[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5280-H5281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CLEAR COMMUNICATION FOR VETERANS CLAIMS ACT

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 7816) to 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7816

       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 ``Clear Communication for 
     Veterans Claims Act''.

     SEC. 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.

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.

       Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting 
     ``December 31, 2031''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 
7816, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7816, as amended. This 
bill was introduced by my colleague, Representative Duarte, and I am a 
proud cosponsor.
  This bill, H.R. 7816, as amended, would require VA to contract with a

[[Page H5281]]

research entity to improve the notice letters VA sends to veterans and 
survivors who file claims for VA benefits.
  VA is required to provide information throughout the VA claims 
process to veterans and their survivors who have filed claims for VA 
benefits.
  However, at a recent oversight hearing, we heard from veterans and 
their advocates that VA's notice letters are difficult to understand, 
too long, filled with legal jargon, and contained information that is 
not relevant to a veteran's or survivor's overall claim.
  These complex letters have caused veterans and survivors confusion 
and stress. Some have become so overwhelmed that they abandon their 
claims.
  This is unacceptable. As a veteran myself, I have also received these 
complex letters. A veteran shouldn't have to be a Member of Congress or 
an attorney to understand his or her rights under the claims process.
  H.R. 7816, as amended, would ensure that VA's notice letters do not 
discourage veterans from accessing the benefits they have earned.
  This legislation would ensure that VA sends veterans and survivors 
understandable notice letters so that they can make informed decisions 
about their claims.
  I thank the veterans service organizations for their support and help 
in drafting this bill.
  I also thank Ranking Member Takano and his staff for working with 
Representative Duarte and me to make the changes necessary to move this 
bill forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7816, as amended, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 7816, the Clear 
Communication for Veterans Claims Act, as amended.
  When a veteran applies for benefits at VA, the agency corresponds 
with that veteran at multiple points in the process regarding their 
claim. This communication is often through letters which can be densely 
laden with legal jargon and confusing information which makes it hard 
for the veteran to understand what is required of them or the benefits 
decision VA has arrived at.
  Now, this can lead the veteran to miss important deadlines or fail to 
submit proper documentation which can ultimately lead to the rejection 
of their claims.
  Now, VA has launched an internal review of these notice letters and 
has already redrafted many of them to be more direct and easier to 
understand. However, VA can also use some outside help in reviewing the 
literally thousands of different possible letters they might send a 
veteran.

                              {time}  1745

  H.R. 7816 seeks to provide that assistance. Specifically, it mandates 
that VA make its notice letters, documents that explain decisions on 
benefits, shorter, clearer, and easier for veterans and their families 
to understand.
  This bill requires the VA to contract with a third party to assess 
and recommend improvements to these letters, which often contain 
complex legalese that can confuse veterans.
  The bill also sets deadlines for action. The VA must contract with a 
federally funded research and development center, or FFRDC, to evaluate 
these communications within 30 days of the bill's enactment and submit 
its recommendation within 90 days. This effort aims to streamline the 
claims process and reduce the stress and confusion many veterans face 
when dealing with their benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 7816 and urge my colleagues to do the 
same, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Duarte), our colleague who is the 
sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. DUARTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Bost) for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Clear 
Communication for Veterans Claims Act. I am proud that the House is 
considering my bill on the floor today and for the support of Democrats 
and Republicans so that veterans can obtain the benefits they have 
earned in service to our Nation.
  I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) for his support of 
this bill and my Democrat co-lead, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. 
Budzinski), for joining me on this important legislation. This bill is 
a testament to what Congress can achieve when working across party 
lines.
  Since coming to office, I have led several veterans' townhalls across 
California's Central Valley. One topic that continues to come up is the 
daunting challenge that our veterans, young and old, face when applying 
for and receiving benefits through the VA after their service to our 
Nation, and this is unacceptable.
  Currently, when a veteran applies for benefits or files a claim with 
the VA, the VA responds in writing and often provides updates in 
writing.
  At a Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing in March 2024, it became 
clear that the VA's effort to make these letters easy to understand, to 
guide veterans through the process, have failed. We learned the VA 
letters are often lengthy, packed with indecipherable legal jargon, 
sometimes omit crucial information needed to advance a claim, and can 
be over 20 pages long. These letters cause confusion, anxiety, and 
stress among our veterans, and some veterans are so overwhelmed that 
they give up on their claims entirely.
  The Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act would require the VA 
to work with a federally funded research and development center to 
simplify the notification letters for VA benefits, including disability 
compensation, disability ratings, health benefits, and education.
  This bill would require the VA to contract with a FFRDC to assess the 
letters sent to veterans within 30 days. Within 90 days of receiving 
the assessment, the VA would be required to notify Congress and 
implement any recommendations from the FFRDC.
  This legislation is supported by numerous veterans' groups across 
California, including the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled 
American Veterans, the National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, 
the American Legion, as well as the Stanislaus County Veterans Advisory 
Commission.
  Their endorsements underscore the vital need for this reform. We must 
uphold our commitment to those who have bravely served our country. As 
a Congressman, I am always honored to help Central Valley veterans get 
their benefits. This bill is a step toward correcting the flawed VA 
claims process to help ensure our veterans get the care and benefits 
they earned from a grateful Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) for 
supporting the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask all my colleagues to join 
me in supporting H.R. 7816, the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims 
Act, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage all Members to support 
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 7816, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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