Key Takeaways
- •Rep. Mike Bost (R, IL-12) convened a hearing on 27 legislative proposals to overhaul VA operations, including a major restructuring of the Veterans Integrated Service Network system.
- •Phil Christy (Chief Acquisition Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) warned that a mandatory annual reauthorization process could disrupt veteran services, though he supported specific acquisition and leasing reforms.
- •Rep. Mark Takano (D, CA-39) pressed Thomas O'Toole (Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services, Veterans Health Administration) on whether the VISN Reform Act’s rigid staffing limits would hamper healthcare flexibility.
- •Republicans prioritized fiscal accountability and procurement oversight, while Democrats criticized recent workforce reductions and advocated for automatic healthcare enrollment and expanded reproductive health access for veterans.
- •The committee will evaluate these 27 proposals to determine which reforms will be included in a first-of-its-kind annual reauthorization package to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs met on March 18, 2026, to consider a sweeping legislative package aimed at reauthorizing and modernizing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Chairman Mike Bost (R, IL-12) framed the hearing as a critical exercise of "Article 1" congressional authority, arguing that many VA statutes have not been updated since the 1990s. The center-piece of the hearing was H.R. 6733, the VISN Reform Act of 2025, which seeks to overhaul the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) structure. Ranking Member Mark Takano (D, CA-39) expressed support for increased oversight but voiced concerns regarding the compressed timeline of the "NDAA-style" reauthorization process and the potential for rigid mandates to hamper VA operations.
Key Testimony
The hearing featured testimony from Phil Christy, Chief Acquisition Officer at the VA; Margarita Devlin, Acting Under Secretary for Benefits at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA); and Dr. Thomas O'Toole, Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The witnesses generally supported the intent of several procurement and infrastructure reforms but cautioned against legislative language that might limit administrative flexibility or conflict with existing federal personnel rules.
A primary focus of the hearing was H.R. 6733, which would limit the VA to eight VISNs and cap each network at 50 full-time employees. Dr. O'Toole testified that while the VA is currently reorganizing, the department prefers the flexibility to adjust VISN numbers based on regional healthcare demand and market forces rather than having a rigid number set in statute. Another major proposal, the Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment (ARCA) Act (H.R. 6833) introduced by Rep. Tom Barrett (R, MI-7), would create a centralized Office of Acquisition to manage large IT and medical system contracts. Mr. Christy expressed support for the ARCA Act, noting that the VA’s current acquisition assessment process is "fractured" and would benefit from independent verification and validation (IV&V) for major programs.
Overview
Healthcare and benefits reforms were also central to the discussion. Ranking Member Takano advocated for the Ensuring Veterans Smooth Transition (EVEST) Act (H.R. 4114), which would automatically enroll transitioning service members in VA healthcare. Dr. O'Toole raised concerns about how automatic enrollment might affect Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits but committed to working with the committee to resolve these technical hurdles. Rep. Julia Brownley (D, CA-26) pushed for the Dental Care for Veterans Act (H.R. 210) and the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act (H.R. 4876), arguing that dental care is essential healthcare and that current restrictions on reproductive services are discriminatory.
Workforce issues emerged as a point of contention, particularly regarding the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA). Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D, KY-3) introduced H.R. 2303 to allow the BVA to promote high-performing attorneys to the GS-15 level to reduce attrition and address the claims backlog. While the VA witnesses cited budget pressures and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) classification rules as obstacles, Rep. McGarvey noted that the VA already employs non-supervisory GS-15 attorneys in its Office of General Counsel, leading to an internal "brain drain" from the BVA. Additionally, Rep. Timothy Kennedy (D, NY-26) criticized recent workforce reductions under the Trump administration, introducing the VA Funding and Workforce Protection Act to reinstate employees and prevent future hiring freezes.
The following organizations were identified and discussed during the hearing: - Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): The primary subject of the hearing, discussed regarding its overall management, procurement failures, and the need for statutory reauthorization. - House Committee on Veterans' Affairs: The convening body exercising its Article 1 oversight responsibilities. - Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA): Discussed regarding its significant claims backlog and the need for attorney retention reforms (H.R. 2303). - Veterans Health Administration (VHA): Referenced in the context of VISN restructuring, sexual assault protocols (SAFE Care Act), and healthcare enrollment. - House Committee on Armed Services: Mentioned by Ranking Member Takano as a model for the annual reauthorization process (NDAA). - Office of Personnel Management (OPM): Cited by VA witnesses regarding federal pay scales and classification rules that complicate BVA attorney promotions. - Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA): Discussed regarding the administration of disability compensation and the proposed consolidation of economic opportunity programs. - Government Accountability Office (GAO): Referenced regarding reports on the VA's claims accreditation process and drug pricing. - General Services Administration (GSA): Mentioned in the context of the VA seeking independent leasing authority to bypass current GSA-tied processes. - MITRE Corporation (MITRE): Identified as the entity assisting the VA in a comprehensive review of its claims accreditation regime. - Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Cited as supporters of the EVEST Act and other veteran-centric reforms. - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Mentioned regarding overlapping regulatory requirements for research registrations. - National Institutes of Health (NIH): Referenced regarding data on the timeline for translating research into clinical practice. - Department of Labor (DOL): Discussed as a partner in veteran transition and employment programs. - Bureau of Prisons (BOP): Mentioned regarding the responsibility for providing healthcare to incarcerated veterans. - Defense Health Agency (DHA) and Department of Defense (DOD): Referenced regarding the need for better alignment in procurement and the transition process for service members.
Partisan dynamics were characterized by a shared interest in oversight but differing priorities. Republicans focused on structural efficiency, procurement guardrails, and fiscal accountability. Democrats emphasized expanding eligibility for dental and reproductive care, protecting the federal workforce from political interference, and ensuring automatic healthcare enrollment. Notable exchanges included Ranking Member Takano’s questioning of Dr. O'Toole on the distinction between "registration" and "enrollment," and Rep. McGarvey’s sharp critique of the VA’s refusal to support pay increases for BVA attorneys.
The hearing concluded with Chairman Bost indicating that the committee would continue to refine the 27 bills discussed. Witnesses committed to providing follow-up data on BVA staffing levels, sexual assault protocols, and senior executive performance awards within the coming weeks.
Transcript
Committee will come to order and without objection the chair may declare a recess at any time. Now before that we begin today I would like to take a moment of silence for the service members currently serving in the Middle East as well as the families of the service members who recently gave their lives and they're in our prayers. So if we can take a moment. Thank you. And I also want to take a moment and pray for the VA employee who was shot yesterday in Jasper, Georgia. We're asking for strength and healing and full recovery for them. We're thinking of their family and VA colleagues who are impacted by the incident during this difficult time and we stand with them and hope for their quick recovery. Now today's hearing is about one central responsibility of this committee, ensuring VA works for the people it was created to serve, our nation's veterans. The Constitution places a responsibility squarely on Congress under Article 1. Congress writes the laws, authorizes the programs, and exercises oversight over how these policies are carried out. That authorization that authority exists to make sure VA remains accountable to veterans and the American taxpayer. When programs fall short, it is the duty of this committee to ask questions, demand answers, and make the legislative changes necessary to fix the problem. Reauthorization is not simply a procedural exercise. It is how Congress evaluates whether programs are working as intended or whether the department is using its authorities responsibly. In many cases, statutes and policies governing VA have not been meaningfully updated since the mid-1990s, well before the post-9/11 generation of veterans began their service. Reauthorization also provides Congress with the means to modernize VA so it can better meet the needs of veterans today and in the future. I am not I do not expect the members of this committee to agree with every policy proposed before us today. I know there are some proposals that on their face I do not support. But that is precisely why as chairman I called this hearing, to debate the merits of each and determine where improvements are needed. As chairman I also want to recognize Secretary Collins for the work he is undertaken to improve and reform VA. The legislation we are considering today is not about placing obstacles in the way of the department. It's about strengthening in it. These bills are intended to ensure that Secretary and future secretaries have the tools necessary to deliver the care, benefits, and services veterans have earned and are eligible for. Today we will examine several proposals introduced by members of this committee on both sides of the aisle that are designed to restore accountability, improve transparency, and ensure that VA remains the focus and focused on veterans. For example, my legislation addresses the VISN structure by aiming to improve how VA organizes and manages its healthcare systems across the country. The goal is simple: better coordination, stronger accountability, and better outcomes for veterans. Other bills will be discussed today address a wide range of reforms across the department. General Bergman VA Contracting and Procurement Act would strengthen congressional oversight of a major VA contracts by using the large procurement agreements receive proper review from Congress before significant taxpayer dollars are committed. Dr. Miller-Meeks VA National Formulary Act would codify key elements of VA's national drug formulary process into statute, improving transparency, consistency, and congressional oversight over how medications are managed. Dr. Murphy's VA Research Reform Act would modernize how VA manages and tracks its research programs through a centralized data system designed to improve coordination and accelerate translation of research into better care for veterans. Several of my colleagues also have proposals that aim to improve accountability, strengthen benefits administration, and streamline the VA. Taken together, these proposals reflect a shared goal of this committee in making sure VA programs are transparent, accountable, and responsible to the veterans they serve. However, VA must also recognize that responsiveness to Congress is part of that accountability. When this committee conducts oversight or requests information, we are fulfilling our constitutional responsibility under Article 1. It is a task, not an ask. And with that, I want to thank our witnesses for appearing before the committee today and I look forward to today's discussions on how we can continue strengthening VA for the veterans we are here to serve. Ranking Member, you are now recognized for your opening statement.
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