WASHINGTON D.C.- Congressman Mike Lawler (R- NY17) has introduced legislation aimed at making it easier and safer for veterans to access benefits and healthcare services online.
The proposed Veterans Electronic Trust and Records Act, known as the VETRA Act, would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to launch a pilot program to modernize its digital identity verification and authentication systems. The measure has received support from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost.
According to Lawler, the legislation would replace outdated identity verification methods with more secure digital tools designed to reduce fraud and improper payments while improving veterans’ access to VA services. The bill also calls for risk-based authentication measures, an evaluation of cost savings and efficiencies, and a report to Congress on the program’s results.
“As more VA services move online, we must modernize outdated identity verification systems, strengthen protections against fraud and improper payments, and ensure veterans can safely and efficiently access the care and benefits they depend on,” Lawler said.
Bost praised the proposal, saying it would help ensure veterans can securely access benefits and healthcare through while bringing the agency’s technology up to modern standards.
If enacted, the pilot program would test new approaches to digital identity verification with the goal of improving security and streamlining access to services for veterans nationwide.
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