Bill Overview
Title: Build, Utilize, Invest, Learn, and Deliver for Veterans Act of 2022
Description: This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) capital asset management, including by requiring the VA to ensure that each of its medical centers has a dedicated office and sufficient staff to conduct facility planning, long-range capital planning, and other relevant functions relating to VA capital assets.
Sponsors: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who use VA medical centers
Estimated Size: 19000000
- The bill focuses on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) capital asset management indicating it will affect individuals who use VA medical centers.
- The primary beneficiaries of VA medical centers are U.S. military veterans.
- Veterans often rely on VA services for healthcare, indicating a significant number of individuals who have served in the U.S. armed forces will be impacted.
- The United States has an extensive network of VA medical centers across the country serving a large veteran population.
Reasoning
- The policy is set to improve VA medical centers, which will primarily benefit veterans who use these facilities.
- As the policy deals with infrastructure and staffing at VA centers, the impact on non-veterans or those not using VA centers is likely to be none.
- We focus on diverse veterans, from those frequently using VA services to some who might rely on these services less.
- Some individuals may have a low but positive impact due to indirect improvements in service efficiency even if they do not frequently use VA centers.
- Budget considerations suggest a focus on centers with the most urgent needs first, meaning some individuals may benefit sooner than others.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran Services Counselor (San Diego, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The VA centers need improvement; the staff is often overwhelmed.
- Any policy improving VA resources sounds promising to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Usually my visits to the VA are okay, but improvement in facility services would be welcome.
- Investment in planning could help manage the often-long wait times I experience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's always been a struggle dealing with the VA's backlog and inefficient service.
- I hope the policy will ease some of the stress related to securing timely care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Nurse (Chillicothe, OH)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- VA improvements could enhance our service delivery and reduce the burden on staff.
- There's a great need for better infrastructure at my workplace.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't needed the VA much yet, but good to know it's there when I might.
- Future improvements can reassure me of quality care if needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Teacher (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced planning at VA centers could reduce my wait times for therapy.
- I'm supportive of initiatives that prioritize efficiency and care quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Marine Corps Officer (Boston, MA)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The system needs revitalization; I've seen it revolve in stagnation.
- Improvements should have been made a decade ago.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 1 |
College Student (Tampa, FL)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find the local VA supportive, but more infrastructure planning can reduce occasional hiccups.
- New policies suggest future reliability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Freelancer (Denver, CO)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I trust the VA but seeing renewal and improvements would keep that trust active.
- Glad efforts are being made to modernize facilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Mechanic (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There's a lot of room to upgrade how the centers are managed.
- I'd support changes that make life easier for vets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 3: $260000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $310000000)
Year 5: $270000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $320000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1100000000)
Key Considerations
- The cost estimates assume the establishment and maintenance of dedicated offices at all VA medical centers nationwide.
- Future changes in veteran population size and VA facility needs could influence costs and savings over time.
- Implementation success depends on effective management and integration of new planning and management procedures.
- Potential overlap with existing VA initiatives might affect actual cost and savings outcomes.