PROVIDE Act
Bill: H.R.5499 | Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy (D-CA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Priority Response for Veterans Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies Act or the PROVIDE Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to set forth criteria (1) for the priority processing of claims related to compensation for service-connected disability for certain veterans (e.g., veterans affected by homelessness or major disasters), and (2) to establish flexible evidence requirements for veterans who are unable to meet ordinary evidence requirements for such priority claims due to a major disaster.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expedite the processing 
  of claims for disability compensation by veterans affected by major 
                               disasters.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Priority Response for Veterans 
Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies Act'' or the ``PROVIDE Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Department of Veterans Affairs sets forth criteria 
        for priority processing of veterans' disability claims by the 
        Department.
            (2) Such criteria include veterans affected by extreme 
        financial hardship, homelessness, terminal illness, and 
        participants in the Department's Fully Developed Claim program.
            (3) Currently there is no process in place to prioritize 
        the disability claims of veterans affected by major disasters 
        such as fires and floods.
            (4) Priority claims processing for veterans affected by 
        major disasters will significantly help such veterans begin 
        rebuilding their lives.

SEC. 3. PRIORITY CLAIMS PROCESSING IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR DISASTER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations setting 
forth criteria for priority processing of a claim for compensation 
under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code. Individuals whose 
claim shall be eligible for such priority processing shall include--
            (1) veterans affected by extreme financial hardship;
            (2) veterans affected by homelessness;
            (3) veterans diagnosed with a terminal illness;
            (4) participants in the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        Fully Developed Claim program; and
            (5) veterans who live in an area for which the President 
        has declared a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert 
        T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170).
    (b) Special Considerations for Claims Processing in the Event of a 
Major Disaster.--The Secretary shall prescribe additional regulations 
relating only to subsection (a)(5). Such additional regulations 
include--
            (1) establishing flexible evidence requirements for 
        veterans unable to meet the ordinary evidence requirements for 
        such a claim due to a major disaster; and
            (2) establishing a flexible filing deadline for such a 
        claim.
    (c) Notice to Veterans of Eligibility for Priority Claims 
Processing.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall post a permanent notice to veterans on the 
Department of Veterans Affairs website of the categories of eligibility 
for priority processing of such claims, including the changes to such 
categories made pursuant to subsection (a).
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