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Reps. Cisneros and Rose Introduce Legislation to Increase VA Transparency and Reduce VA FOIA Backlog Requests

Press Release

Date: June 15, 2020
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense Health and Health Care

Today, Representatives Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) and Max Rose (NY-11) introduced legislation to increase transparency in the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs and decrease their Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request backlog. To view the bill text, click here.

"It's unacceptable that veterans, VSOs, and others cannot access the information they need from the VA. The lack of transparency and timely responses prevents our veterans from making critical decisions in their lives, especially during this pandemic," said Rep. Cisneros, a Navy veteran. "Today, I'm proud to introduce this bill with my fellow veteran, Rep. Rose, to increase much-needed transparency and accountability, as well as reduce FOIA backlog requests."

"We'd never let outdated technology and a lack of resources stand in the way of our military accomplishing its mission, so we shouldn't let it stand in the way of the VA serving those soldiers with transparency and accountability once they come home," said Rep. Rose, an Army combat veteran. "This bill gives the VA clear, mandated targets for increasing transparency to not only keep the VA accountable, but require them to prepare a plan to prevent any further backlog of requests in the future."

The bill would require:

*Reduction by 75% of the current FOIA backlog within three years;
*A similar reduction for the requests made for documents by the independent federal agency that investigates whistleblowers, the Office of Special Counsel;
*A review of VA's FOIA practices by the National Archives (they do this when an agency requests);
*Development of a plan to address the technological or other problems that worsen the backlog for responding to FOIA requests;
*And reporting to Congress about the root causes and a plan to implement the solutions for the FOIA backlog.

Reps. Cisneros and Rose are members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and serve on the HVAC Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.


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