{"format":1,"id":"117-hr-7337","congress":117,"number":"H.R. 7337","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","official_title":"To require the Archivist of the United States to submit a plan to Congress to eliminate the records backlog at the National Personnel Records Center, and for other purposes.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To require the Archivist of the United States to submit a plan to Congress to eliminate the records backlog at the National Personnel Records Center, and for other purposes."},{"type":"Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022"},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Access for Veterans to Records Act"}],"outcome":"passed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2022-03-31","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2022-07-14","vote":{"id":"117-2022-h356","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended","title":"Access for Veterans to Records Act","result":"Passed","yea":406,"nay":21,"present":0,"not_voting":3,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll356.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"na","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"na","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.","date":"2022-07-18"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2022-07-14","stage":"Passed House","blocks":[{"k":"h","t":"Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022"},{"k":"p","t":"This bill directs the Office of the Archivist of the United States to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan for reducing the backlog of requests for records from, and improving the efficiency and responsiveness of operations at, the National Personnel Records Center."},{"k":"p","t":"Such plan must include"},{"k":"li","t":"an estimate of the number of backlogged record requests for veterans;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"target time frames to reduce the backlog;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"a detailed plan for using existing funds to improve technology infrastructure, including secure access to appropriate agency federal records, to prevent future backlogs;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"actions to improve customer service for requesters;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"measurable goals with respect to the comprehensive plan and metrics for tracking progress toward such goals; and","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"strategies to prevent future record request backlogs, including backlogs caused by an event that prevents employees of the center from reporting to work in person.","d":1},{"k":"p","t":"The office must submit updates of such plan at specified intervals."}],"words":155},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Requires the Archivist of the United States to submit to Congress a plan, with periodic updates, for reducing the records request backlog at the National Personnel Records Center, and authorizes $60,000,000 in additional funding for the National Archives and Records Administration.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh#HFFB4AFB1D4AD41E2A5C81C6C96A4B2FF"},{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh#HE7F80029EF1948D5BB6814BA1CEB32A6"}]},"core_areas":["Records request backlog plan for the National Personnel Records Center","Authorization of appropriations for the National Archives and Records Administration","Staffing levels and Inspector General reporting at the National Personnel Records Center"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Requires the Archivist of the United States to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 60 days after enactment, a plan for reducing the backlog of requests for records from the National Personnel Records Center and improving its efficiency and responsiveness.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh#HFFB4AFB1D4AD41E2A5C81C6C96A4B2FF"}},{"text":"Requires the plan to include an estimate of backlogged veterans' record requests, target timeframes, a plan for using existing funds to improve information technology infrastructure, customer service actions, measurable goals, and strategies to prevent future backlogs.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh#HFFB4AFB1D4AD41E2A5C81C6C96A4B2FF"}},{"text":"Requires the Archivist to submit updates to the plan 90 days after the plan is submitted and biannually after that, until the Center responds to 90 percent of requests in 20 days or less, with stated exclusions.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh#HFFB4AFB1D4AD41E2A5C81C6C96A4B2FF"}},{"text":"Requires the Archivist to consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in preparing the plan and its updates.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh#HFFB4AFB1D4AD41E2A5C81C6C96A4B2FF"}},{"text":"Authorizes $60,000,000 to be appropriated to the National Archives and Records Administration for veterans' military personnel records backlogs, cybersecurity, digital preservation and access, and Freedom of Information Act request backlogs; the amounts may also be used for the Federal Records Center Program.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh#HE7F80029EF1948D5BB6814BA1CEB32A6"}},{"text":"Requires the Inspector General for the National Archives and Records Administration to include in each semiannual report for two years a detailed summary of efforts to address the Center's backlog and any recommendations and the status of compliance with them.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh#HE7F80029EF1948D5BB6814BA1CEB32A6"}}],"unexpected":[],"version":{"type":"Engrossed in House","date":"2022-07-14","rule":"passed","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text/eh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-15","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7337/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/117-hr-7337.png","v":"b399089b79f1","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 7337, 117th Congress: Access for Veterans to Records Act of 2022. House: 406 Yea, 21 Nay. Outcome: Passed House, 14 Jul 2022."}}