VAMOSA Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6654
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-15: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-11T16:40:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act of 2025 (VAMOSA Act) aims to improve the efficiency and accountability of software management within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by requiring a comprehensive policy to track, optimize, and reduce waste in software assets. This helps prevent unnecessary spending on software licenses, subscriptions, and related services while ensuring better oversight.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of Policy: The VA Secretary must coordinate with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and other officials to create and implement a department-wide policy for managing software assets, defined as any software, software-as-a-service (SaaS), cloud-based service, or similar product that the VA pays to acquire, license, or maintain.
- Minimum Policy Requirements:
- Maintain a full inventory of all software assets, including licenses, subscriptions, and usage rights.
- Evaluate how well assets work together (interoperability) and any limits from licenses.
- Detect and eliminate waste, fraud, or abuse by comparing inventory against purchase records, bills, and contracts to spot issues like duplicate buys, unused licenses, or unauthorized use.
- Require CIO coordination for major software purchases.
- Use cost-saving strategies, such as bulk (enterprise-wide) licensing agreements.
- Monitor and enforce compliance with license terms.
- Reviews and Training: The policy must be reviewed and updated at least every three years by the CIO, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and others. VA employees involved in software acquisition, management, or use must receive annual training on topics like contract negotiation, differences between commercial and custom software, and various licensing cost models (e.g., per-user or usage-based).
- Implementation Details: The policy uses existing staff, systems, and funds—no new money or offices are authorized. An annual report to Congress will detail policy updates and estimated cost savings.
- Sunset Clause: The policy requirements end five years after the Act's enactment.
- GAO Oversight: Three years after enactment, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report to Congress on the VA's implementation, achieved savings, reduced duplication, and any issues with contractor involvement in inventory tasks.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section (534) to subchapter II of chapter 5 in title 38 of the United States Code, which governs VA operations. This builds on prior laws like the 2016 Making Electronic Government Accountable By Yielding Tangible Efficiencies (MEGABYTE) Act by expanding software inventory requirements to include all VA software assets beyond just licenses.
- Includes a clerical update to the table of contents in the relevant chapter for organizational clarity.
- No amendments to existing sections; this is a standalone addition focused on software-specific management.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will likely see reduced software-related costs through better tracking and elimination of redundancies, freeing up resources for veteran services. It promotes fiscal responsibility across federal IT management but is limited to the VA and uses existing budgets, avoiding new financial burdens.
- On Citizens: Veterans and VA beneficiaries may indirectly benefit from more efficient use of taxpayer dollars, potentially leading to improved or faster delivery of services reliant on software (e.g., healthcare or benefits systems). No direct impact on individual rights or access.
- On International Relations: Minimal to none, as this is an internal U.S. government efficiency measure with no foreign policy elements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Primary implementer, including the Secretary, CIO, CFO, and employees handling software (e.g., IT and procurement staff).
- Congress: Receives annual reports and GAO evaluation, enabling oversight of VA spending.
- Government Accountability Office (GAO): Responsible for assessing implementation and outcomes.
- Contractors and Vendors: Affected by requirements for transparent inventory, compliance checks, and potential shifts to cost-effective licensing, which could reduce over-procurement or unauthorized use.
- Taxpayers and Veterans: Indirectly benefit from cost savings and reduced waste in VA operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens internal controls under federal acquisition laws (e.g., by integrating with existing OMB directives on IT management) without creating new regulatory burdens. The sunset provision makes it a temporary measure, allowing Congress to reassess its effectiveness before permanence.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 9) by promoting accountable use of appropriated funds; no challenges to separation of powers or individual liberties.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan support for government efficiency and anti-waste efforts, particularly in veterans' affairs. The no-new-funding rule and focus on existing resources appeal to fiscal conservatives, while the training and oversight provisions address concerns about federal IT vulnerabilities and mismanagement. The bill's referral to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs signals targeted scrutiny of VA operations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-15: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 2026-04-15: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-03-25: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2026-01-21: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- 2025-12-11: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (6 pages)