Jack Bergman (R-MI)
VA Fiscal Management Modernization Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 739.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the VA Fiscal Management Modernization Act. It changes the title of the Assistant Secretary for Management to the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Budget. The legislation increases the number of Deputy Assistant Secretaries from 19 to 21. It designates this role as the Chief Financial Officer of the Department with specific duties regarding budgeting and finances. The bill also creates a Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office to provide accurate financial information to Congress. Finally, the bill extends certain limits on pension payments from January 31, 2033, to December 31, 2033.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Creates a specific office dedicated to providing accurate and timely financial information to Congress.
- Scored +4
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Modernizes VA financial management, potentially leading to better delivery of benefits and services.
- Scored +3
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Establishes a CFO and dedicated offices to ensure budget execution, auditing, and compliance with the Antideficiency Act.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
How the text last changed
Reported in House (10/9/2026), compared with Introduced in House. Each change is on the Text tab.
The newer version of the bill changes several organizational and operational rules within the Department of Veterans Affairs. It renames the "Assistant Secretary for Management" to the "Assistant Secretary for Planning and Budget" and changes the name of the associated office to the Office of Planning and Budget. It limits the staff assigned to the Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office from not more than 15 full-time equivalent employees to not more than six. It also adds a five-year sunset date from the enactment of the Act for the Chief Financial Officer designation and duties, the Deputy Assistant Secretaries for Planning and Budget, the Office of Planning and Budget, the Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office, and the new section regarding certain financial employees. Finally, it extends a payment of pension limit date from January 31, 2033, to December 31, 2033.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2, specifically subsection (e), creates the Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office. This office is tasked with providing Congress with accurate, timely, and certified information regarding the finances and budget of the Department, which could improve oversight and accountability for elected officials.
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Section 2, specifically subsection (c), outlines clear duties for the Chief Financial Officer, including advising the Secretary on financial management, controlling and auditing finances, and managing the life cycle of major acquisition programs. This may lead to better management of Department resources.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not explicitly mention any specific negative outcomes or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States resulting from the bill.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Modernizes VA financial management, potentially leading to better delivery of benefits and services. Would retired people be better off under this? — Many retirees are veterans who rely on the VA for healthcare and benefits. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Many seniors are veterans who benefit from improved VA financial management.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Creates a specific office dedicated to providing accurate and timely financial information to Congress.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Establishes a CFO and dedicated offices to ensure budget execution, auditing, and compliance with the Antideficiency Act.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Ensures more accurate budget execution and financial reporting for VA benefit programs.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — Improved financial management within the VA can lead to more efficient allocation of resources for veteran health services.
A committee approved it and sent it to the floor
What changed from Introduced in House
The newer version of the bill changes several organizational and operational rules within the Department of Veterans Affairs. It renames the "Assistant Secretary for Management" to the "Assistant Secretary for Planning and Budget" and changes the name of the associated office to the Office of Planning and Budget. It limits the staff assigned to the Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office from not more than 15 full-time equivalent employees to not more than six. It also adds a five-year sunset date from the enactment of the Act for the Chief Financial Officer designation and duties, the Deputy Assistant Secretaries for Planning and Budget, the Office of Planning and Budget, the Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office, and the new section regarding certain financial employees. Finally, it extends a payment of pension limit date from January 31, 2033, to December 31, 2033.
Each change
- Section 2 added a change in title, replacing "Assistant Secretary for Management" with "Assistant Secretary for Planning and Budget" in Section 308(a)(3)(A) of title 38.
- Section 2 added an increase in the number of Deputy Assistant Secretaries from 19 to 21 in Section 308(d)(1) of title 38, moving this provision from subsection (b) to subsection (b).
- Section 2 changed references from "Management" to "Planning and Budget" regarding the Chief Financial Officer and Office in Section 309.
- Section 2 added a duty for the Chief Financial Officer to manage the life cycle of major acquisition programs of the Department, and renumbered the subsequent duties accordingly.
- Section 2 changed the titles and references of the Deputy Assistant Secretaries under subsection (c) to reflect Planning and Budget and Financial Strategy, and specified that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Operations and Internal Controls must be a career appointee within the Senior Executive Service.
- Section 2 added provisions stating that Congress or a congressional committee may submit requests for information directly to the Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office, and that the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs shall respond to requests submitted to that office.
- Section 2 changed the maximum number of full-time equivalent employees assigned to the Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office from 15 to six.
- Section 2 added a sunset provision terminating the Chief Financial Officer designation, duties, Deputy Assistant Secretary positions, Office of Planning and Budget, and the Legislative and Congressional Budget Information Office five years after the enactment of the Act.
- Section 2 changed the subsection labeling for Financial Employees from (c) to (d), clarified that certain financial employee positions include chief financial officers of a Veterans Integrated Service Network, and added a five-year sunset provision for Section 729.
- Section 2 changed the subsection labeling for Implementation from (d) to (e), requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the amendments not later than 180 days after the enactment of the Act.
- Section 3 added an extension for certain limits on payments of pension under Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, moving the date from January 31, 2033, to December 31, 2033.
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
- 10/9/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-842.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 739.
- 5/14/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 10.
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 9.
- 4/15/2026
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 3/25/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 3/24/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- 2/25/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House