Mrvan Opening Statement for Technology Modernization Subcommittee Hearing on IT Infrastructure

Washington, DC - Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, convened a hearing today entitled Modernizing and Securing VA's IT Infrastructure.

A video of the hearing is available here and the text of the opening statement as prepared for delivery is below.

"Today, the Subcommittee will review VA’s progress with modernizing and securing their IT Infrastructure.  Given the current spotlight on physical infrastructure with the Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, and our committee’s recent successful markup to provide $18 billion to invest in VA’s aging facilities, I feel it’s important to also focus on VA’s IT infrastructure.  I’m hopeful that current plans to increase broadband access to rural areas to help close the digital divide, and increased funding for technology modernization, will provide improved and increased access to care for all veterans.

"I also don’t want to lose sight of the importance of strengthening the security of these programs.  In May, the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine VA’s cybersecurity efforts, and we reviewed cybersecurity spending by VA in our July hearing on their IT budget.  For good reason, I am concerned about VA’s ability to protect the information of veterans as well as its ability to ensure there are no disruptions in service. In June, the VA Office of Inspector General released an audit on the Austin VA Outpatient Clinic, and disturbingly found that VA was able to identify less than half of the components connected to the system.  Without visibility and an up-to-date inventory of IT components, securing these systems is impossible.  While VA focuses on the Infrastructure Readiness Program, and their efforts to reduce the current “technical debt,” ensuring that visibility of these hardware components and coordination from OIT with medical centers across the country is paramount to securing IT systems.

"VA has historically struggled to successfully manage IT programs.  In 2015, VA’s management of IT acquisitions and operations were added to GAO’s high-risk series and remain there.  The committee has received encouraging updates on the effort to modernize VA’s financial management system, however, the new financial system cannot exist in a vacuum.  The success of that modernization is contingent on a successful update to the electronic health record and supply programs.  It’s up to the CIO to make sure that the technology behind these communicate with each other and are secure.

"I look forward to hearing from the new Acting CIO Dr. Evans, to provide some insight on his plans to get VA on a successful path forward.

"I thank the witnesses for being here, and I look forward to their testimony."

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