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WASHINGTON – Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., today voted in favor of legislation that would give Congress and the public access to key data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“America’s veterans deserve better than the inexcusable mismanagement we’ve seen over the last few years, and this legislation will help ensure Congress has access to information that is essential to holding the VA accountable,” said Foxx. “It is critically important that we provide high-quality, timely care for those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country. Congress will continue our efforts to reform the VA, but the Obama administration needs to change its culture and end the agency-wide pattern of misconduct and neglect.”

H.R. 2256, the Veterans Information Modernization Act, would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the delivery of health care, medical services and nursing home care by the VA health care system.

The bill also would establish the Veterans Expedited Recovery Commission to study, survey and evaluate the VA’s ability to effectively treat veterans with mental health issues and would require the VA to submit an action plan for implementing complementary and alternative medicine treatments based upon a final report by the commission.

Additionally H.R. 2256 would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create an identification and tracking system for medical biological implants and would clarify which types of biological implants the VA may procure.

Finally the legislation would amend the VA’s definition of a “homeless veteran” to include a veteran or veteran’s family who is fleeing domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or other dangerous situation in their residence, has no other residence and lacks the resources to obtain other permanent housing.

H.R. 2256 passed the House unanimously.

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U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx represents North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is the elected Republican Conference Secretary. Dr. Foxx is the chair of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and serves as Vice Chair of the House Rules Committee.