I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9806 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Veterans 

Experience, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 

Ms. BUDZINSKI (for herself and Ms. BROWNLEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the 

Office of Veterans Experience, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Veterans’ 

5 Experience Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF VETERANS EXPERI7 ENCE. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 

9 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol10 lowing new section: 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 9806 IH

1 ‘‘§ 325. Office of Veterans Experience 

2 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

3 Department, within the Office of the Secretary, an office 

4 to be known as the ‘Office of Veterans Experience’ (here5 inafter referred to as the ‘Office’ in this section). 

6 ‘‘(b) HEAD OF OFFICE.—(1) The head of the Office 

7 shall be the Chief Veterans Experience Officer. 

8 ‘‘(2) The Chief Veterans Experience Officer shall— 

9 ‘‘(A) be appointed by the Secretary from among 

10 individuals the Secretary considers qualified to per11 form the duties of the position; and 

12 ‘‘(B) report directly to the Secretary. 

13 ‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Office are 

14 the following: 

15 ‘‘(1) To carry out initiatives of the Department 

16 regarding the experience of veterans in accessing 

17 and using benefits furnished by the Secretary, in18 cluding establishing guidance (including strategies, 

19 frameworks, and policies) for the Department re20 garding such benefits. 

21 ‘‘(2) To collect and analyze data to identify rea22 sons why veterans do not use such benefits for which 

23 they are eligible. 

24 ‘‘(3) To report to Congress regarding data and 

25 reasons described in paragraph (2), disaggregated 

26 by— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 9806 IH

1 ‘‘(A) type of such benefit; and 

2 ‘‘(B) such reasons (including ignorance of 

3 such benefits, barriers to receiving such bene4 fits, or comparable benefits furnished by an5 other entity). 

6 ‘‘(4) To engage with veterans described in para7 graph (2). 

8 ‘‘(5) To collect information (including metrics 

9 and action plans) from other components of the De10 partment to improve such experience of veterans. 

11 ‘‘(6) To report to Congress regarding the demo12 graphic data of veterans, disaggregated by categories 

13 including age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, Tribal 

14 affiliation, and sexual orientation. 

15 ‘‘(7) To carry out such other functions relating 

16 to such experience of veterans that the Secretary de17 termines appropriate. 

18 ‘‘(d) STAFF AND RESOURCES.—The Secretary shall 

19 ensure that the Office has such staff, resources, and ac20 cess to information as may be necessary to carry out the 

21 functions of the Office. 

22 ‘‘(e) PRIVACY.—Nothing in this section shall be con23 strued to authorize the Chief Veterans Experience Officer 

24 to disclose any record in contravention of section 552a of 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 9806 IH

1 title 5 (commonly referred to as the Privacy Act of 

2 1974).’’. 

3 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

4 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 

5 at the end the following new item: 

‘‘325. Office of Veterans Experience.’’. 

6 SEC. 3. GAO REVIEW OF 1-800-MYVA411 HOTLINE. 

7 Not later than one year after the date of the enact8 ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 

9 States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af10 fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 

11 containing the analysis of the Comptroller General regard12 ing the efficacy of the 1–800–MyVA411 hotline. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS