[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 150 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4295-H4296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DELIVERING DIGITALLY TO OUR VETERANS ACT OF 2025
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3481) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for electronic communication
relating to educational assistance benefits under the 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. 3481
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 ``Delivering Digitally to Our
Veterans Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT TO CERTAIN OUTREACH UNDER SOLID START
PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 6320(b) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)--
(A) by striking ``calling'' and inserting ``communicating
with''; and
(B) by inserting ``through the use of tailored lines of
communication, including mailings, text messaging, virtual
chatting, and other electronic forms of messaging'' after
``Armed Forces''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``tailored mailings'' and
inserting ``tailored lines of communication, including
mailings, text messaging, virtual chatting, and other
electronic forms of messaging,''.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS USE OF TAILORED LINES
OF COMMUNICATION FOR CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.
Section 3680 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i)(1) The Secretary shall provide a mechanism by which
an eligible veteran or eligible person may use tailored lines
of communication to send and receive correspondence with the
Department of Veterans related to entitlement to and use of
educational assistance benefits under the laws administered
by the Secretary. The Secretary shall ensure that an eligible
veteran or eligible person is provided with an opportunity to
opt into sending and receiving such correspondence using such
lines of communication rather than by mail.
``(2) The Secretary shall provide to eligible veterans and
eligible persons who are enrolled in a course or program of
education or training notice of the opportunity to opt in to
sending and receiving correspondence using tailored lines of
communication pursuant to paragraph (1).
``(3) In this subsection, the term `tailored lines of
communication' includes mailings, text messaging, virtual
chatting, and other electronic forms of messaging.''.
SEC. 4. 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
``January 31, 2033''.
[[Page H4296]]
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. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 3481, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3481, as amended,
offered by my friend and colleague, Representative Tom Barrett from
Michigan.
This bill would allow veterans to opt in to receive messages
digitally regarding the GI Bill education benefit.
Under current law, veterans in education programs can only receive
time-sensitive information from VA through the mail. The outdated
practice forces veterans to wait weeks for information they could
receive in minutes through a text message.
Further, this bill would modernize VA's Solid Start program by
authorizing it to communicate with veterans via text message. Right
now, VA is only able to reach out to veterans in Solid Start by calling
them. While the older generation of veterans pick up the phone, the VA
Solid Start program has seen a concerning drop-off among younger
veterans. This bill would bridge the gap in communication.
Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Barrett for championing this
bill and for finding solutions in the technology space to ensure
student veterans and transitioning servicemembers are receiving up-to-
date and timely information.
Madam Speaker, this bill is in lockstep with the Republican
majority's efforts to properly propel VA to meet veterans where they
are.
Madam Speaker, I also thank Representative Van Orden for his
continued efforts to make necessary improvements to the Transition
Assistance Program, or the TAP program.
Under my leadership, my committee will continue to honor its
commitment to all veterans, ensuring the VA is working for our
veterans.
Madam Speaker, I also give special thanks to The American Legion, the
PVA, and the VFW for their support.
Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3481, as
amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 3481, the
Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act of 2025, as amended.
Veterans should not have to fight to get information about their
earned GI Bill benefits, and this legislation looks to ease access to
information from the VA to veterans by allowing the Department of
Veterans Affairs to do outreach using digital messaging, such as text
messages, direct messages, and virtual chat, in addition to direct
mail.
VA is already doing much of this, but H.R. 3481, as amended, looks to
codify these efforts into law to ensure they are available to veterans
in the future.
H.R. 3481, as amended, also includes the text of H.R. 3386, the
Streamlining the Solid Start Communications Act. Then-Congresswoman
Elissa Slotkin and Senator Hassan permanently authorized the Solid
Start program, which has been a critical outreach to newly separated
veterans. Solid Start allows VA to stay connected with veterans as they
navigate their transition to civilian life.
H.R. 3481, as amended, expands VA Solid Start outreach efforts to
include the same texts and digital options included in the underlying
text.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House, and the Senate, as
well, to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barrett), who is the sponsor of this bill.
Mr. BARRETT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3481, the
Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act.
This important legislation is a bipartisan effort to finally bring
the VA into the 21st century by changing the way veterans are notified
about their benefits.
Right now, under current statute, veterans across America are left
digging through the mail, often intermixed with junk mail and other
notices that they may receive, just to find important updates from the
VA, which often leads to things getting lost and delays in their
benefits.
In fact, it was not that long ago when I was in college and required
to manually call in to a hotline for the VA every month to notify them
that I was still a student enrolled in courses to receive my GI Bill
benefits.
H.R. 3481 fixes these issues by authorizing the VA to send GI Bill
and Solid Start updates to veterans digitally through their devices
that so many of us carry around every single day.
This is an opt-in program that doesn't obligate any veteran to do
this, but it is an easy and effective solution that will help veterans
take advantage of the benefits they need when transitioning back into
their communities after service.
As the chairman said, this is also supported by The American Legion,
the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America
because they understand the importance of what we are trying to do in
this legislation.
By updating the way the VA communicates, we are guaranteeing veterans
receive convenient and timely updates wherever they are, on their
computer, phone, or tablet. Like so many students, they may live
remotely from their home address, which would prevent them from
receiving these updates.
It will also reduce postage costs, allowing the VA to spend money in
ways that better serve our Nation's heroes. It is a win-win overall.
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Van Orden and Mr. Tran, for
their help in introducing this bill as we continue to work to improve
the lives of veterans everywhere.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
{time} 1740
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 3481, the Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act, as
amended.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to
support this legislation.
Madam Speaker, 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. 3481, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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