H.R. 8010 - VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026

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Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Mar 24, 2026

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Mar 25, 2026

HearingHouseHearing8 witnesses

Mar 25, 2026 · 14:15

H.R. 6654, the “Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act”; H.R. 7280, the “Veteran DATA Act”; H.R. 7319, the “VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act”; H.R. 7683, the “VA Fiscal Management Modernization Act”; Discussion Draft, the “Vets CLEAR Act”; Discussion Draft, the “Veterans Affairs Subcontractor Competition and Opportunity Network Act”; Discussion Draft, “to amend title 38, United States Code, to require that certain sterile processing technicians of the Veterans Health Administration hold appropriate professional certifications, and for other purposes”; Discussion Draft, “to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the rate of pay for care or services provided under the Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on the location at which such care or services were provided, and for other purposes”; Discussion Draft, “to establish an entitlement to a supplemental period of unpaid parental leave for employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs”; Discussion Draft, “To deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees; Discussion Draft, to prohibit the downgrading of law enforcement positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Discussion Draft, “to amend Title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes

Committee

Oversight and Investigations

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Summary

On March 25, 2026, the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a legislative hearing examining multiple bills aimed at improving Department of Veterans Affairs operations. The bills under consideration included H.R. 6654 (Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act), H.R. 7280 (Veteran DATA Act), H.R. 7319 (VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act), H.R. 7683 (VA Fiscal Management Modernization Act), and several discussion drafts addressing sterile processing technician certifications, community care pay rates, parental leave, and law enforcement positions. Testimony revealed a common theme across the legislation: the need for the VA to become a better steward of resources and veteran trust. Cole Lyle of The American Legion testified that the VA spent roughly $21 billion on software licenses and systems between fiscal years 2022 and 2024, yet a Government Accountability Office report found the department still cannot accurately track how many licenses it uses. Lyle expressed support for H.R. 6654 as a practical step toward addressing the problem through requiring comprehensive inventory, centralized oversight, and annual reporting. Regarding data privacy, the Veteran DATA Act would prohibit contractors from selling or monetizing veteran data and require VA to issue guidance on identifying misuse. The American Legion supported the bill's overall goal while recommending targeted amendments to avoid unnecessary contract renegotiations. The hearing examined these proposals but did not result in immediate votes; the bills must advance through committee markup and floor consideration before becoming law.

Video

Witnesses(8)

Name	Position	Organization
Dr. Ilse WiechersVeterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs	Acting Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services	Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Mr. Cole LyleThe American Legion	Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division	The American Legion
Mr. Jeffrey NeilThe Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Associate Executive Director, Technology Acquisition Center	The Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Joseph AvilaUniversity of Virginia Health System	Administrator, Sterile Processing Department	University of Virginia Health System
Mr. Rondy WayeHuman Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Executive Director, Human Capital Programs, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer	Human Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Ms. Brittany MadniEconomic Policy Innovation Center	Executive Vice President	Economic Policy Innovation Center
Ms. Brittany MandniEconomic Policy Innovation Center	Executive Vice President	Economic Policy Innovation Center
Sgt. Dennis GuerreroAmerican Federation of Government Employees	Vice President, Local 3511	American Federation of Government Employees

Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Mar 24, 2026

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Mar 25, 2026

HearingHouseHearing8 witnesses

Mar 25, 2026 · 14:15

H.R. 6654, the “Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act”; H.R. 7280, the “Veteran DATA Act”; H.R. 7319, the “VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act”; H.R. 7683, the “VA Fiscal Management Modernization Act”; Discussion Draft, the “Vets CLEAR Act”; Discussion Draft, the “Veterans Affairs Subcontractor Competition and Opportunity Network Act”; Discussion Draft, “to amend title 38, United States Code, to require that certain sterile processing technicians of the Veterans Health Administration hold appropriate professional certifications, and for other purposes”; Discussion Draft, “to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the rate of pay for care or services provided under the Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on the location at which such care or services were provided, and for other purposes”; Discussion Draft, “to establish an entitlement to a supplemental period of unpaid parental leave for employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs”; Discussion Draft, “To deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees; Discussion Draft, to prohibit the downgrading of law enforcement positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Discussion Draft, “to amend Title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes

Committee

Oversight and Investigations

View full hearing

Summary

Video

Witnesses(8)

Name	Position	Organization
Dr. Ilse WiechersVeterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs	Acting Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services	Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Mr. Cole LyleThe American Legion	Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division	The American Legion
Mr. Jeffrey NeilThe Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Associate Executive Director, Technology Acquisition Center	The Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Joseph AvilaUniversity of Virginia Health System	Administrator, Sterile Processing Department	University of Virginia Health System
Mr. Rondy WayeHuman Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Executive Director, Human Capital Programs, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer	Human Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Ms. Brittany MadniEconomic Policy Innovation Center	Executive Vice President	Economic Policy Innovation Center
Ms. Brittany MandniEconomic Policy Innovation Center	Executive Vice President	Economic Policy Innovation Center
Sgt. Dennis GuerreroAmerican Federation of Government Employees	Vice President, Local 3511	American Federation of Government Employees

Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Mar 24, 2026

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Mar 25, 2026

HearingHouseHearing8 witnesses

Mar 25, 2026 · 14:15

H.R. 6654, the “Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act”; H.R. 7280, the “Veteran DATA Act”; H.R. 7319, the “VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act”; H.R. 7683, the “VA Fiscal Management Modernization Act”; Discussion Draft, the “Vets CLEAR Act”; Discussion Draft, the “Veterans Affairs Subcontractor Competition and Opportunity Network Act”; Discussion Draft, “to amend title 38, United States Code, to require that certain sterile processing technicians of the Veterans Health Administration hold appropriate professional certifications, and for other purposes”; Discussion Draft, “to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the rate of pay for care or services provided under the Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on the location at which such care or services were provided, and for other purposes”; Discussion Draft, “to establish an entitlement to a supplemental period of unpaid parental leave for employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs”; Discussion Draft, “To deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees; Discussion Draft, to prohibit the downgrading of law enforcement positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Discussion Draft, “to amend Title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes

Committee

Oversight and Investigations

View full hearing

Summary

Video

Witnesses(8)

Name	Position	Organization
Dr. Ilse WiechersVeterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs	Acting Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services	Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Mr. Cole LyleThe American Legion	Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division	The American Legion
Mr. Jeffrey NeilThe Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Associate Executive Director, Technology Acquisition Center	The Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Joseph AvilaUniversity of Virginia Health System	Administrator, Sterile Processing Department	University of Virginia Health System
Mr. Rondy WayeHuman Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Executive Director, Human Capital Programs, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer	Human Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Ms. Brittany MadniEconomic Policy Innovation Center	Executive Vice President	Economic Policy Innovation Center
Ms. Brittany MandniEconomic Policy Innovation Center	Executive Vice President	Economic Policy Innovation Center
Sgt. Dennis GuerreroAmerican Federation of Government Employees	Vice President, Local 3511	American Federation of Government Employees

Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Mar 24, 2026

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Mar 25, 2026

HearingHouseHearing8 witnesses

Mar 25, 2026 · 14:15

H.R. 6654, the “Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act”; H.R. 7280, the “Veteran DATA Act”; H.R. 7319, the “VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act”; H.R. 7683, the “VA Fiscal Management Modernization Act”; Discussion Draft, the “Vets CLEAR Act”; Discussion Draft, the “Veterans Affairs Subcontractor Competition and Opportunity Network Act”; Discussion Draft, “to amend title 38, United States Code, to require that certain sterile processing technicians of the Veterans Health Administration hold appropriate professional certifications, and for other purposes”; Discussion Draft, “to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the rate of pay for care or services provided under the Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on the location at which such care or services were provided, and for other purposes”; Discussion Draft, “to establish an entitlement to a supplemental period of unpaid parental leave for employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs”; Discussion Draft, “To deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees; Discussion Draft, to prohibit the downgrading of law enforcement positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Discussion Draft, “to amend Title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes

Committee

Oversight and Investigations

View full hearing

Summary

Video

Witnesses(8)

Name	Position	Organization
Dr. Ilse WiechersVeterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs	Acting Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services	Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Mr. Cole LyleThe American Legion	Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division	The American Legion
Mr. Jeffrey NeilThe Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Associate Executive Director, Technology Acquisition Center	The Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Joseph AvilaUniversity of Virginia Health System	Administrator, Sterile Processing Department	University of Virginia Health System
Mr. Rondy WayeHuman Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Executive Director, Human Capital Programs, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer	Human Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Ms. Brittany MadniEconomic Policy Innovation Center	Executive Vice President	Economic Policy Innovation Center
Ms. Brittany MandniEconomic Policy Innovation Center	Executive Vice President	Economic Policy Innovation Center
Sgt. Dennis GuerreroAmerican Federation of Government Employees	Vice President, Local 3511	American Federation of Government Employees

VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026

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House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026

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Lifecycle of the Bill

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Witnesses(8)

Lifecycle of the Bill

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Committees (1)

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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