I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7150 

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 

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. 

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 De5 livery Improvement Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CERTAIN BENEFITS OF DE2 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR SUR3 VIVORS OF VETERANS. 

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

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

6 (b) COLLECTION OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.— 

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

8 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

9 end the following new section (and conforming the 

10 table of sections at the beginning of such chapter ac11 cordingly): 

12 ‘‘§ 5321. Demographic data of certain beneficiaries 

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

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

15 ‘‘(1) develop a method to collect the demo16 graphic data of— 

17 ‘‘(A) each covered survivor receiving dis18 ability and indemnity compensation under chap19 ter 13 of this title, pension under chapter 15 of 

20 this title, or increased pension (or additional 

21 compensation or allowances) under this title 

22 based on the need of regular aid and attend23 ance or by reason of being permanently house24 bound; and 

25 ‘‘(B) each person who receives burial bene26 fits under chapter 23 of this title; and 


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

2 method developed under paragraph (1). 

3 ‘‘(b) ENTITIES FOR CONSULTATION.—The entities 

4 described in this subsection are the following: 

5 ‘‘(1) The Advisory Committee on Minority Vet6 erans established under section 544 of this title. 

7 ‘‘(2) The Advisory Committee on Women Vet8 erans established under section 542 of this title. 

9 ‘‘(3) The Veterans’ Family, Caregiver, and Sur10 vivor Advisory Committee of the Department of Vet11 erans Affairs, or successor advisory committee. 

12 ‘‘(4) Veterans service organizations. 

13 ‘‘(c) DESIGNATION OF UNDERSERVED DEMO14 GRAPHICS.—The Secretary shall— 

15 ‘‘(1) designate as an underserved demographic 

16 any demographic the Secretary determines, taking 

17 into account the demographic data collected under 

18 subsection (a), is underserved with respect to the 

19 benefits specified in such subsection; and 

20 ‘‘(2) review such designations on at least a bi21 ennial basis and update as appropriate. 

22 ‘‘(d) INCLUSION IN ANNUAL REPORTS.—For each 

23 annual benefits report of the Veterans Benefits Adminis24 tration, the Secretary shall include as part of the report 

25 information concerning the demographic data collected 


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1 under subsection (a) during the fiscal year covered by the 

2 report. 

3 ‘‘(e) EFFECT ON APPLICATION.—Nothing in this sec4 tion shall be construed as requiring any person to submit 

5 demographic data or as authorizing the Secretary to con6 sider whether a person submits demographic data in eval7 uating any claim for benefits under the laws administered 

8 by the Secretary. 

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

10 ‘‘(1) The term ‘covered survivor’ means a sur11 viving spouse, child, or parent of a veteran. 

12 ‘‘(2) The term ‘demographic data’ includes, 

13 with respect to an individual, the following: 

14 ‘‘(A) Race. 

15 ‘‘(B) Ethnicity. 

16 ‘‘(C) Tribal affiliation, if any. 

17 ‘‘(D) LGBTQIA+ status. 

18 ‘‘(E) Geographic location. 

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

20 means any organization recognized by the Secretary 

21 under section 5902 of this title.’’. 

22 (2) DEADLINES; APPLICABILITY.— 

23 (A) DEADLINE FOR COLLECTION.—The 

24 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop the 

25 data collection method under subsection (a) of 


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1 section 5321 of title 38, United States Code (as 

2 added by paragraph (1)), and commence the 

3 collection of data pursuant to such method, by 

4 not later than 180 days after the date of the 

5 enactment of this Act. 

6 (B) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL DESIGNA7 TIONS.—The Secretary shall make the initial 

8 designation of any underserved demographics 

9 under subsection (c) of such section 5321 by 

10 not later than one year after the date on which 

11 the Secretary commences the collection of data 

12 under subsection (a) of such section. 

13 (C) APPLICABILITY REGARDING ANNUAL

14 REPORTS.—The requirement under subsection 

15 (d) of such section 5321 shall apply with re16 spect to annual benefits reports of the Veterans 

17 Benefits Administration submitted on or after 

18 the date that is one year after the date on 

19 which the Secretary commences the collection of 

20 data under subsection (a) of such section. 

21 (c) OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.— 

22 (1) STRATEGY FOR UNDERSERVED DEMO23 GRAPHICS.—Not later than one year after the date 

24 of initial designation, the Secretary shall develop and 

25 submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of 


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1 the Senate and House of Representatives an out2 reach and education strategy for raising awareness 

3 regarding the benefits specified in section 5321(a) of 

4 title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection 

5 (b)), among covered survivors who belong to an un6 derserved demographic. 

7 (2) ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS FOR CERTAIN

8 BURIAL BENEFITS.— 

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

10 days after the date of initial designation, the 

11 Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs shall de12 velop and submit to the Committees on Vet13 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 

14 and the Senate an outreach strategy for raising 

15 awareness regarding eligibility for burial in a 

16 national cemetery under section 2303 of title 

17 38, United States Code, among veterans and 

18 beneficiaries who belong to an underserved de19 mographic. 

20 (B) EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.—The Under 

21 Secretary shall carry out education activities 

22 pursuant to the plan developed under subpara23 graph (A) to ensure that the veterans and bene24 ficiaries specified in such paragraph are made 


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1 aware of any eligibility specified in such sub2 paragraph. 

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

4 after the date of initial designation, and annu5 ally thereafter for five years, the Under Sec6 retary shall submit to the Committees on Vet7 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 

8 and the Senate a report on the efforts taken by 

9 the Under Secretary pursuant to this para10 graph. 

11 (3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

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

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

14 title 38, United States Code (as added by sub15 section (b)). 

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

17 means the date on which the Secretary makes 

18 the initial designation of any underserved demo19 graphics. 

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

21 means a demographic designated as an under22 served demographic by the Secretary of Vet23 erans Affairs under section 5321(c) of title 38, 

24 United States Code (as added by subsection 

25 (b)). 


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1 (d) ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY FOR OFFICE OF

2 SURVIVORS ASSISTANCE.—Not later than one year after 

3 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

4 shall— 

5 (1) conduct an assessment of the resources of 

6 the Office of Survivors Assistance of the Department 

7 of Veterans Affairs, or any successor office; and 

8 (2) develop a strategy to ensure the availability 

9 of resources necessary for the function of such of10 fice, as determined by the Secretary as a result of 

11 the assessment. 

12 SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO OUTREACH SERVICES PRO13 VIDED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AF14 FAIRS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED IN THE 

15 UNIFORMED SERVICES AND DEPENDENTS OF 

16 SUCH INDIVIDUALS. 

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

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

19 (b) EXPANSION OF OUTREACH SERVICES.—Sub20 chapter I of chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code, 

21 is amended— 

22 (1) in section 6301(b)— 

23 (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) 

24 through (3) as paragraphs (2) through (4), re25 spectively; 


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1 (B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as 

2 so redesignated) the following new paragraph: 

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

4 ‘‘(A) a veteran; or 

5 ‘‘(B) an individual who served in the uni6 formed services (as defined in section 1965(6) 

7 of this title);’’; 

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

9 by striking ‘‘veterans’’ each place it appears 

10 and inserting ‘‘covered individuals’’; and 

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

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

13 military, naval, air, or space service’’ and in14 serting ‘‘a covered individual’’; 

15 (2) in section 6302(b), by striking ‘‘eligible vet16 erans’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘covered 

17 individuals’’; 

18 (3) in section 6303— 

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

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

21 (B) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking 

22 ‘‘eligible veterans’’ and inserting ‘‘covered indi23 viduals’’; 

24 (C) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘vet25 eran or dependent’’ each place it appears and 


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1 inserting ‘‘covered individual or eligible depend2 ent’’; and 

3 (D) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘vet4 erans’’ and inserting ‘‘covered individuals’’; 

5 (4) in section 6306— 

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

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

8 and 

9 (B) in subsection (b)— 

10 (i) by striking ‘‘opportunities for vet11 erans’’ and inserting ‘‘opportunities for 

12 covered individuals’’; 

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

14 inserting ‘‘covered individuals’’; and 

15 (5) in section 6307, by adding at the end the 

16 following new subsection: 

17 ‘‘(c) OUTREACH SERVICES FOR SURVIVING ELIGIBLE

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

19 death of a covered individual, the Secretary, acting 

20 through the Under Secretary for Benefits, shall provide 

21 outreach services, by mail, email, and telephone, to each 

22 eligible dependent of such individual not less than once 

23 each quarter calendar year until the eligible dependent 

24 files a claim for a benefit under laws administered by the 

25 Secretary. 


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

2 in subparagraph (A) who is a minor child, the Secretary 

3 shall provide such outreach services to the legal guardian 

4 of the eligible dependent. 

5 ‘‘(C) If the Secretary does not have the contact infor6 mation of an eligible dependent or legal guardian de7 scribed in subparagraph (A) or (B), the Secretary shall 

8 make reasonable efforts to obtain such contact informa9 tion to carry out this subsection. 

10 ‘‘(D) An eligible dependent or legal guardian de11 scribed in subparagraph (A) or (B) may elect to not re12 ceive, or to receive fewer, outreach services under this sub13 section. Not less than once each calendar year, the Sec14 retary shall notify each such eligible dependent or legal 

15 guardian of the option to make such an election. 

16 ‘‘(2) Outreach services under this subsection shall 

17 provide an eligible dependent with information including 

18 the following: 

19 ‘‘(A) Contact information for the Office of Sur20 vivors Assistance established under section 321 of 

21 this title. 

22 ‘‘(B) Information regarding assistance in filing 

23 a claim for a benefit under laws administered by the 

24 Secretary furnished by— 


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1 ‘‘(i) a veterans service organization recog2 nized under section 5902 of this title; or 

3 ‘‘(ii) an attorney, agent, or other entity 

4 recognized under section 5904 of this title. 

5 ‘‘(C) How to find an entity— 

6 ‘‘(i) described in clause (i) or (ii) of sub7 paragraph (B); and 

8 ‘‘(ii) located near the residence of the eligi9 ble dependent. 

10 ‘‘(3) In developing and revising materials used in out11 reach services under this subsection, the Secretary shall 

12 consult with entities including the following: 

13 ‘‘(A) Veterans service organizations recognized 

14 under section 5902 of this title. 

15 ‘‘(B) The Advisory Committee on Women Vet16 erans established under section 542 of this title. 

17 ‘‘(C) The Advisory Committee on Minority Vet18 erans established under section 544 of this title. 

19 ‘‘(D) The Veterans’ Family, Caregiver, and 

20 Survivor Advisory Committee of the Department, or 

21 successor advisory committee.’’. 

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

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

24 equivalent positions at call centers of the Department of 


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1 Veterans Affairs to carry out subsection (c) of section 

2 6307 of such title, as added by subsection (b). 

Æ 


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