IB 
Union Calendar No. 73 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1286 
[Report No. 119–100] 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement 
with a federally funded research and development center for an assess-
ment 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 
FEBRUARY 13, 2025 
Mr. BRESNAHAN (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 
MAY 17, 2025 
Additional sponsors: Mr. MEUSER, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
PFLUGER, Ms. DE LA CRUZ, Mr. MOORE of Alabama, Mr. WOMACK, Mr. 
STAUBER, Mr. ISSA, Ms. LEE of Nevada, Mr. OBERNOLTE, Mr. HILL of 
Arkansas, Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas, and Mrs. FISCHBACH 
MAY 17, 2025 
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 February 13, 2025] 
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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. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Simplifying Forms for 
Veterans Claims Act’’. 
SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF FORMS THAT THE 
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SENDS 
TO CLAIMANTS. 
(a) AGREEMENT.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with an 
FFRDC for an assessment of forms that the Secretary sends 
to claimants. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—An FFRDC that enters to an 
agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Sec-
retary a written assessment, made in consultation with cov-
ered entities, of such forms. The assessment shall include 
the recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how the Sec-
retary may make such forms clearer to claimants and better 
organized. 
(c) REPORT; IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 90 
days after the Secretary receives the assessment under sub-
section (b), the Secretary shall— 
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(1) submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
copy of such assessment; and 
(2) implement the recommendations in the as-
sessment that are in compliance with the laws admin-
istered by the Secretary. 
(d) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary 
shall complete the implementation of such recommendations 
pursuant to subsection (c)(2) by not later than two years 
after the date on which the Secretary commences such im-
plementation. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘FFRDC’’ means a federally fund-
ed research and development center. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered entities’’ includes— 
(A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 
(B) an expert in laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 
(C) a veterans service organization recog-
nized under section 5902 of title 38, United 
States Code; 
(D) an entity that advocates for veterans; 
and 
(E) an entity that advocates for survivors of 
veterans. 
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(3) The term ‘‘claimant’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 5100 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF 
PENSION. 
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘November 30, 2031’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2031’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 73 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1286 
[Report No. 119–100] 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek 
to enter into an agreement with a federally fund-
ed research and development center for an as-
sessment of forms that the Secretary sends to 
claimants for benefits under laws administered 
by the Secretary, and for other purposes. 
MAY 17, 2025 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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