IIB 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4183 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 18, 2019 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

AN ACT 

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, 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

HR 4183 RFS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Identifying Barriers 

3 and Best Practices Study Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON DISABILITY 

5 AND PENSION BENEFITS PROVIDED TO MEM6 BERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND MEM7 BERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE 

8 ARMED FORCES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 

9 VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

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

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

12 General of the United States shall complete a study on 

13 disability and pension benefits provided to members of the 

14 National Guard and members of reserve components of 

15 the Armed Forces by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

16 In conducting such study, the Comptroller General shall 

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

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

19 (1) The number of members of the National 

20 Guard and the number of members of reserve com21 ponents of the Armed Forces who received disability 

22 compensation or pension provided by the Depart23 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

24 (2) A comparison of each of the following be25 tween veterans who served only in the National 

26 Guard or reserve components and veterans who 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

HR 4183 RFS

1 served in the regular components of the Armed 

2 Forces: 

3 (A) The percentage of each group of such 

4 veterans with service-connected disabilities. 

5 (B) The number of veterans in each group 

6 with each disability rating. 

7 (C) The number of veterans in each group 

8 with a service-connected disability, including the 

9 number of each of the following types of such 

10 veterans in each group: 

11 (i) Pilots. 

12 (ii) Veterans who served in the special 

13 forces. 

14 (iii) Veterans who participated in the 

15 Personnel Reliability Program. 

16 (iv) Veterans who underwent diving or 

17 flight physicals as a regular component of 

18 their service in the Armed Forces and who 

19 have a muscular-skeletal or mental health 

20 condition. 

21 (D) The number of total claims for dis22 ability compensation and pension submitted, ap23 proved, and disapproved for each group of vet24 erans. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

HR 4183 RFS

1 (3) An identification of common barriers for 

2 members of the National Guard and members of re3 serve components in obtaining disability benefits 

4 under the laws administered by the Secretary of Vet5 erans Affairs, including barriers relating to docu6 mentation of injuries incurred while serving, such as 

7 line of duty letters. 

8 (b) REPORTS.— 

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

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

11 the Comptroller General shall submit to the Commit12 tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House 

13 of Representatives a preliminary report on the find14 ings of the study required by subsection (a). 

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

16 study, the Comptroller General shall submit to such 

17 Committees a final report on such study. 

Passed the House of Representatives December 17, 

2019. 

Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 

Clerk. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS