117th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for the electronic request of certain records, and for other purposes.
November 9, 2021
Mr. Aguilar (for himself and Mr. Roy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for the electronic request of certain records, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Wounded Warrior Access Act”.
SEC. 2. Electronic request of certain records maintained by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(a) Electronic record requests.—Section 5702 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
“(b) (1) The Secretary shall establish and maintain a secure, internet-based website for a claimant or a duly authorized agent or representative of that claimant to submit an electronic request for such records.
“(2) The Secretary, upon receipt of a valid request made through the website established under paragraph (1), shall provide to the requestor—
“(A) not later than 10 days after receipt, confirmation of such receipt; and
“(B) not later than 120 days after receipt, such records requested in the form selected by the requestor.”.
(b) Conforming amendments.—Section 5702(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “in writing” and inserting “in writing, including an electronic request submitted through the website established under subsection (b),”;
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking “and” at the end;
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
“(3) the format in which such copy is desired, including whether in printed form or by downloadable file.”.
(c) Deadline; establishment of electronic website.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the website required under section 5702(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, as added by this Act, and, to the extent practicable, the Secretary shall utilize existing online resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purposes of such establishment.