Rep. Mark Takano Archives

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) calls on U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to use his position to influence the budget changes to make a better impact for farmers and ranchers. (USDA photo by Preston Keres)

Senate lawmakers introduce bill to create review board for VA acquisitions

The proposed oversight board would review all major acquisitions early in the agency’s decision-making process.

Jul 24, 2023 By John Hewitt Jones

The US Capitol in Washington, DC, on December 4, 2022. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Hill staffers participate in first-ever Data Skills for Congress program

Staff and policy aides from the offices of Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Reps. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., Gerry Connolly, D-Va., and Mark Takano, D-Calif., among others, took…

Exclusive Jun 13, 2023 By Nihal Krishan

House Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Mike Bost (R-IL) urges veterans to seek help if they are feeling suicidal during a news conference with (L-R) Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images).

House lawmakers introduce bipartisan VA electronic health record reform bill

The bill would require the VA to ensure its five existing EHR sites meet or exceed performance baselines before taking the system live at any additional locations.

Apr 25, 2023 By John Hewitt Jones

VA, Department of Veterans Affairs — (Getty Images)

VA and watchdog leaders query electronic health record reform proposals

Contracting specialists say creating a chief management officer position at the Department of Veterans Affairs may not solve issues with the EHR program.

Apr 19, 2023 By Nihal Krishan

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 10: Chairman Mark Takano, of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (D-CA) speaks alongside members of the Congressional Delegation who recently traveled to the Indo-Pacific Region at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol Building on August 10, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

House Dems introduce pair of bills to overhaul IT acquisition at Department of Veterans Affairs

If enacted, the legislation would compel the VA to create an under secretary for management post and seek an independent audit of initiatives including the electronic health…

Mar 22, 2023 By John Hewitt Jones

EMIGRANT, MT – JULY 24: Montana Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale speaks at the ceremony to honor the four airman killed in a 1962 B-47 crash at 8,500 feet on Emigrant Peak on July 24, 2021 in Emigrant, Montana. (Photo by William Campbell/Getty Images)

Rep. Rosendale questions size of penalty imposed on Cerner-Oracle by VA amid electronic health record system failures

At a House hearing Tuesday, Rep. Rosendale, R-Mont., cited a figure of $156,750 that according to the lawmaker the VA has withheld from the technology giant.

Sep 20, 2022 By Nihal Krishan

GAO, Government Accountability Office — The entrance to the Government Accountability Office building on H Street NW in Washington, D.C. (Joe Warminsky / Scoop News Group)

GAO encourages agencies to improve forensic algorithm standards in new report

The watchdog agency says new rules could help govern the use of algorithms in criminal investigations.

Jul 9, 2021 By Dave Nyczepir

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on March 4, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

New VA secretary to review EHR modernization program after troubling reports

Secretary McDonough will take a look at the VA's largest digital modernization program over the next few weeks, possibly bringing changes to the rollout timeline.

Mar 19, 2021 By Jackson Barnett

VA EHRs, Puget Sound — The Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, one of the sites where the VA wants to roll out its electronic health records system. (Veterans Health / Flickr)

New EHR go-live date is July 2020, VA secretary says

The EHR modernization program has a new go-live goal for the first hospital in Spokane, Washington: July 2020.

Feb 27, 2020 By Jackson Barnett

VA delays EHR launch date for more training

The VA's modernized EHR rollout is being delayed as problems arise in the $16 billion plan. A new schedule is expected in the coming weeks.

Feb 11, 2020 By Jackson Barnett