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Bill114th CongressFiled May 3, 2016Armed Forces and National Security
H.R. 5166

Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

Filed
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Law

What it doesSummary passed house amended (Nov 29, 2016)

Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide to each veteran who submits a claim for veterans' benefits an opportunity to permit a designated congressional employee in the office of the Member of Congress representing the district where the veteran resides to have read-only access to all of such veteran's records in the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) databases. .

Such congressional employee may not be recognized as an agent or attorney.

None of the amounts made available to carry out this bill may be used to design, develop, or administer training to such employees.

What just happenedNov 30, 2016

Received in the Senate.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3](R-FL)Sponsor
136 cosponsors40 D96 R
Read on Congress.gov
136cosponsors1committees14actions1related bills8subjects
  1. Nov 30, 2016IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate.

  2. Nov 29, 2016FloorH38800

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  3. Nov 29, 2016FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. Nov 29, 2016FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H6338-6339)

  5. Nov 29, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H6338-6339)

  6. Nov 29, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5166.

  7. Nov 29, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6338-6340)

  8. Nov 29, 2016FloorH30300

    Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  9. Sep 21, 2016Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  10. Sep 21, 2016Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  11. May 13, 2016Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  12. May 3, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  13. May 3, 2016IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  14. May 3, 2016IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedNov 29, 201636

Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide to each veteran who submits a claim for veterans' benefits an opportunity to permit a designated congressional employee in the office of the Member of Congress representing the district where the veteran resides to have read-only access to all of such veteran's records in the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) databases. .

Such congressional employee may not be recognized as an agent or attorney.

None of the amounts made available to carry out this bill may be used to design, develop, or administer training to such employees.

Introduced in HouseMay 3, 2016

Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide an accredited, permanent congressional employee with read-only remote access to the electronic Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) claims records system of a represented veteran, regardless of whether the employee is acting under a power of attorney executed by the veteran.

The VA shall ensure that access does not allow the employee to modify system data.

An employee must complete the VA certification process required of agents or attorneys in order to have system access.

Each Member of Congress who elects to have an employee participate in the system shall bear the certification cost, which shall be paid from the Member's representational allowance.

Information access by an employee shall be deemed: (1) a covered disclosure requiring prior consent, with specified exceptions; and (2) a permitted disclosure relating to the privacy of individually identifiable health information.

The VA may not recognize an employee for purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of VA claims by reason of such system access.

"Accredited, permanent congressional employee" means an employee of a Member of Congress who assists constituents with issues regarding federal departments or agencies.

"Electronic VBA claims records system" means the VA system that provides claim status information, including information about medical records, compensation and pension exams records, rating decisions, a statement of the case and a supplementary statement of the case, a notice of disagreement, and Form-9.

Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act — Informed