IB 
Union Calendar No. 291 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3123 
[Report No. 119–339] 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
laws relating to the payment of certain benefits administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by death, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2025 
Ms. STEFANIK (for herself and Mr. KHANNA) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
OCTOBER 8, 2025 
Additional sponsor: Ms. LEE of Nevada 
OCTOBER 8, 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 April 30, 2025] 
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A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 
improvements to laws relating to the payment of certain 
benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs that are affected by death, 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 ‘‘Ernest Peltz Accrued 
Veterans Benefits Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PAYMENT BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF 
PENSION AFTER DEATH OF A VETERAN IN 
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting, after section 5121A, 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 5121B. Payment of pension after death of a veteran 
in certain circumstances 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), if the 
Secretary issues a decision awarding entitlement to a pen-
sion to a veteran before the death of such veteran, and the 
Secretary issues payment of such pension after the veteran 
dies, such pension that was due and unpaid at the time 
of the veteran’s death shall be paid to the first living person 
or entity listed below: 
‘‘(1) The veteran’s spouse. 
‘‘(2) The veteran’s children (in equal shares). 
‘‘(3) The veteran’s dependent parents (in equal 
shares). 
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‘‘(4) The estate of the deceased veteran unless the 
estate will escheat. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—In a case described in subsection 
(a), if no application is filed under section 5121 of this 
title during the one-year period following the death of the 
veteran, the pension described in such subsection shall be 
paid to the estate of the deceased veteran unless the estate 
will escheat.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 5121(a) 
of such title is amended, in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘section 5121B of this 
title, or’’ before ‘‘sections 3329 and 3330’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 
inserting, after the item relating to section 5121A, the 
following new item: 
‘‘5121B. Payment of pension after death of a veteran in certain circumstances.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply with respect to the death of a veteran 
that occurs on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
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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. 291 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 3123 
[Report No. 119–339] 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make 
certain improvements to laws relating to the pay-
ment of certain benefits administered by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by 
death, and for other purposes. 
OCTOBER 8, 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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20:43 Oct 08, 2025
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