The Veterans Affairs Department would turn over its vendor verification duties to the Small Business Administration under legislation to be introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-CO.

Calling the verifications processes “cumbersome and expensive,” Coffman said the current split of duties between the VA and SBA results in inconsistencies, confusion and a risk of fraud.

The bill would “unify” procedures for service-disabled veterans and veterans, Coffman said in a news release.

The VA would determine whether an individual is a veteran or service-disabled veteran, and SBA would decide whether the firm is a small business owned and controlled by a veteran or service-disabled veteran. The VA would transfer its verification for firms to SBA.

More information: Coffman news release: http://goo.gl/a1i4si