POW Accountability Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 23, 2014

POW Accountability Act - Requires: (1) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to review the list maintained by the Secretary of veterans the Secretary determines are former prisoners of war (VA POW list) and the list maintained by the Secretary of Defense (DOD), acting through the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, of members of the Armed Forces who were prisoners of war (DOD POW list) to identify any discrepancies in such lists; and (2) the VA's Inspector General to review the process by which the Secretary determines that a veteran is a former prisoner of war.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the VA POW list, including information on such discrepancies and the results of the Inspector General's review.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] · R–OH

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Aug 15, 2014
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jul 23, 2014
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jul 23, 2014
Introduced in House
Jul 23, 2014
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in House · Jul 23, 2014 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 5094 · To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recoup certain bonuses or awards paid to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5172 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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Discuss H.R.5172, 113th Congress: POW Accountability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5172

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2014-07-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr5172/BILLS-113hr5172ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5172 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5172 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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Discuss H.R.5172, 113th Congress: POW Accountability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5172

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2014-07-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr5172/BILLS-113hr5172ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5172 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5172 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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Discuss H.R.5172, 113th Congress: POW Accountability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5172

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2014-07-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr5172/BILLS-113hr5172ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5172 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5172 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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Discuss H.R.5172, 113th Congress: POW Accountability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5172

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2014-07-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr5172/BILLS-113hr5172ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5172 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.