3.0.0 2311 2023-01-11T13:36:50Z 2023-01-11T13:36:50Z House HR 2017-05-03 115 [Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 3, 2017)]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. O'ROURKE:H.R. 2311.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18:To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper forcarrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all otherPowers vested by this Constitution in the Government of theUnited States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.[Page H3324]]]> hsvr00 Veterans' Affairs Committee House Standing hsvr09 Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee Referred to 2017-05-03T14:15:50Z Referred to 2017-05-03T14:01:05Z Express Appeals Act of 2017 115 933 S 2017-04-25 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Related bill CRS 2017-05-03 hsvr09 Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Committee 2017-05-03 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsvr00 Veterans' Affairs Committee 2017-05-03 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2017-05-03 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress O000170 Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16] Beto O'Rourke D TX 16 N B001285 Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] Julia Brownley D CA 26 2017-05-03 True C001084 Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] David Cicilline D RI N. 1 2017-05-03 True H001073 Rep. Hurd, Will [R-TX-23] Will Hurd R TX 23 2017-05-03 True K000381 Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] Derek Kilmer D WA 6 2017-05-03 True L000559 Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2] JAMES LANGEVIN D RI R. 2 2017-05-03 True M001184 Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4] Thomas Massie R KY 4 2017-05-03 True P000597 Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] Chellie Pingree D ME 1 2017-05-03 True T000468 Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] Dina Titus D NV 1 2017-05-03 True Y000066 Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] David Young R IA 3 2017-05-03 True C001106 Rep. Costello, Ryan A. [R-PA-6] Ryan Costello R PA A. 6 2017-05-03 True L000565 Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2] David Loebsack D IA 2 2017-05-03 True Armed Forces and National Security Administrative remedies Department of Veterans Affairs Disability assistance Evidence and witnesses Executive agency funding and structure Health information and medical records Veterans' pensions and compensation Armed Forces and National Security 00 2017-05-03 Introduced in House 2017-05-20T15:01:17Z Express Appeals Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) carry out a five-year pilot program to provide the option of an alternative appeals process to determine appeals of claims for disability compensation more quickly, and (2) inform claimants about such program.

The bill describes appeals filed under the pilot program as "fully developed appeals."

A claimant may elect to file a fully developed appeal by filing with the VA: (1) a notice of disagreement along with the claimant's written election to have the appeal determined under the pilot program, (2) all evidence that the claimant believes is needed for the appeal, and (3) a statement of the argument in support of the claim. The VA must transfer jurisdiction over a fully developed appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

A claimant must make such election: (1) at any time during the traditional appeal process if the claimant has filed a traditional appeal before the pilot program commences, or (2) when the claimant files the notice of disagreement if the claimant has not filed a traditional appeal.

The VA shall inform a claimant who seeks to change a traditional appeal to a fully developed appeal as to whether any time will be saved. A claimant who elects to file a fully developed appeal may elect to revert to a traditional appeal at any time.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals shall: (1) maintain fully developed appeals on a separate docket; (2) hear fully developed appeals in the order received; (3) decide not more than one fully developed appeal for each four traditional appeals decided, though this ratio may be adjusted for fairness purposes beginning one year after the pilot program begins; and (4) decide each fully developed appeal within one year of a claimant's filing the notice of disagreement.

The bill sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the effects of new evidence submitted or additional information needed after a fully developed appeal is filed, and (2) a prohibition against the Board providing hearings for fully developed appeals.

The Board shall establish an office to develop federal records, independent medical opinions, and new medical exams that are necessary to decide a fully developed appeal.

]]> Express Appeals Act Display Title Express Appeals Act Official Title as Introduced To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide veterans the option of using an alternative appeals process to more quickly determine claims for disability compensation. Introduced in House IH Short Titles as Introduced Express Appeals Act Introduced in House 2017-05-03T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-115hr2311ih/xml/BILLS-115hr2311ih.xml 2017-05-03 Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. 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. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.