Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of 2021

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2687) to provide the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs testimonial subpoena authority, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on S. 2687.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan bill, S. 2687, the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act, introduced by Senator Tester. I thank Representative Rice and Delegate Radewagen for introducing the House companion to this bill.

This bill seeks to strengthen the VA Office of the Inspector General by granting the office testimonial subpoena authority, an essential tool for conducting oversight.

Too often, individuals with important information relevant to an investigation retire or move to a position in another agency, thereby evading OIG investigations. Currently, the inspector general cannot require testimony of these former employees. Questioning these individuals could shed light on wrongdoing or mismanagement that puts the care and safety of our veterans and their families at risk.

This bill has bipartisan support in Congress as well as from Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and the Project on Government Oversight.

Again, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 2687, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2687, which would provide the VA inspector general with limited subpoena power. In some investigations, VA employees who may have important information have left the Department. At that point, the inspector general has no authority to compel their

testimony, which can leave investigations weak or incomplete. This bill would give the inspector general the authority to subpoena those former employees.

However, this authority is not without checks and balances. The bill would require the IG to notify the Attorney General before using the subpoena. The Attorney General may object and prevent the IG from issuing the subpoena if doing so would interfere with an ongoing investigation.

This authority would sunset in May of 2025 and would require Congress to then evaluate the need for this authority and if it should be continued. This is a good bill to expand oversight of the VA, and it has my full support.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate

proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 304, S. 2687.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Tester substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.

Mr. President, I ask that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.