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Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act
Summary
The bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract with a federally funded research and development center to assess the forms the VA sends to benefits claimants. The assessment should include recommendations on how to make these forms clearer and better organized, and must be conducted in consultation with VA experts, veterans service organizations, and veterans and survivors advocates. The Secretary must submit the assessment to Congress within 90 days of receiving it and implement the recommendations that comply with existing VA laws by two years after beginning implementation. The bill also extends a deadline related to certain 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)
18 cosponsors
- Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (R-IL)
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC)
- Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15] (R-TX)
- Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7] (R-MN)
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA)
- Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2] (R-AR)
- Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48] (R-CA)
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV)
- Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9] (R-PA)
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL)
- Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] (R-CA)
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA)
- Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] (R-TX)
- Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] (R-MN)
- Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] (R-PA)
- Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22] (R-CA)
- Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25] (R-TX)
- Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3] (R-AR)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Robert P. Bresnahan’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $255,976
- INVESTMENTS LIMITED $21,106
- STARKEY HEARING TECHNOLOGIES $13,200
- TFP LIMITED $11,022
- ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS $9,900
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Robert P. Bresnahan → · Outside spending →
Actions (18)
- May 20, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · senate
- May 19, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
- May 19, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 386 - 1 (Roll no. 133). (text: CR H2125) · house
- May 19, 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): 386 - 1 (Roll no. 133). (text: CR H2125)
- May 19, 2025 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2136-2137) · house
- May 19, 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
- May 19, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1286. · house
- May 19, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2124-2126) · house
- May 19, 2025 Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. · house
- May 17, 2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 73. · house
- May 17, 2025 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-100. · house
- May 6, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Apr 9, 2025 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. · house
- Apr 9, 2025 Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Mar 26, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held · house
- Mar 14, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. · house
- Feb 13, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · house
- Feb 13, 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
386 Yea · 1 Nay · 45 Not voting
- Republicans32Yea0Nay5NV
- Democrats24Yea0Nay4NV
The party tally and member list below cover the 65 of 432 positions we've recorded so far; the outcome above is the official chamber result.
See how each member voted (65)
Yea(56)
- Al Green
- August Pfluger
- Becca Balint
- Beth Van Duyne
- Bonnie Watson Coleman
- Brandon Gill
- Brendan F. Boyle
- Brian Babin
- Brian K. Fitzpatrick
- Chip Roy
- Chrissy Houlahan
- Christopher H. Smith
- Christopher R. Deluzio
- Craig A. Goldman
- Dan Crenshaw
- Dwight Evans
- Frank Pallone
- Glenn Thompson
- Guy Reschenthaler
- Henry Cuellar
- Herbert C. Conaway
- Jake Ellzey
- Jasmine Crockett
- Jefferson Van Drew
- Joaquin Castro
- Jodey C. Arrington
- John Joyce
- John R. Carter
- Julie Johnson
- Keith Self
- Lamonica Mciver
- Lance Gooden
- Lizzie Fletcher
- Lloyd Doggett
- Lloyd Smucker
- Marc A. Veasey
- Mary Gay Scanlon
- Michael Cloud
- 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
- Veronica Escobar
- Vicente Gonzalez
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 (4)
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.
Committee action
What happened to this bill in committee — the meetings where it was considered and every recorded vote taken on it.
Meetings where this bill was on the agenda
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 forms 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 “Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act”.
SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF FORMS 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 forms 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, made in consultation with covered entities, of such forms. The assessment shall include the recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how the Secretary may make such forms clearer to claimants and better organized.
(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 two years 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 survivors of veterans.
(3) The term “claimant” has the meaning given such term 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 May 19, 2025.
Attest:
Clerk. 119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1286
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 forms that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.
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