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Union Calendar No. 477 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7816 

[Report No. 118–576] 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 26, 2024 

Mr. DUARTE (for himself, Mr. BOST, Mr. VALADAO, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. 

D’ESPOSITO, and Ms. BUDZINSKI) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

JULY 8, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas, Mr. CISCOMANI, Mr. DAVIS of 

North Carolina, Mr. LAWLER, and Ms. TENNEY

JULY 8, 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 26, 2024] 


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•HR 7816 RH

A BILL 

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. 


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•HR 7816 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 7816 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 7816 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. 477 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7816 

[Report No. 118–576] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek 

poses. ministered by the Secretary, and for other pursends to claimants for benefits under laws adsessment of notice letters that the Secretary ed research and development center for an asto enter into an agreement with a federally fundJULY 8, 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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