I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4183 

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study 

on disability and pension benefits provided to members of the National 

Guard and members of reserve components of the Armed Forces by 

the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 13, 2019 

Mr. KHANNA (for himself, Mrs. LURIA, and Mrs. RADEWAGEN) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to 

conduct a study on disability and pension benefits provided to members of the National Guard and members 

of reserve components of the Armed Forces by the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ‘‘Identifying Barriers 

5 and Best Practices Study Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON DISABILITY 

2 AND PENSION BENEFITS PROVIDED TO MEM3 BERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND MEM4 BERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE 

5 ARMED FORCES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 

6 VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 36 months after 

8 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 

9 General of the United States shall complete a study on 

10 disability and pension benefits provided to members of the 

11 National Guard and members of reserve components of 

12 the Armed Forces by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

13 In conducting such study, the Comptroller General shall 

14 review, for the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and 

15 ending on December 31, 2018, each of the following: 

16 (1) The number of members of the National 

17 Guard and the number of members of reserve com18 ponents of the Armed Forces who received disability 

19 compensation or pension provided by the Depart20 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

21 (2) A comparison of each of the following be22 tween veterans who served in the National Guard or 

23 reserve components and veterans who served in the 

24 regular components of the Armed Forces: 

25 (A) The percentage of each group of such 

26 veterans with service-connected disabilities. 


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1 (B) The number of veterans in each group 

2 with each disability rating. 

3 (C) The number of veterans in each group 

4 with a service-connected disability, including the 

5 number of each of the following types of such 

6 veterans in each group: 

7 (i) Pilots. 

8 (ii) Veterans who served in the special 

9 forces. 

10 (iii) Veterans who participated in the 

11 Personnel Reliability Program. 

12 (iv) Veterans who underwent diving or 

13 flight physicals as a regular component of 

14 their service in the Armed Forces and who 

15 have a muscular-skeletal or mental health 

16 condition. 

17 (D) The number of total claims for dis18 ability compensation and pension submitted, ap19 proved, and disapproved for each group of vet20 erans. 

21 (3) An identification of common barriers for 

22 members of the National Guard and members of re23 serve components in obtaining disability benefits 

24 under the laws administered by the Secretary of Vet25 erans Affairs, including barriers relating to docuVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 Aug 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4183.IH H4183

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1 mentation of injuries incurred while serving, such as 

2 line of duty letters. 

3 (b) REPORTS.— 

4 (1) PRELIMINARY REPORT.—Not later than 18 

5 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

6 the Comptroller General shall submit to the Commit7 tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House 

8 of Representatives a preliminary report on the find9 ings of the study required by subsection (a). 

10 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Upon completion of the 

11 study, the Comptroller General shall submit to such 

12 Committees a final report on such study. 

Æ 


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