Hearing on Veterans' Access to Congressional Services and Digital Tools
January 1, 2019
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The Frame
The hearing addresses potential changes to federal law that would allow veterans to meet with their elected representatives at local VA facilities and mandate that the VA update its digital platforms to be usable by veterans with disabilities.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Veterans
Veterans would gain new options for meeting with representatives at VA facilities and potentially improved access to VA digital services.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The VA would be required to provide office space for congressional meetings and conduct a comprehensive audit and remediation of its digital platforms.
Members of Congress
Members would be granted formal access to VA facilities to conduct constituent services.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- H.R. 5413, the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2018, proposes requiring the VA to allow members of Congress to use space within VA facilities to meet with veteran constituents.
- H.R. 6418, the VA Website Accessibility Act of 2018, proposes requiring the VA to audit all websites, apps, and electronic forms for accessibility issues and create a plan to fix them for veterans with disabilities.
- The hearing took place on September 13, 2018, in the Cannon House Office Building.
- H.R. 5413 is intended to build upon an existing pilot agreement between the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and certain members of Congress.
- The hearing included testimony from the Blinded Veterans Association, The American Legion, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of H.R. 5413?
What would H.R. 6418 change for veterans?
Why It Matters
The hearing addresses potential changes to federal law that would allow veterans to meet with their elected representatives at local VA facilities and mandate that the VA update its digital platforms to be usable by veterans with disabilities.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Congressional Access
The hearing highlights a move to formalize and expand a pilot program that allowed congressional meetings within VA facilities.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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