119 HR 1286 IH: Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-02-13 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.

I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1286IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 13, 2025Mr. Bresnahan (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Bost, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Valadao, and Mr. Harder of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA 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 forms 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 Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act.

2.

Independent assessment of forms 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 forms 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, made in consultation with covered entities, of such forms. The assessment shall include the recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how the Secretary may make such forms clearer to claimants and better organized.(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 two years 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 and survivors of veterans.(3)The term claimant has the meaning given such term in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code.