[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7083 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 729
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7083
[Report No. 119-832]
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in
the process of the Department of Veterans Affairs for making payments
to automobile sellers for automobiles purchased for certain disabled
veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 15, 2026
Mr. Barrett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
September 15, 2026
Additional sponsors: Mr. Ciscomani and Ms. Scholten
September 15, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January
15, 2026]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in
the process of the Department of Veterans Affairs for making payments
to automobile sellers for automobiles purchased for certain disabled
veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Centralized Reimbursement for
Upgraded Innovative Service Equipment Act'' or the ``CRUISE Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO PROCESS FOR MAKING PAYMENTS TO AUTOMOBILE
SELLERS FOR AUTOMOBILES PURCHASED FOR CERTAIN DISABLED
VETERANS.
(a) Timeliness of Payments.--Section 3902 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended, in subsection (a)--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) The Secretary shall--
``(A) make payments under this section in compliance with
regulations prescribed under section 3903(a) of title 31; and
``(B) in the case of any payment under this section that is
not processed during the period of 30 days following receipt by
the Secretary of the final invoice for such payment, the
Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register the number of
days required to process the payment.''.
(b) Centralization of Process for Making Payments.--Such section is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f)(1) The Secretary shall process payments under this section
through one office of the Department that the Secretary determines has
the capacity and expertise to make such payments in compliance with
regulations described in subsection (a)(2).
``(2) The Secretary shall accurately track and resolve payments due
to sellers under this section that are more than 90 days overdue.''.
(c) Reporting.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives, and publish on a publicly accessible website of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, four semiannual reports after the date
of the enactment of this Act, regarding the administration of section
3902 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by this section. Each
such report shall include, with respect to the period of six months
preceding the date of the report, the following elements:
(1) The average and median number of days between receipt
of a invoice for payment under such section by the Claims
Intake Center of the Department and the day when the Secretary
makes such payment, disaggregated by whether the claim was
under review or being processed by--
(A) the Veterans Health Administration;
(B) the Veterans Benefits Administration; or
(C) the seller.
(2) Improvements to information technology of the
Department that the Secretary determines would reduce the time
required for such review or processing.
(d) GAO Report; Briefing.--
(1) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the day the
Secretary completes centralization under subsection (f) of
section 3902 of title 38, United States Code, as added by this
section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
review such centralization and publish a report containing the
results of such review. Such report shall include the
determinations of the Comptroller General regarding the
following:
(A) The capacity of the office determined by the
Secretary under such subsection, to carry out
processing described in such subsection, including--
(i) a comprehensive assessment of employees
of the Department who carry out chapter 39 of
such title;
(ii) a comprehensive skills assessment
indicating what resources the Secretary
requires to otherwise improve such
centralization, including additional funds,
employees, or contractors; and
(iii) a review of systems of information
technology, including systems in use or to be
acquired, to carry out such centralization.
(B) Recommendations to improve such processing.
(C) Estimated costs to the United States to
implement such recommendations.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after publishing the
report under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall
provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and Senate a briefing on such report. Such
briefing shall include any response from the Secretary to the
Comptroller General regarding the recommendations in the
report.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``January 31, 2033'' and inserting ``October 31, 2033''.
Union Calendar No. 729
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7083
[Report No. 119-832]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in
the process of the Department of Veterans Affairs for making payments
to automobile sellers for automobiles purchased for certain disabled
veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 15, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed