H.R. 4588: Modernizing VA’s Records Management Program Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-10-01 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2019-10-01 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Cox, TJ [D-CA-21] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. 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

Modernizing VA’s Records Management Program Act

Plain summary

Modernizing VA's Records Management Program Act This bill authorizes the treatment of digitized records (e.g., photographs or files) as original documents for purposes of claims under laws of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), so long as the digitized versions are made in compliance with document disposal laws. Under the bill, the VA may not be required to produce or retain original physical files or records, including for proceedings occurring at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The bill requires the VA to implement a process to ensure a digitized record pertaining to a claim is (1) of sufficient quality to be viewed and read on an electronic screen, and (2) an accurate reproduction of the original file or document. The VA must return an original document or file to a claimant once the digitized version has been made. Finally, the VA must resolve any doubt regarding the accuracy of a digitized file or document pertaining to a claim in favor of the claimant if (1) the VA did not implement the process to ensure the quality and accuracy of the digitized version, (2) the claimant presents credible evidence that there is a deficiency or alteration to the file, or (3) the claimant presents credible evidence that such digitized version is missing from VA records.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Modernizing VA’s Records Management Program Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cox, TJ [D-CA-21] · 23 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Susie Lee (D-NV), W. Gregory Steube (R-FL), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Josh Harder (D-CA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Darren Soto (D-FL), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), William R. Keating (D-MA), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY)

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 (1)

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).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr4588.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr4588 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116