H.R. 5721: VIPER Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-10-25 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-10-25 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' 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

VIPER Act of 2021

Plain summary

VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021 or the VIPER Act of 2021 This bill addresses research activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly those within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for the VHA's Office of Research and Development to serve veterans through a full spectrum of research, technology transfer, and application. The bill exempts VA research activities from the Paperwork Reduction Act, including research conducted via the Office of Research and Development The bill also waives certain time limitations and other restrictions related to individuals who perform research for the VA under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program. The VA is authorized to appoint statisticians, economists, data scientists, and other professionals within the VHA.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed 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

VIPER Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] · 7 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mike Bost (R-IL), Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN), Mike Levin (D-CA), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Angie Craig (D-MN)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] reported raising $1.1 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
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).
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr5721.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr5721 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117