II 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7816 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 
Received 
AN ACT 
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 pur-
poses. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:32 Jan 04, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H7816.RDS
H7816
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
HR 7816 RDS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Clear Communication 
for Veterans Claims Act’’. 
SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF NOTICES THAT THE 
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SENDS 
TO CLAIMANTS. 
(a) AGREEMENT.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with 
an FFRDC for an assessment of notices that the Sec-
retary sends to claimants. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—An FFRDC that enters to an 
agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Sec-
retary a written assessment of such notices. The assess-
ment shall include the following: 
(1) The determination of the FFRDC, made in 
consultation with covered entities, whether each such 
notice may be feasibly altered to reduce paper con-
sumption by, and costs to, the Federal Government. 
(2) The recommendations of the FFRDC re-
garding how the Secretary may make such notices 
clearer to claimants, better organized, and more con-
cise. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:32 Jan 04, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7816.RDS
H7816
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
HR 7816 RDS
(c) REPORT; IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 90 
days after the Secretary receives the assessment under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall— 
(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 ad-
ministered by the Secretary. 
(d) DEADLINE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The Sec-
retary shall complete the implementation of such rec-
ommendations pursuant to subsection (c)(2) by not later 
than one year after the date on which the Secretary com-
mences such implementation. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘FFRDC’’ means a federally 
funded 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; and 
(D) an entity that advocates for veterans. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:32 Jan 04, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7816.RDS
H7816
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
HR 7816 RDS
(3) The terms ‘‘claimant’’ and ‘‘notice’’ have 
the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of 
title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF 
PENSION. 
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘November 30, 2031’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘December 31, 2031’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 17, 
2024. 
Attest: 
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER, 
Clerk. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:32 Jan 04, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7816.RDS
H7816
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB