110 HR 2434 IH: To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the U.S. House of Representatives 2007-05-22 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.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2434 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 22, 2007 Mrs. Drake introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide regular notice to individuals submitting claims for benefits administered by the Secretary on the status of such claims.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Right to Know Act of 2007.

2.

Requirement of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide regular notice to claimants of benefits administered by the Secretary of status of claim

(a)

Notice requirement

Chapter 51 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5102 the following new section:

5102A.

Notice to claimants of status of claims

(a)

Notice required

For any claim for a benefit under a law administered by the Secretary with respect to which the Secretary has made no decision, the Secretary shall provide to the claimant (and to the claimant’s representative) notice of the status of the claim, using the method selected by the claimant pursuant to subsection (b), by not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which the claim was submitted and every 60 days thereafter until the Secretary makes a decision with respect to the claim, unless the claimant chooses not to receive such notice pursuant to such subsection. (b)

Method of notice

When a person submits a claim for a benefit under a law administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall furnish such person, free of all expense, notice of the Secretary’s requirement to provide notice under subsection (a) and an appropriate form on which the person may choose a preferred method of receiving such notice or not to receive such notice.

. (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5102 the following new item: 5102A. Notice to claimants of status of claims. . (c)

Deadline for implementation

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement the notice requirement under section 5102A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.