NewsBytes July 14, 2023
In this issue:
Senate NDAA Concurrent Receipt Amendment
House NDAA Bill Passage Delayed
SVAC Hearing on Veteran’s Substance Abuse
50th Anniversary of AVF
OIG Recommends VA Improve Financial Management System
Happy Birthday USMC Band
Senate NDAA Concurrent Receipt Amendment
The Senate is scheduled to approve their version of the NDAA (S.2226) next week. Senator Jon Tester (Mt.) has filed a floor amendment with the provisions of the Major Richard Star Act that provides concurrent receipt reform. Members are strongly urged to ask their Senators to support this amendment online.
Members can also weigh in on the House concurrent receipt bill (H.R.1282) that is pending on the House floor and could be called for a vote at any time.
House NDAA Bill Passage Delayed
As NewsBytes goes to press the final vote in the House for the House version of National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA-H.R.2670) has been delayed at least until next week by disagreements among House Republicans over proposed amendments eliminating a series of liberal military policies such as diversity training, military abortion policy, as well as funding levels to assist Ukraine with its war with Russia. A full report on floor action and passage will be provided in next week’s Newsbytes if the bill moves forward.
SVAC Hearing on Veteran’s Substance Abuse
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a hearing on improving access to substance use disorder (SUD) care for veterans, especially those living in rural areas. SVAC members pressed witnesses from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on its policies and procedures to ensure veterans receive timely and quality SUD care.
The VA health care program covers services to treat substance use problems. To access these services, veterans must first apply for VA health care. For more information about VA SUD program go to: Substance Use Treatment For Veterans | Veterans Affairs (va.gov)
50th Anniversary of AVF
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III recently issued a statement on the 50th anniversary of the All-Volunteer Force.
“Fifty years ago, the United States military began to fill its ranks solely with brave Americans who freely choose to defend our republic. Ever since the draft ended on July 1, 1973, Americans have joined our military out of conviction, not compulsion. Over the years, the members of our All-Volunteer Force have been motivated by patriotism, pride, and principle—by the desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and by their love for our exceptional nation.
Moving to an All-Volunteer Force was a bold step: No other military with such formidable capabilities had operated on a voluntary basis. But history has proven the wisdom of relying on our All-Volunteer Force, and the combination of moral and military power that it has brought has strengthened our armed forces. Over the past five decades, our military has recruited and retained patriotic and talented personnel from all walks of American life, resulting in a more professional and effective Joint Force. Today, America's All-Volunteer Force is the strongest military in human history, and it sets the global standard for military professionalism….”
The full statement can be read online.
OIG Recommends VA Improve Financial Management System
The Deputy Assistant Inspector General for the Office of Audits and Evaluations, Nicholas Dahl recently testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. In his testimony he noted that since 2015 The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has repeatedly found that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) failure to effectively modernize its financial management systems leads to significant challenges in assuring accountability and transparency in how it obligates and expends funds; makes it difficult for VA staff to plan, order, and track expenditures for supplies and services; and hampers transparency and oversight of VA’s use of these funds. Modernizing the VA Financial Acquisition Management System (iFAMS) by implementing the DigitalVA brings an efficient financial acquisition system to Veterans Benefit Administration staff for better service to VA customers.
He noted that prior modernization efforts failed, in part, because of poor planning and deficient execution of new information technology (IT) systems and challenges with transitioning from legacy systems. Decentralized oversight, unrealistic timelines, inadequate engagement of all stakeholders and end users, and minimal testing for some systems have plagued IT projects. The resulting delays, changes in direction and vendors, and user resistance all carry steep costs.
This testimony highlights (1) relevant financial management findings from the OIG’s audit of VA’s financial statements for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, (2) recent examples of how the lack of controls affected VA’s ability to track COVID-19 supplemental appropriated funds, and (3) initial findings and recommendations from OIG’s oversight of the iFAMS deployment. Taken together, these issues underscore the need for VA to address previously identified problems to successfully modernize its financial management system during this most recent effort.
Happy Birthday USMC Band
The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the Marine Corps. Established by Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the U.S. military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States. The Marine Band has been uniquely known as "The President's Own" since 1801.
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