IB 

Union Calendar No. 496 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7643 

[Report No. 118–596] 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the use of Department 

of Veterans Affairs work-study allowance to carry out casework, policy 

making, and oversight related to the activities of the Department at 

certain congressional offices. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 12, 2024 

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

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

JULY 18, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Ms. NORTON and Ms. LOFGREN

JULY 18, 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 March 12, 2024] 


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•HR 7643 RH

A BILL 

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

use of Department of Veterans Affairs work-study allowance to carry out casework, policy making, and oversight 

related to the activities of the Department at certain 

congressional offices. 


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•HR 7643 RH

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 ‘‘Clear Communication 

5 for Veterans Claims Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF NOTICES THAT THE 

7 SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SENDS 

8 TO CLAIMANTS. 

9 (a) AGREEMENT.—Not later than 30 days after the 

10 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

11 Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with an 

12 FFRDC for an assessment of notices that the Secretary 

13 sends to claimants. 

14 (b) ASSESSMENT.—An FFRDC that enters to an 

15 agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Sec16 retary a written assessment of such notices. The assessment 

17 shall include the following: 

18 (1) The determination of the FFRDC, made in 

19 consultation with covered entities, whether each such 

20 notice may be feasibly altered to reduce paper con21 sumption by, and costs to, the Federal Government. 

22 (2) The recommendations of the FFRDC regard23 ing how the Secretary may make such notices clearer 

24 to claimants, better organized, and more concise. 


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•HR 7643 RH

1 (c) REPORT; IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 90 

2 days after the Secretary receives the assessment under sub3 section (b), the Secretary shall— 

4 (1) submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af5 fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 

6 copy of such assessment; and 

7 (2) implement the recommendations in the as8 sessment that are in compliance with the laws admin9 istered by the Secretary. 

10 (d) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary 

11 shall complete the implementation of such recommendations 

12 pursuant to subsection (c)(2) by not later than one year 

13 after the date on which the Secretary commences such im14 plementation. 

15 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

16 (1) The term ‘‘FFRDC’’ means a federally fund17 ed research and development center. 

18 (2) The term ‘‘covered entities’’ includes— 

19 (A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 

20 (B) an expert in laws administered by the 

21 Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 

22 (C) a veterans service organization recog23 nized under section 5902 of title 38, United 

24 States Code; and 

25 (D) an entity that advocates for veterans. 


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•HR 7643 RH

1 (3) The terms ‘‘claimant’’ and ‘‘notice’’ have the 

2 meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, 

3 United States Code. 

4 SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES. 

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

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

7 2031’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘November 29, 

8 2031’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 496 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7643 

[Report No. 118–596] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorfices. of the Department at certain congressional of- icy making, and oversight related to the activities work-study allowance to carry out casework, pol- ize the use of Department of Veterans Affairs 

JULY 18, 2024 

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


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