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Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act
Summary
This bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract with a federally funded research and development center to assess the notice letters sent to veterans benefits claimants. The assessment must evaluate whether notices can be simplified to reduce paper usage and federal costs, and provide recommendations for making notices clearer, better organized, and more concise. The Secretary must submit the assessment to Congress within 90 days and implement the recommendations that comply with VA law within one year. The bill also extends a deadline related to pension payment limits from November 30, 2031, to December 31, 2031.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7] (R-MI)
9 cosponsors
- Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (R-IL)
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL)
- Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10] (R-GA)
- Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5] (R-WI)
- Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8] (R-FL)
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV)
- Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3] (R-NC)
- Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] (R-TX)
- Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11] (R-FL)
Actions (13)
- Apr 8, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · senate
- Apr 7, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
- Apr 7, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 0 (Roll no. 90). (text: CR H1437) · house
- Apr 7, 2025 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 0 (Roll no. 90). (text: CR H1437: 1)
- Apr 7, 2025 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1442-1443) · house
- Apr 7, 2025 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. · house
- Apr 7, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1039. · house
- Apr 7, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1437-1439) · house
- Apr 7, 2025 Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. · house
- Mar 26, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held · house
- Mar 26, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. · house
- Feb 6, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · house
- Feb 6, 2025 Introduced in House
How your representatives voted
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Roll-call votes (1)
How the chamber voted on this bill — the outcome, the tally by party, and every member's recorded position. A factual record.
- On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as AmendedPassed
412 Yea · 0 Nay · 21 Not voting
- Republicans34Yea0Nay3NV
- Democrats27Yea0Nay1NV
The party tally and member list below cover the 65 of 433 positions we've recorded so far; the outcome above is the official chamber result.
See how each member voted (65)
Yea(61)
- Al Green
- Becca Balint
- Beth Van Duyne
- Bonnie Watson Coleman
- Brandon Gill
- Brendan F. Boyle
- Brian K. Fitzpatrick
- Chip Roy
- Chrissy Houlahan
- Christopher H. Smith
- Christopher R. Deluzio
- Craig A. Goldman
- Dan Crenshaw
- Daniel Meuser
- Dwight Evans
- Frank Pallone
- Glenn Thompson
- Greg Casar
- Guy Reschenthaler
- Henry Cuellar
- Herbert C. Conaway
- Jake Ellzey
- Jasmine Crockett
- Jefferson Van Drew
- Joaquin Castro
- Jodey C. Arrington
- John Joyce
- John R. Carter
- Josh Gottheimer
- Julie Johnson
- Keith Self
- Lamonica Mciver
- Lance Gooden
- Lizzie Fletcher
- Lloyd Doggett
- Lloyd Smucker
- Madeleine Dean
- Marc A. Veasey
- Mary Gay Scanlon
- Michael Cloud
- Michael T. Mccaul
- Mike Kelly
- Monica De La Cruz
- Morgan Luttrell
- Nathaniel Moran
- Nellie Pou
- Pat Fallon
- Pete Sessions
- Randy K. Sr. Weber
- Robert Menendez
- Robert P. Bresnahan
- Roger Williams
- Ronny Jackson
- Ryan Mackenzie
- Scott Perry
- Summer L. Lee
- Sylvia R. Garcia
- Thomas H. Kean
- Troy E. Nehls
- Veronica Escobar
- Vicente Gonzalez
Not voting(4)
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Text versions (3)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
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.
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 “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 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.
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”.
Passed the House of Representatives April 7, 2025.
Attest:
Clerk. 119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1039
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.
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