veterans is in an area where the PACE program is available, the Secretary must try to make an agreement with the PACE program to provide services to veterans.

The bill allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give grants or contracts to organizations to improve mental health support for family caregivers of veterans. It outlines eligibility criteria, distribution priorities, outcome measures, performance reviews, and funding details, aiming to enhance support services for caregivers nationwide.

The section allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants for mental health support to family caregivers of veterans, with priority given to areas with high veteran enrollment in the family caregiver program or high veteran suicide rates. The grants must be equitably distributed across different urbanization levels and are intended to enhance programs or services, meet specific veteran needs, and cannot exceed 10 percent of the available funding for a fiscal year.

The section establishes several programs for veterans' home- and community-based services, including the Veteran-Directed Care program, providing funds for in-home care and services, the Homemaker and Home Health Aide program for home health aide services, and the Home-Based Primary Care and Purchased Skilled Home Care programs. It also outlines caregiver support measures, responsibilities for program administration, and defines key terms, with an implementation deadline of two years after the Act's enactment.

The text explains that the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs will provide programs offering home and community-based services to veterans as alternatives to nursing home care. These include the Veteran-Directed Care program, Homemaker and Home Health Aide program, Home-Based Primary Care program, Purchased Skilled Home Care program, and caregiver support, aiming to enhance veterans' quality of life while keeping them out of institutional care when possible.

The section outlines changes to the way the Department of Veterans Affairs coordinates services for veterans and their family caregivers, including providing options for alternative programs and ensuring a smooth transition when veterans or caregivers are denied or discharged from certain services. It also addresses the standardization of respite care across programs and calls for a review to improve communication with caregivers about available services.

The section amends rules for the comprehensive assistance program for family caregivers, requiring the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress with detailed data on applications, approvals, reassessments, and appeals, while ensuring data protection and privacy in compliance with federal laws.

The bill proposes a three-year pilot program where the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide home health aide services to veterans in areas with a shortage of such aides, employing or reassigning nursing assistants as necessary. It also requires reports to Congress on the program's results and the use of funds, plus updated guidance for the transition of veterans from this program to other care when needed.

The bill establishes a pilot program by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide assisted living services to certain veterans. The program will assess the effectiveness and satisfaction with these services, will involve veterans from different locations, and will ensure continued care options for participants after the program ends.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is allowed to give medicine, protective gear, and other supplies to State homes. The term "personal protective equipment" refers to items like gloves, masks, and gowns that protect against diseases, and a "State home" is defined by a specific section of U.S. law.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must create a system to officially recognize organizations and individuals who help veterans, their families, and caregivers navigate the Veterans Health Administration's programs and services, within one year of the act's enactment. This system will involve getting input from relevant organizations and will require that no fees be charged for assistance provided.

The text outlines various reviews and improvements for veterans' home- and community-based services. It mandates specific actions, like reviewing existing programs for service gaps, assessing staffing needs, setting goals for geographic and in-home specialty care, evaluating financial incentives for service expansion, and collaborating with different departments to address issues like the shortage of home health aides and the needs of Native American and Native Hawaiian veterans. Several reports and recommendations to Congress are also required.

The section mandates that within a year, the U.S. Comptroller General must report to Congress on mental health support available to caregivers of veterans. The report should assess caregivers' need for mental health support, options and accessibility of services, awareness, and barriers related to such support in Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and the community.

The Secretary of the Department is required to create and maintain a publicly accessible website that serves as a hub for information and resources about specific programs. This website must include descriptions of the programs, an assessment tool to help veterans and their caregivers understand their eligibility, and a list of procedures for medical facility directors to determine veterans' eligibility, even under resource constraints. Additionally, the website should be regularly updated.

This section defines various terms related to programs and services of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including caregivers, covered programs, and home- and community-based services, with specific references to sections of the United States Code. It also includes terms like "Vet Center" and "veterans service organization."

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a quarterly report to Congress on referrals for health care outside the Department of Veterans Affairs. This report must detail the time taken at each stage of the referral process, from a veteran needing care to the actual appointment with an outside provider.

The section requires the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing the timelines of referrals for veterans' care sent from Department facilities to non-Department health care providers. These reports must include various time intervals, such as how long it takes for a referral to be made, accepted, completed, and for a follow-up appointment to occur, among others.

The bill changes how certain Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Under Secretaries are managed. It removes a specific requirement, changes the labeling of subsections, and updates a reference from one subsection to another.

The section modifies pay rules for physicians, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists at the Department of Veterans Affairs by including optometrists in existing regulations, allowing for more flexible compensation options and pay adjustments based on market evaluations. It also provides for waivers on pay limitations to recruit or retain critical healthcare personnel and allows retroactive payments for deferred compensation due to past caps on annual pay.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will pay or reimburse certain rural veterans for ambulance transportation costs up to $46,000, including air ambulance, to the nearest suitable hospital or care provider by September 30, 2026. This applies to veterans with specific service-connected disabilities, who cannot claim travel reimbursements elsewhere, and live far from Veterans Affairs medical centers in rural areas.

The text describes a pilot program initiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide dental care to veterans with ischemic heart disease through community care, mobile dental clinics, and home-based care, especially in rural areas. The program will be tested in a few states and include provisions to review and possibly expand community care networks, communicate with participants, and evaluate the program's impact on healthcare services for veterans.

The bill section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a system within one year to gather veterans' preferences on how they want to schedule health care appointments. These preferences, such as contact methods and scheduling times, will be documented in a system like My HealtheVet and used by staff involved in appointment scheduling. The mechanism will first be tested in three diverse regions, and improvements will be made based on feedback before it's implemented nationwide.

The section requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to create and implement a staffing model and performance metrics to improve veterans' access to care. The Secretary must report to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of the staffing model and performance metrics, and the Government Accountability Office will review and provide further recommendations.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must create an online health education portal for veterans within one year. This portal will help veterans understand their health care benefits and services, including those available through the Veterans Community Care Program.

The section outlines rules for detailing directors of Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers to other positions within the Department. It mandates timely notifications to Congress, appointing an acting director if needed, frequent updates to Congress about the detail status, and requires the detailed director to either return to their original position or be reassigned within 180 days, unless an extension is granted for specific reasons.

The bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report on veteran suicide prevention, detailing trends, comparisons, and engagement with health and benefits services, along with a strategy for improving data collection and analysis. It mandates independent assessments of the report's accuracy, a toolkit for coroners to identify veteran suicides, and a report on additional services that could reduce veteran suicides.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prepare and submit a report to Congress within a year of the law's enactment. This report must detail the current and future physical infrastructure needs, like buildings and renovations, for VA medical facilities to provide dental care to eligible veterans, and what changes would be necessary if more veterans became eligible.

The section requires the Comptroller General to submit a report within one year to Congressional committees on the Veterans Affairs Department's oral health care programs. The report should cover various topics like information technology issues, dental insurance plan implementation, program expansions, barriers to care for veterans with heart disease, and demographics of those eligible for care.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to review how patient referrals between Veterans Health Administration facilities are processed to find and address any delays or issues. This review will look into the guidance on managing referrals and the roles of people involved, with a report on these findings due to Congress within 180 days.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a plan ensuring that veterans can schedule appointments at VA medical facilities over the phone during their call and aims to provide timely or same-day scheduling. It also mandates a report to be submitted to Congress about this plan within one year of the Act's enactment, and it defines "covered veteran" as those enrolled in the VA's patient system.

The section authorizes $5,000,000 for the fiscal year 2025 to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to help women veterans access mobile mammography services. The funds will be used for mobile mammography projects, advanced mammography equipment, and activities to raise awareness about these services.

The section describes a temporary change in eligibility for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, allowing children or spouses of service members who died from a service-related disability within 120 days after discharge to qualify, applicable for school terms starting between August 1, 2024, and October 1, 2026.

The section removes the expiry date for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, allowing surviving spouses to continue receiving this education benefit without time limitations, and reorganizes the related paragraphs in the law for clarity.

The section modifies the rules about who is responsible for paying back educational assistance if someone doesn't complete the required service agreement. It states that the individual who transfers the benefit is solely responsible for the repayment unless certain conditions are met, in which case neither the individual nor the dependent needs to repay the overpayment.

Section 204 of the bill changes the time frame for notifying educational institutions about risk-based surveys from "one business day" to "two business days."

The text amends a part of the United States Code to say that an educational institution must either be part of a specific federal student aid program or have a waiver if it decides not to or can't be part of the program. The waiver can be short-term if the institution is working on joining the program.

The bill section expands oversight by requiring educational institutions to notify the State approving agency or the Department of Veterans Affairs within 30 days if they experience certain actions or events. It also includes changes to existing laws to align with this requirement and mandates the creation of a database for risk-based surveys within six months.

The section outlines that educational institutions offering programs approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide digital copies of official transcripts to eligible students or veterans. These changes will take effect from August 1, 2025, and apply to academic periods starting on or after that date.

The bill amends Section 3680(a)(3) of Title 38 in the U.S. Code to ensure veterans get a full monthly housing stipend for their final semester under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, treating them as full-time students even if they are not, starting August 1, 2024.

The section modifies the rules for the approval of commercial driver education programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs' educational assistance programs. It outlines conditions under which these programs are exempt from certain approval requirements, specifies reporting obligations, and gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the authority to withhold exemptions as appropriate. Additionally, it mandates the establishment of new requirements, rulemaking consultations, and a study by the Comptroller General to assess the effects of these changes.

The new section 3698A in Chapter 36 of Title 38 of the United States Code requires the Secretary to send certificates of eligibility and award letters for educational benefits electronically, unless an individual chooses to receive them by mail. Individuals have the option to change their preference from mail to electronic notification at any time.

The section requires that certificates and award letters related to certain educational benefits be provided electronically to individuals, unless they choose to receive them by mail. The educational benefits mentioned include assistance under specific chapters of the title, and individuals may switch their preference from electronic to mail delivery at any time.

The section amends a part of the United States Code to specify that a rule about educational assistance applies to courses or programs that closed or were discontinued between August 1, 2021, and September 30, 2025. This affects students who couldn't transfer credits from these closed or disapproved programs.

The bill section establishes a program by the Department of Veterans Affairs that allows up to 4,000 eligible veterans per year to enroll in short-term, high-technology education programs, offering educational assistance and incentives for both veterans and educational providers. It also outlines conditions for contracts with educational providers, funding distribution, application processes, and the criteria for program qualification, including performance measures like job placement rates.

The Secretary is required to run a program that helps certain veterans enroll in short-term, high-tech education courses, aiming to prepare them for jobs in fields like computer programming and data processing. This program will offer financial assistance for up to 4,000 veterans each year, cover tuition costs, and incentivize employment; it also includes specific reporting and eligibility criteria, with the program set to end on September 30, 2026.

The section mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs must notify students, educational institutions, and Congress at least 90 days before making any changes to policies or guidelines related to its educational assistance programs. This rule will take effect immediately upon the enactment of the Act and applies to any rules made on or after August 1, 2024.

The law states that if the Secretary wants to change a policy or guidance related to educational assistance programs, they must inform students, schools, and relevant congressional committees about the change at least 90 days before it is put into effect.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update their payment system within 90 days to enable sending educational assistance payments directly to foreign colleges that either don't have a U.S. employer ID or a domestic bank account, as long as they provide approved courses to eligible students.

The section outlines requirements for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to maintain and enhance the G.I. Bill Comparison Tool, ensuring it provides clear information about educational programs and institutions for veterans. It mandates data retention, collaboration with other government agencies, improved clarity and accessibility of information, the handling of student feedback, and training for personnel on providing educational counseling services.

The section outlines improvements to the employment rights of U.S. Armed Forces members, detailing changes such as preventing retaliation by employers, expanding legal protections and penalties for violations, mandating attorney fees for successful claims, and commissioning reviews by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to ensure proper enforcement and protection under the law.

The Secretary of Labor is required to review and update a specific manual related to veterans' employment and training services every two years for a period of five years. After each review, a report detailing any changes and a copy of the updated manual must be sent to the relevant congressional committees, with any sensitive parts possibly included as a separate addendum.

The section mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit reports on the Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC), which provides training to help transitioning armed forces members qualify for jobs at the Veterans Benefit Administration, detailing best practices, cost savings, and hiring outcomes. Additionally, it establishes a pilot program to employ veterans in conservation roles within the Department of the Interior, with guidelines for other federal departments on employing veterans, and requires briefings and a report to evaluate the pilot's progress and effectiveness.

The section outlines improvements to the program for direct housing loans for Native American veterans, such as ensuring veterans have a meaningful interest in the property, establishing procedures for loan foreclosure and resale, and allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide loans for refinancing existing mortgages. Additionally, it includes measures to expand outreach and assistance programs, assign adequate personnel, and define various terms related to the program.

The Native Community Development Financial Institution (NCDFI) Relending Program allows the Secretary to lend money to NCDFIs so they can offer loans to qualified Native American veterans for purchasing, building, or improving homes on trust land. Loans must follow strict standards to prevent predatory lending, and the program is set to end by September 30, 2026.

The Native Community Development Financial Institution Relending Program allows the Secretary to lend money to certain financial institutions so they can provide loans to Native American veterans living on trust land for housing-related purposes. These loans must follow specific rules to prevent unfair lending practices, and the program will not issue new loans after September 30, 2026.

The section allows veterans who die at home while receiving hospice care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to qualify for a burial allowance, similar to those who die in a VA hospital or nursing home. This benefit applies to deaths occurring 180 days after the Act's enactment and before October 1, 2026.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is allowed to give grants to States and Indian Tribes to help improve outreach and support programs for veterans and their families, ensuring they are aware of and can access benefits and services. The funds may be used for hiring new veterans service officers, expanding services, and providing necessary training, with a portion specifically set aside for Indian Tribes, especially in areas with high veteran suicide rates or critical shortages of service officers.

The section authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to States and Indian Tribes to improve outreach and assistance programs for veterans and their families, making sure they are aware of and can apply for benefits. The grants aim to expand existing services, hire more service officers, and enhance training, especially in underserved areas, while ensuring equitable distribution and tracking performance outcomes.

The section updates the definition of "surviving spouse" to mean someone who was married to a veteran at the time of the veteran's death, lived with them continuously (except in cases of veteran's misconduct leading to separation), and has not remarried, with an exception for chapter 19.

The section of the bill ensures that only licensed health care professionals can perform medical disability exams in a specific Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program, mandates actions for compliance, requires annual reports on the program's operation and compliance efforts, and makes a technical correction to replace "physicians" with "health care professionals" in relevant legislation.

The text outlines a requirement for the Department of Veterans Affairs to give contact information of recognized agents or attorneys to healthcare professionals performing medical disability examinations. This applies to examinations conducted after the law is enacted.

The bill section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that disability benefit questionnaire data from certain non-department health care providers are sent to the VA in a machine-readable format within 180 days of the bill's enactment, and also mandates the creation and public sharing of transmission standards and an IT system modification plan to support this process. Definitions for relevant terms like "claimant" and "covered non-Department provider" are provided, and public access to standards and plans is ensured through the VA's website.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must update its technology within a year to automate the processing of certain temporary disability claims for veterans, as specified in a specific section of the U.S. Code. While automation will streamline the process, VA employees will still decide if a veteran qualifies for these disability ratings, and claims can be handled manually if the necessary evidence is not compatible with the system.

The section provides the official title of the legislation, which is the "Housing our Military Veterans Effectively Act of 2023" or simply the "HOME Act of 2023".

The bill section amends rules about payments provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for services to homeless veterans, allowing increased payment rates under certain conditions until 2026, and limits annual payments to 12,000. It also requires the Secretary to report payment data to Congress, has the authority to make temporary rules, and must submit a strategy for managing these payments by the end of 2025.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to use certain funds to provide food, shelter, transportation, and technology to help homeless veterans, and may collaborate with organizations to manage VA land for their use. Additionally, the Secretary must report to Congress on these efforts until September 30, 2026, detailing the assistance provided and the use of funds.

The new section added to the United States Code requires that, as much as possible, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must ensure that veterans, case managers, and community service providers have access to telehealth services. This aims to enhance the support for veterans, especially those involved with homeless programs or services funded by the Department.

The Secretary is required to make sure that veterans have access to telehealth services they are eligible for, as much as possible. This includes making sure that telehealth is available to veterans, case managers, and community service providers who work with homeless veterans.

The title of this section states that it can be referred to as either the “Electronic Health Record Program Restructure, Enhance, Strengthen, and Empower Technology Act of 2024” or the “EHR Program RESET Act of 2024.”

In this section, several terms are defined for the bill: "appropriate congressional committees" refers to specific committees in the House and Senate related to veterans and appropriations; the "Electronic Health Record Modernization Program" involves activities by the Department of Veterans Affairs to update health record systems; "other health information technology activities and systems of the Department" are defined as health tech activities different from the main record systems; and "preliminary program activity" is related to initial steps in the modernization program at veterans' health facilities.

The section authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the department's electronic health record system and technology, aiming to improve healthcare quality for veterans, boost staff productivity, enhance patient experiences, ensure data interoperability, increase medical collections, support research, and protect personal information from cyber threats.

The section outlines responsibilities for modernizing the Department of Veterans Affairs' electronic health record system and other health information technology. It assigns roles to the Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary for Health, and Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology in overseeing this modernization, coordinating efforts, and ensuring effective implementation through a designated Program Executive Director.

The section outlines requirements for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure contracts involve secure handling of personal information, preventing its sale or misuse. It also clarifies what "covered contracts" and "covered information" mean, including protected health and personal data, and that such protection applies to certain legal and regulatory provisions.

The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health is tasked with reviewing and comparing the Veterans Health Administration's clinical and business processes to industry best practices, establishing a baseline for these workflows, and incorporating it into a health program. Additionally, they must create standards for implementing an electronic health record system and monitor any deviations from the established baseline.

The section outlines requirements for implementing an electronic health record system in Veterans Affairs medical facilities. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is tasked with establishing standard health care metrics and ensuring that facilities meet specific criteria before further implementation, including preparedness checks and maintaining operational and safety standards.

The bill section outlines that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs cannot extend contracts related to the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program starting two years after the law is enacted, unless they've shown improvement in specific metrics and provided necessary certifications. If they fail to comply by then, they must revert to the old record system or choose an alternative plan.

The section requires the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees within 30 days if they decide any new purpose is suitable under a specific law. The report must detail the new purpose.

The Secretary is required to provide reports to congressional committees within 90 days after establishing a baseline of clinical workflows and national standards, detailing the established baseline and describing the standards.

The section directs the Secretary to provide a report to congressional committees within 90 days after establishing new healthcare quality metrics, as described in a different section of the bill. This report will identify the specific metrics that have been established.

The section requires the Secretary to submit a report on how the Department plans to ensure full use and performance of a new electronic health record system at medical facilities. The report should detail costs for training, staff, technical support, and other resources, and must involve input from facility directors.

The section mandates that at least 90 days before a medical center starts using a new electronic health record system, a report must be sent to Congress by the Secretary. The report, prepared by the medical facility's director with input from key officials, must detail the resources available and those still needed for a successful implementation, covering areas like funding, training, staff, technical support, contracts, and necessary mitigation strategies.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress with at least two strategies for modernizing electronic health records, in case certain certifications aren't met. The report should include details like the costs, schedule, and risks involved, as well as how the new strategies improve management and fit with existing systems.

The bill requires the Chief Digital Health Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit a report detailing a health information technology strategy and roadmap. This report should address how health technology can improve care quality and efficiency, as well as outline goals, current and future states, acquisition strategies, and workforce needs. An updated report must be provided annually, detailing progress and any adjustments, for four years following the initial report.

The section of the bill requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress on the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) for 10 years. The report must detail past and future costs, list system modules being updated or retired, include current and future development plans, and provide information about system stability.

The section modifies the quarterly reports required by the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 to include additional data about the electronic health record system used by the Department of Veterans Affairs, such as user satisfaction, system performance issues, and financial impacts, and updates the criteria for reporting communications about contract issues with contractors.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to congressional committees within one year of the Act's enactment. This report must include a copy of a specific contract clause, related guidance, and a summary of other actions taken to fulfill certain requirements.

The section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress within 90 days after certain actions are taken by the Department of Veterans Affairs, such as the designation of officials or responsibilities by the Deputy Secretary and any program reorganization. Additionally, it mandates a report to Congress within one year on any needed legislative changes to effectively manage VA programs.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit a report to Congress within 90 days after this law is enacted, detailing the efforts to improve clinical decision-making and performance criteria in the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program. This report should cover topics such as decision-making structures, performance metrics, and readiness tasks required for implementing the new system across Veterans Health Administration facilities.

The Department of Veterans Affairs must ensure that new employees receive training developed by the Inspector General on how to report and handle wrongdoing, as well as understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to the Office of Inspector General, within one year of employment. This training will be delivered through the department's talent management system, updated as necessary, and kept separate from other mandatory training, while employees are notified about their responsibilities and access to this training through regular email reminders.

The bill mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs annually surveys employees responsible for security at Veterans Affairs facilities to gather information about criminal activity, resource adequacy, training, and relationships with external law enforcement. Additionally, within 30 days after each full fiscal year, a report detailing survey results, analyses of security inspections, and information on vacant police leadership positions must be submitted to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs.

The bill changes the expiration date of certain housing loan fees listed in the United States Code. Instead of ending on November 15, 2031, these fees will now end on September 30, 2034.