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H.R.4971 / 113th Congress

Ask Veterans Act

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 484.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 25, 2014

Ask Veterans Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with an experienced non-government entity to conduct an annual survey, over a five-year period, of a statistically significant sample of veterans who reside in the geographic area served by each VA medical facility to determine the experiences of such veterans in obtaining hospital care and medical services at such facility.

Requires those surveys to include questions relating to:

the veteran's ability to obtain hospital care and medical services at the facility in a timely manner,

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the time that expires between the date the veteran requests an appointment and the date on which the appointment is scheduled,

the frequency with which scheduled appointments are cancelled, and

the quality of hospital care or medical services the veteran receives.

Requires the non-government entity to consult with veterans service organizations in designing and conducting the surveys.

Prohibits the non-government entity from conducting a survey before the Comptroller General (GAO) certifies the survey as scientifically valid and the proposed sample size of veterans as statistically significant.

Directs the Secretary to make the results of the surveys publicly available on the VA's Internet website.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16] · D–TX

Committees

  • Veterans' Affairs Committee
32 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 484.

  2. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-645.

  3. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-645.

  4. Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  5. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  6. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  7. Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Discharged.

  8. Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

  9. Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  10. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5735)

  11. Introduced in House

  12. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4971 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4971 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4971 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4971 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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