FOR RELEASE:  June 11, 2002

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN’S PROCUREMENT REFORM INITIATIVE GETS MAJOR BOOST FROM YEAR-LONG VA STUDY 

Washington, DC – Legislation authored by Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL) to reform procurement of medical and surgical items by the Department of Veterans Affairs has received a major boost from the Report of VA’s Procurement Reform Task Force.  In January 2002, Evans became impatient waiting for the long-promised VA report and introduced H.R. 3645 to correct what he described as an “obvious problem with business as usual.” 

Evans’ legislation proposed a centralization of VA healthcare items procurement, mandated auditing requirements, and detailed most favorable pricing for VA while strengthening DoD/VA sharing initiatives and small business interests.

Recently, VA released its report – a report in very close alignment with Congressman Evans’ legislation.  Last year, in a June 14, 2001, memorandum to Department of Veterans’ Affairs Secretary, Anthony Principi, Evans emphasized the urgent need for the Department to reform its procurement practice.  In a July 2001 news release from VA, Principi announced the formation of the VA Acquisition System Task Force, and charged that group to report back in 120 days on proposals to improve the Department’s complex purchasing system.  “The group did good work,” said Evans, “they just missed their deadline by over 6 months.” 

Evans reconfirmed that, “The system must be streamlined and systemic problems resolved,” when he introduced his legislation which, has bipartisan support.  The VA Procurement (Acquisition) Reform Task Force recommends actions in concert with the Evans legislation.  The Task Force also recommends other training and standardization initiatives clearly within the Department’s regulatory authority.   

At issue are VA procurement programs with expenditures of over $5 billion per year.  “Reforming VA procurement is essential to good government and protecting the interests of taxpayers,” Evans said.  

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