II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7816 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 

Received 

AN ACT 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter 

into an agreement with a federally funded research and 

development center for an assessment of notice letters 

that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under 

laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

HR 7816 RDS

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 Vet11 erans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with 

12 an FFRDC for an assessment of notices that the Sec13 retary 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 assess17 ment 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 re23 garding how the Secretary may make such notices 

24 clearer to claimants, better organized, and more con25 cise. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

HR 7816 RDS

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

2 days after the Secretary receives the assessment under 

3 subsection (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 ad9 ministered by the Secretary. 

10 (d) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Sec11 retary shall complete the implementation of such rec12 ommendations pursuant to subsection (c)(2) by not later 

13 than one year after the date on which the Secretary com14 mences such implementation. 

15 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

16 (1) The term ‘‘FFRDC’’ means a federally 

17 funded 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. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

HR 7816 RDS

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

2 the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of 

3 title 38, United States Code. 

4 SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF 

5 PENSION. 

6 Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, 

7 is amended by striking ‘‘November 30, 2031’’ and insert8 ing ‘‘December 31, 2031’’. 

Passed the House of Representatives September 17, 

2024. 

Attest: KEVIN F. MCCUMBER, 

Clerk. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB