WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received the second highest score among 24 federal agencies in an independent study of performance reports. Only the Department of Transportation received a higher score.
“For the third year in a row, VA’s performance report was named one of the best in all federal government,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. “VA sets aggressive goals and documents its progress honestly. The result is a performance report that is easily accessible, well presented on our Web site and candid about our successes and challenges.”
The rating was done by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia. The center measured the reports from federal agencies using 12 criteria under three broad categories: Does the agency report its accomplishments clearly? Does the report focus on tangible benefits? Does the report show evidence of leadership that used performance information to devise strategies for improvement?
VA was noted not just for a well-organized report that is easily accessible, but also for providing trend data to put performance measures in context and addressing management challenges clearly.
Since 1997, federal agencies have developed strategic plans, performance plans +——and performance reports to explain their accomplishments, measure their performance and report on their results.
President George W. Bush’s fiscal year 2003 budget proposal requires the federal government to produce better results for citizens by enhancing accountability. Later this year, the administration will begin using information on agency performance when making budget decisions for fiscal year 2004.
For more information on VA and its performance report, visit www.va.gov.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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