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Ask Veterans Act

Introduced: June 25, 2014 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 3, 2014
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 484.
Dec 3, 2014
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-645.
Sep 10, 2014
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 10, 2014
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 23, 2014
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jul 23, 2014
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Discharged.
Jul 18, 2014
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Jun 25, 2014
Introduced in House
Jun 25, 2014
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jun 25, 2014
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5735)
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ask Veterans Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with an experienced non-government entity to conduct an annual survey, over a five-year period, of a statistically significant sample of veterans who reside in the geographic area served by each VA medical facility to determine the experiences of such veterans in obtaining hospital care and medical services at such facility.

Requires those surveys to include questions relating to:

  • the veteran's ability to obtain hospital care and medical services at the facility in a timely manner,
  • the time that expires between the date the veteran requests an appointment and the date on which the appointment is scheduled,
  • the frequency with which scheduled appointments are cancelled, and
  • the quality of hospital care or medical services the veteran receives.

Requires the non-government entity to consult with veterans service organizations in designing and conducting the surveys.

Prohibits the non-government entity from conducting a survey before the Comptroller General (GAO) certifies the survey as scientifically valid and the proposed sample size of veterans as statistically significant.

Directs the Secretary to make the results of the surveys publicly available on the VA's Internet website.

What's happening now December 3, 2014

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 484.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 9
All 9 Democratic 9