house Bill H.R. 4613
Should the VA Make All its Reports to Congress Searchable on its Website?
Argument in favor
The VA’s reports to Congress are an important source of information about veterans’ affairs in the U.S. As such, they should be publicly accessible and searchable on the agency’s website.
02/25/2020
Absolutely! All federal agencies should make their unclassified documents available to the public. These can be regulated for dispersal by the Freedom of Information Act regulations just like all other government entities. Such documents are stored and managed by the National Archives.
BTW, this comment gives me an opportunity to note a rumor that has been flying around the internet that the National Archives is scheduled to destroy documents from the Trump administration’s first term because it is underfunded and overburdened. If you have been hearing this, it is FALSE! Here is r
the statement from the National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/nr20-43
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02/26/2020
Yes, easy access to appropriate agency information is important for public trust in the agency as well as an accountability check for the public. I think it is appropriate for the public to trust that their taxpayer dollars are being used properly and effectively. So Agencies generally should provide any records involving performance measures, stats, reports, agency program changes, agency directives and probably a lot of other things - excepting of course, documentation that is classified or can be used to determine personal information for any particular individual receiving services. If medical records are released by patients to other medical providers, as currently provided for with current records between medical providers, that is a separate service from generally public agency administrative and policy stats and directives.
02/25/2020
Absolutely. I want to know what the heck is or is not going on in the VA!
Argument opposed
This bill is unnecessary because the VA already makes most of its reports available on its website.
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02/25/2020
Better idea, we get rid of the VA, and go to a National Healthcare system. Vets with service related injuries move to the top of the lists.
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02/25/2020
Our VA must focus Our resources on helping honorably discharged veterans.
Absolutely! All federal agencies should make their unclassified documents available to the public. These can be regulated for dispersal by the Freedom of Information Act regulations just like all other government entities. Such documents are stored and managed by the National Archives.
BTW, this comment gives me an opportunity to note a rumor that has been flying around the internet that the National Archives is scheduled to destroy documents from the Trump administration’s first term because it is underfunded and overburdened. If you have been hearing this, it is FALSE! Here is r
the statement from the National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/nr20-43
Better idea, we get rid of the VA, and go to a National Healthcare system. Vets with service related injuries move to the top of the lists.
Yes, easy access to appropriate agency information is important for public trust in the agency as well as an accountability check for the public. I think it is appropriate for the public to trust that their taxpayer dollars are being used properly and effectively. So Agencies generally should provide any records involving performance measures, stats, reports, agency program changes, agency directives and probably a lot of other things - excepting of course, documentation that is classified or can be used to determine personal information for any particular individual receiving services. If medical records are released by patients to other medical providers, as currently provided for with current records between medical providers, that is a separate service from generally public agency administrative and policy stats and directives.
Absolutely. I want to know what the heck is or is not going on in the VA!
Many of the veterans need their medical information ASAP but as it now stands it takes longer than it should to get the information uploaded. This bill would make it mandatory that their info be uploaded much faster so that their doctors can access it as necessary.
Transparency in our government provides accountability. All agencies should provide Congressional reports, that do not compromise national security, on their websites. Other public entities, like schools, have been doing this for decades.
Support any bill that makes the government more accountable to the people.
As a federal agency, the people have the right to the information disclosed by the VA to Congress. Also, if the people can understand the issues that the VA might be dealing with, the people can assist veterans in their local municipalities with what the VA cannot.
Increase transparency of the Federal Government. I’d also like to know how much we are paying to Trump properties for his “vacations” as well as the cost for his adult children.
After our soldiers serve their country, our government should not be "hiding" information that could change a veteran's life, whether good or bad. Don't do shady things, and this is not ever a question.
Understanding the needs helps us understand funding or in trumps case the lack of funding.
If the VA is already doing this, it wouldn’t take much effort to add the reports it hasn’t already posted and formalizing the existing process to be permanent seems reasonable.
Good government is transparent. I'm not sure I have any need to see this information, but it should be available for all Americans to see so they know how their tax dollars (or not, if you're wealthy) are being spent.
This will open transparency in government. A bipartisan idea and common sense
We have a right to know what the VA is and isn’t accomplishing. Veterans are still complaining so are they right? Is the VA sill being run by Maralago country club?
A simpler, easily searchable database makes sense. This will fill in the gaps from the current system.
Yes. We Veterans would appreciate all the transparency we can get on the VA. I fully support the VA and have received great care there. The transparency needs to be extended to all areas of Government as must as possible without compromising national security. It is our government.....we pay for it....we have a right to know.