This bill establishes a new Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs within the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as the principal liaison between the VA and Congress. The office would be headed by an Assistant Secretary appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, supported by two Deputy Assistant Secretaries—one for Legislative Strategy (political appointee) and one for Congressional Operations (career civil servant)—with defined responsibilities to prevent either from controlling the other's functions. The bill sets specific timelines for responding to congressional requests (2 business days for acknowledgment, 45 days for full response, with extensions to 60 days for complex requests) and prohibits withholding, screening, or altering information provided to Congress, with enforcement mechanisms including budget restrictions and Inspector General reviews for noncompliance.
