Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act

Bill: 119-hr-1039
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]
Introduced: 2025-02-06
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government information and archives

Government lending and loan guarantees

Housing finance and home ownership

Research and development

User charges and fees

Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2025-04-08
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to assess notices that the VA sends to claimants applying for or submitting claims for VA benefits. The VA must report on the findings of the assessment and implement recommendations in the assessment.</p><p>The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through June 23, 2034, under the VA's home loan program.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1039 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 8, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 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 purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act . 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 Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with an FFRDC for an assessment of notices that the Secretary sends to claimants. (b) Assessment An FFRDC that enters to an agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary a written assessment of such notices. The assessment 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 consumption by, and costs to, the Federal Government. (2) The recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how the Secretary may make such notices clearer to claimants, better organized, and more concise. (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’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of such assessment; and (2) implement the recommendations in the assessment that are in compliance with the laws administered 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 one year after the date on which the Secretary commences 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 recognized under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code; (D) an entity that advocates for veterans; and (E) an entity that advocates for the survivors of veterans. (3) The terms claimant and notice have the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code. 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 .

Passed the House of Representatives April 7, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1039 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 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 purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act . 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 Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with an FFRDC for an assessment of notices that the Secretary sends to claimants. (b) Assessment An FFRDC that enters to an agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary a written assessment of such notices. The assessment 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 consumption by, and costs to, the Federal Government. (2) The recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how the Secretary may make such notices clearer to claimants, better organized, and more concise. (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’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of such assessment; and (2) implement the recommendations in the assessment that are in compliance with the laws administered 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 one year after the date on which the Secretary commences 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 recognized under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code; (D) an entity that advocates for veterans; and (E) an entity that advocates for the survivors of veterans. (3) The terms claimant and notice have the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code. 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 .

Passed the House of Representatives April 7, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1039 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 6, 2025 Mr. Barrett (for himself, Mr. Bost , and Ms. Budzinski ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 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 notice letters that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act . 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 Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with an FFRDC for an assessment of notices that the Secretary sends to claimants. (b) Assessment An FFRDC that enters to an agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary a written assessment of such notices. The assessment 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 consumption by, and costs to, the Federal Government. (2) The recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how the Secretary may make such notices clearer to claimants, better organized, and more concise. (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’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of such assessment; and (2) implement the recommendations in the assessment that are in compliance with the laws administered 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 one year after the date on which the Secretary commences 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 recognized under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code; (D) an entity that advocates for veterans; and (E) an entity that advocates for the survivors of veterans. (3) The terms claimant and notice have the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code. 3. Modification of certain housing loan fees The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking June 9, 2034 each place it appears and inserting June 23, 2034 .