I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8880 

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 forms that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under 

laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 28, 2024 

Mr. DUARTE (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina, Mr. BOST, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. VALADAO, and Mr. HARDER of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

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 forms that the 

Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws 

administered by the Secretary, 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 ‘‘Simplifying Forms for 

5 Veterans Claims Act’’. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 8880 IH

1 SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF FORMS THAT THE 

2 SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SENDS 

3 TO CLAIMANTS. 

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

5 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with 

7 an FFRDC for an assessment of forms that the Secretary 

8 sends to claimants. 

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

10 agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Sec11 retary a written assessment, made in consultation with 

12 covered entities, of such forms. The assessment shall in13 clude the recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how 

14 the Secretary may make such forms clearer to claimants 

15 and better organized. 

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

17 days after the Secretary receives the assessment under 

18 subsection (b), the Secretary shall— 

19 (1) submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af20 fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 

21 copy of such assessment; and 

22 (2) implement the recommendations in the as23 sessment that are in compliance with the laws ad24 ministered by the Secretary. 

25 (d) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Sec26 retary shall complete the implementation of such recVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Aug 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8880.IH H8880

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 8880 IH

1 ommendations pursuant to subsection (c)(2) by not later 

2 than two years after the date on which the Secretary com3 mences such implementation. 

4 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

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

6 funded research and development center. 

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

8 (A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 

9 (B) an expert in laws administered by the 

10 Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 

11 (C) a veterans service organization recog12 nized under section 5902 of title 38, United 

13 States Code; and 

14 (D) an entity that advocates for veterans 

15 and survivors of veterans. 

16 (3) The term ‘‘claimant’’ has the meaning given 

17 such term in section 5100 of title 38, United States 

18 Code. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB