VA FOIA Reform Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. GALLEGO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 2726, the VA FOIA Reform Act.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chair Takano and Ranking Member Bost for bringing this bill to the floor and Representative Murphy for co- leading this important legislation with me.

The bill is a simple, bipartisan measure to improve efficiency and transparency at the VA.

As we all know, transparency is critical in ensuring that the VA is serving our veterans as effectively as possible. Veterans, their caregivers, VSOs, and the public all deserve easy and timely access to information about veteran care, VA performance, and other data when requested.

Unfortunately, VA currently has among the worst backlogs of Freedom of Information Act requests across Federal agencies. Among these backlogged requests are inquiries about VA performance and decisions, as well as requests from veterans for their own personal records.

My bill will ensure that the VA takes concrete steps to reduce its FOIA backlogs so that these veterans get answers. It also calls for the National Archives and Records Administration to review VA's FOIA process.

Finally, the bill requires the VA to analyze the root causes of its FOIA backlog and to identify technology needs and procedural improvements that will increase efficiency in responding to requests.

This straightforward bill is a commonsense step toward improving the flow of information from the VA to all the stakeholders it serves.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support it today, and I look forward to working to get it signed into law.

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