To improve the management and performance of the capital asset programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs so as to better serve veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Tester (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Brown, and Mr. …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The BUILD for Veterans Act of 2023 reforms how the Department of Veterans Affairs manages its buildings, land, and infrastructure. It requires the VA to improve staffing for capital asset management at every medical center, develop performance metrics, and submit extensive reports to Congress on project costs, timelines, and delays. The bill also mandates climate resilience reviews of VA facilities.
Who Benefits and How
Veterans benefit indirectly as the bill aims to improve VA facility planning, maintenance, and construction. Congressional oversight committees gain significantly enhanced visibility into VA capital asset projects through mandatory quarterly and annual reporting on project costs, delays, and cancellations. The Government Accountability Office and VA Inspector General receive new responsibilities to audit and review VA capital asset performance.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Veterans Affairs bears the primary burden through extensive new compliance and reporting requirements. The VA must establish new staffing models, develop performance dashboards, centralize property disposal operations, conduct climate resilience reviews, and submit dozens of new reports to Congress over the next decade. This increases administrative workload across VA headquarters and field offices. The VA Inspector General and GAO also face increased workload from mandated oversight reports.
Key Provisions
- Requires dedicated capital asset management staff at each VA medical center within 540 days
- Mandates development of performance metrics and an internal dashboard for capital asset management
- Requires comprehensive climate resilience review of all VA facilities
- Establishes new quarterly and annual reporting requirements to Congress on capital projects
- Requires strategic plans for workforce development and capital project delivery improvements
- Mandates reports on dental care, long-term care, and women veterans infrastructure needs
- Expands the VA-DoD Capital Asset Planning Committee to include Indian Health Service and HHS representatives
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Reform the Department of Veterans Affairs capital asset management programs to improve planning, oversight, staffing, and performance in managing VA facilities, land, and infrastructure.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Improve VA internal operations and accountability for capital asset management through staffing requirements, performance metrics, strategic planning, and enhanced reporting to Congress"
Likely Beneficiaries
- Veterans (through improved VA facilities and services)
- VA employees (through clearer staffing and organizational structure)
- Congressional oversight committees (through enhanced reporting)
- Government Accountability Office
- VA Inspector General
Likely Burden Bearers
- Department of Veterans Affairs (new staffing, reporting, and planning requirements)
- VA Secretary and senior leadership (accountability for metrics and deadlines)
- Federal taxpayers (potential increased administrative costs)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "appropriate_committees_of_congress"
- → Committee on Veterans Affairs and Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and Committee on Veterans Affairs and Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- "deputy_secretary"
- → Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- "under_secretary_for_defense"
- → Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- "inspector_general"
- → Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs
- "comptroller_general"
- → Comptroller General of the United States
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and the Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
The physical infrastructure, land, buildings, and other related items under the operation and control of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the information technology and other support systems needed to ensure the physical space can be used to deliver intended services and functions of the Department.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology