IB 

Union Calendar No. 553 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7150 

[Report No. 118–657] 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs to improve equitable access to certain benefits under the laws 

administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to improve certain 

outreach to individuals who served uniformed services and dependents 

of such individuals, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 30, 2024 

Mr. TAKANO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 

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 30, 2024] 


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A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve equitable access 

to certain benefits under the laws administered by the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to improve certain 

outreach to individuals who served uniformed services 

and dependents of such individuals, and for other purposes. 


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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 ‘‘Survivor Benefits Deliv5 ery Improvement Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CERTAIN BENEFITS OF DE7 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR SUR8 VIVORS OF VETERANS. 

9 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

10 ‘‘Survivor Benefits Data Collection Act of 2024’’. 

11 (b) COLLECTION OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.— 

12 (1) COLLECTION.—Chapter 53 of title 38, United 

13 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol14 lowing new section (and conforming the table of sec15 tions at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): 

16 ‘‘§ 5321. Demographic data of certain beneficiaries 

17 ‘‘(a) COLLECTION.—The Secretary, in consultation 

18 with the entities described in subsection (b), shall— 

19 ‘‘(1) develop a method to collect the demographic 

20 data of— 

21 ‘‘(A) each covered survivor receiving de22 pendency and indemnity compensation under 

23 chapter 13 of this title, pension under chapter 15 

24 of this title, or increased pension (or additional 

25 compensation or allowances) under this title 


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1 based on the need of regular aid and attendance 

2 or by reason of being permanently housebound; 

3 and 

4 ‘‘(B) each person who receives burial bene5 fits under chapter 23 of this title; and 

6 ‘‘(2) collect demographic data pursuant to the 

7 method developed under paragraph (1). 

8 ‘‘(b) ENTITIES FOR CONSULTATION.—The entities de9 scribed in this subsection are the following: 

10 ‘‘(1) The Advisory Committee on Minority Vet11 erans established under section 544 of this title. 

12 ‘‘(2) The Advisory Committee on Women Vet13 erans established under section 542 of this title. 

14 ‘‘(3) The Veterans’ Family, Caregiver, and Sur15 vivor Advisory Committee of the Department of Vet16 erans Affairs, or successor advisory committee. 

17 ‘‘(4) Veterans service organizations. 

18 ‘‘(c) DESIGNATION OF UNDERSERVED DEMO19 GRAPHICS.—The Secretary shall— 

20 ‘‘(1) designate as an underserved demographic 

21 any demographic the Secretary determines, taking 

22 into account the demographic data collected under 

23 subsection (a), is underserved with respect to the bene24 fits specified in such subsection; and 


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1 ‘‘(2) review such designations on at least a bien2 nial basis and update as appropriate. 

3 ‘‘(d) INCLUSION IN ANNUAL REPORTS.—For each an4 nual benefits report of the Veterans Benefits Administra5 tion, the Secretary shall include as part of the report infor6 mation concerning the demographic data collected under 

7 subsection (a) during the fiscal year covered by the report. 

8 ‘‘(e) EFFECT ON APPLICATION.—Nothing in this sec9 tion shall be construed as requiring any person to submit 

10 demographic data or as authorizing the Secretary to con11 sider whether a person submits demographic data in evalu12 ating any claim for benefits under the laws administered 

13 by the Secretary. 

14 ‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

15 ‘‘(1) The term ‘covered survivor’ means a sur16 viving spouse, child, or parent of a veteran. 

17 ‘‘(2) The term ‘demographic data’ includes— 

18 ‘‘(A) with respect to an individual— 

19 ‘‘(i) age; 

20 ‘‘(ii) race; 

21 ‘‘(iii) ethnicity; 

22 ‘‘(iv) tribal affiliation, if any; and 

23 ‘‘(v) geographic location; and 

24 ‘‘(B) with respect to a covered survivor, the 

25 cause of death of the applicable veteran. 


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1 ‘‘(3) The term ‘veterans service organization’ 

2 means any organization recognized by the Secretary 

3 under section 5902 of this title.’’. 

4 (2) DEADLINES; APPLICABILITY.— 

5 (A) DEADLINE FOR COLLECTION.—The Sec6 retary of Veterans Affairs shall develop the data 

7 collection method under subsection (a) of section 

8 5321 of title 38, United States Code (as added 

9 by paragraph (1)), and commence the collection 

10 of data pursuant to such method, by not later 

11 than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 

12 this Act. 

13 (B) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL DESIGNA14 TIONS.—The Secretary shall make the initial 

15 designation of any underserved demographics 

16 under subsection (c) of such section 5321 by not 

17 later than 180 days after the date on which the 

18 Secretary commences the collection of data under 

19 subsection (a) of such section. 

20 (C) APPLICABILITY REGARDING ANNUAL RE21 PORTS.—The requirement under subsection (d) of 

22 such section 5321 shall apply with respect to an23 nual benefits reports of the Veterans Benefits Ad24 ministration submitted on or after the date that 

25 is one year after the date on which the Secretary 


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1 commences the collection of data under sub2 section (a) of such section. 

3 (c) OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.— 

4 (1) STRATEGY FOR UNDERSERVED DEMO5 GRAPHICS.—Not later than one year after the date of 

6 initial designation, the Secretary shall develop and 

7 submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

8 Senate and House of Representatives an outreach and 

9 education strategy for raising awareness regarding 

10 the benefits specified in section 5321(a) of title 38, 

11 United States Code (as added by subsection (b)), 

12 among covered survivors who belong to an under13 served demographic. 

14 (2) ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS FOR CERTAIN

15 BURIAL BENEFITS.— 

16 (A) OUTREACH PLAN.—Not later than 180 

17 days after the date of initial designation, the 

18 Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs shall de19 velop and submit to the Committees on Veterans’ 

20 Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

21 Senate an outreach strategy for raising aware22 ness regarding eligibility for burial in a na23 tional cemetery under section 2303 of title 38, 

24 United States Code, among veterans and beneVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:45 Sep 11, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H7150.RH H7150

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1 ficiaries who belong to an underserved demo2 graphic. 

3 (B) EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.—The Under 

4 Secretary shall carry out education activities 

5 pursuant to the plan developed under subpara6 graph (A) to ensure that the veterans and bene7 ficiaries specified in such paragraph are made 

8 aware of any eligibility specified in such sub9 paragraph. 

10 (C) REPORTS.—Not later than one year 

11 after the date of initial designation, and annu12 ally thereafter for five years, the Under Secretary 

13 shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af14 fairs of the House of Representatives and the 

15 Senate a report on the efforts taken by the Under 

16 Secretary pursuant to this paragraph. 

17 (3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

18 (A) The term ‘‘covered survivor’’ has the 

19 meanings given that term in section 5321(e) of 

20 title 38, United States Code (as added by sub21 section (b)). 

22 (B) The term ‘‘date of initial designation’’ 

23 means the date on which the Secretary makes the 

24 initial designation of any underserved demo25 graphics. 


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1 (C) The term ‘‘underserved demographic’’ 

2 means a demographic designated as an under3 served demographic by the Secretary of Veterans 

4 Affairs under section 5321(c) of title 38, United 

5 States Code (as added by subsection (b)). 

6 (d) ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY FOR OFFICE OF SUR7 VIVORS ASSISTANCE.—Not later than one year after the 

8 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 

9 (1) conduct an assessment of the resources of the 

10 Office of Survivors Assistance of the Department of 

11 Veterans Affairs, or any successor office; and 

12 (2) develop a strategy to ensure the availability 

13 of resources necessary for the function of such office, 

14 as determined by the Secretary as a result of the as15 sessment. 

16 SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO OUTREACH SERVICES PRO17 VIDED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

18 TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED IN THE UNI19 FORMED SERVICES AND DEPENDENTS OF 

20 SUCH INDIVIDUALS. 

21 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

22 ‘‘Survivor Solid Start Act of 2024’’. 

23 (b) EXPANSION OF OUTREACH SERVICES.—Sub24 chapter I of chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, is 

25 amended— 


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1 (1) in section 6301(b)— 

2 (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) 

3 through (3) as paragraphs (2) through (4), re4 spectively; 

5 (B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so 

6 redesignated) the following new paragraph: 

7 ‘‘(1) the term ‘covered individual’ means— 

8 ‘‘(A) a veteran; or 

9 ‘‘(B) an individual who served in the uni10 formed services (as defined in section 1965(6) of 

11 this title);’’; 

12 (C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), 

13 by striking ‘‘veterans’’ each place it appears and 

14 inserting ‘‘covered individuals’’; and 

15 (D) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), 

16 by striking ‘‘a person who served in the active 

17 military, naval, air, or space service’’ and in18 serting ‘‘a covered individual’’; 

19 (2) in section 6302(b), by striking ‘‘eligible vet20 erans’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘covered 

21 individuals’’; 

22 (3) in section 6303— 

23 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘eligible 

24 veterans’’ and inserting ‘‘covered individuals’’; 


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1 (B) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘eli2 gible veterans’’ and inserting ‘‘covered individ3 uals’’; 

4 (C) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘vet5 eran or dependent’’ each place it appears and 

6 inserting ‘‘covered individual or eligible depend7 ent’’; and 

8 (D) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘vet9 erans’’ and inserting ‘‘covered individuals’’; 

10 (4) in section 6306— 

11 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘eligible 

12 veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘covered individual’’; 

13 and 

14 (B) in subsection (b)— 

15 (i) by striking ‘‘opportunities for vet16 erans’’ and inserting ‘‘opportunities for cov17 ered individuals’’; and 

18 (ii) by striking ‘‘eligible veterans’’ and 

19 inserting ‘‘covered individuals’’; and 

20 (5) in section 6307, by adding at the end the fol21 lowing new subsection: 

22 ‘‘(c) OUTREACH SERVICES FOR SURVIVING ELIGIBLE

23 DEPENDENTS.—(1)(A) Upon receipt of notification of the 

24 death of a covered individual, the Secretary, acting through 

25 the Under Secretary for Benefits, shall provide outreach 


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1 services, by either mail, email, or telephone, to each eligible 

2 dependent of such individual not less than once each quarter 

3 calendar year until the eligible dependent files a claim for 

4 a benefit under laws administered by the Secretary. 

5 ‘‘(B) In the case of an eligible dependent described in 

6 subparagraph (A) who is a minor child, the Secretary shall 

7 provide such outreach services to the legal guardian of the 

8 eligible dependent. 

9 ‘‘(C) If the Secretary does not have the contact infor10 mation of an eligible dependent or legal guardian described 

11 in subparagraph (A) or (B), the Secretary shall make rea12 sonable efforts to obtain such contact information to carry 

13 out this subsection. 

14 ‘‘(D) An eligible dependent or legal guardian described 

15 in subparagraph (A) or (B) to whom the Secretary has pro16 vided outreach services under this subsection twice may 

17 elect to not receive, or to receive fewer, outreach services 

18 under this subsection. Not less than once each calendar year, 

19 the Secretary shall notify each such eligible dependent or 

20 legal guardian who has not made such an election of the 

21 option to make such an election. 

22 ‘‘(2) Outreach services under this subsection shall pro23 vide an eligible dependent with information including the 

24 following: 


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1 ‘‘(A) Contact information for the Office of Sur2 vivors Assistance established under section 321 of this 

3 title. 

4 ‘‘(B) Information regarding assistance in filing 

5 a claim for a benefit under laws administered by the 

6 Secretary furnished by— 

7 ‘‘(i) a veterans service organization recog8 nized under section 5902 of this title; or 

9 ‘‘(ii) an attorney, agent, or other entity rec10 ognized under section 5904 of this title. 

11 ‘‘(C) How to find an entity— 

12 ‘‘(i) described in clause (i) or (ii) of sub13 paragraph (B); and 

14 ‘‘(ii) located near the residence of the eligi15 ble dependent. 

16 ‘‘(3) In developing and revising materials used in out17 reach services under this subsection, the Secretary shall con18 sult with entities including the following: 

19 ‘‘(A) Veterans service organizations recognized 

20 under section 5902 of this title. 

21 ‘‘(B) The Advisory Committee on Women Vet22 erans established under section 542 of this title. 

23 ‘‘(C) The Advisory Committee on Minority Vet24 erans established under section 544 of this title. 


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1 ‘‘(D) The Veterans’ Family, Caregiver, and Sur2 vivor Advisory Committee of the Department, or suc3 cessor advisory committee. 

4 ‘‘(4) The Secretary shall seek to ensure, to the extent 

5 practicable, that materials used in outreach services by the 

6 Pension and Fiduciary Service of the Veterans Benefits Ad7 ministration are in accordance with materials used by the 

8 Under Secretary for Benefits to provide outreach services 

9 under this subsection.’’. 

10 (c) PERSONNEL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

11 shall establish at least 5, but not more than 10, full-time 

12 equivalent positions at call centers of the Department of 

13 Veterans Affairs to carry out subsection (c) of section 6307 

14 of such title, as added by subsection (b). 

15 SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES. 

16 The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, 

17 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘November 15, 

18 2031’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘November 29, 

19 2031’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 553 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7150 

[Report No. 118–657] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct 

ents of such individuals, and for other purposes. uals who served uniformed services and dependfairs and to improve certain outreach to individadministered by the Secretary of Veterans Afuitable access to certain benefits under the laws the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve eqSEPTEMBER 10, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS