[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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