118 HR 7816 RH: Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-07-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IBUnion Calendar No. 477118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7816[Report No. 118–576]IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 26, 2024Mr. Duarte (for himself, Mr. Bost, Mr. Valadao, Ms. Salazar, Mr. D'Esposito, and Ms. Budzinski) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsJuly 8, 2024Additional sponsors: Mr. Williams of Texas, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Lawler, and Ms. TenneyJuly 8, 2024Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printedStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicFor text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 26, 2024A BILLTo direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center for an assessment of notice letters that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act.

2.

Independent assessment of notices that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs sends to claimants

(a)

Agreement

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with an FFRDC for an assessment of notices that the Secretary sends to claimants.(b)

Assessment

An FFRDC that enters to an agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary a written assessment of such notices. The assessment shall include the following:(1)The determination of the FFRDC, made in consultation with covered entities, whether each such notice may be feasibly altered to reduce paper consumption by, and costs to, the Federal Government.(2)The recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how the Secretary may make such notices clearer to claimants, better organized, and more concise.(c)

Report; implementation

Not later than 90 days after the Secretary receives the assessment under subsection (b), the Secretary shall—(1)submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of such assessment; and(2)implement the recommendations in the assessment that are in compliance with the laws administered by the Secretary.(d)

Deadline for implementation

The Secretary shall complete the implementation of such recommendations pursuant to subsection (c)(2) by not later than one year after the date on which the Secretary commences such implementation.(e)

Definitions

In this section:(1)The term FFRDC means a federally funded research and development center.(2)The term covered entities includes—(A)the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;(B)an expert in laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;(C)a veterans service organization recognized under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code; and(D)an entity that advocates for veterans.(3)The terms claimant and notice have the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code.

3.

Modification of certain housing loan fees

The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking November 15, 2031 each place it appears and inserting November 29, 2031.

July 8, 2024Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed