S. 543: Performance Accountability and Contractor Transparency Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-03-07 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-299.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-03-07 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-299. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Performance Accountability and Contractor Transparency Act of 2017

Plain summary

Performance Accountability and Contractor Transparency Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that each VA contract for services includes: measurable metrics on the cost, schedule, and fulfillment of contract requirements; a plan of action and milestones for the provision of the service, including a description of the resources the provider will assign to provide the service; safeguards, including authority to levy financial penalties, to ensure that the service provided meets a minimum threshold of quality; and measurable metrics on the use of award or incentive fees. In each case of a contract that would result in the VA incurring an obligation exceeding $100 million, the VA must: ensure that the contract requires the service provider to document its work through VA information technology systems so that the VA can review and validate the quality of the service provided using the metrics set forth in the contract; use the appropriate VA project management accountability system to ensure that the contract provides an adequate return on investment; report on any failure of the service provider to meet contractual obligations, the effect of such failure, and the actions taken by the VA and by the contractor to address it; report the details of any modifications made to the contract and a justification for such modifications; and publish information about the contract and any modifications on its website.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Performance Accountability and Contractor Transparency Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · 6 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115s543.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/s>

Record fed-us-cong115-s543 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115