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Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act
Summary
This bill allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay pension benefits that remain unpaid at a veteran's death to surviving family members in a specific order: the veteran's spouse, then children in equal shares, then dependent parents in equal shares, or the estate. If no family member applies for these benefits within one year of the veteran's death, the payments go directly to the veteran's estate unless it would escheat to the state. The bill also extends a deadline in veterans pension law from January 31, 2033 to February 28, 2033. These changes apply to veterans who die after the bill becomes law.
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)
2 cosponsors
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA)
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV)
Actions (18)
- Feb 3, 2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · senate
- Feb 2, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
- Feb 2, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 1 (Roll no. 50). (text: CR H1930-1931) · house
- Feb 2, 2026 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): 405 - 1 (Roll no. 50). (text: CR H1930-1931)
- Feb 2, 2026 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1937-1938) · house
- Feb 2, 2026 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
- Feb 2, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3123. · house
- Feb 2, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1930-1932) · house
- Feb 2, 2026 Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. · house
- Oct 8, 2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 291. · house
- Oct 8, 2025 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-339. · house
- Jul 23, 2025 Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. · house
- Jul 23, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Jul 23, 2025 Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged · house
- Jun 24, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held · house
- May 15, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. · house
- Apr 30, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · house
- Apr 30, 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
405 Yea · 1 Nay · 26 Not voting
- Republicans37Yea0Nay
- Democrats27Yea1Nay1NV
The party tally and member list below cover the 66 of 432 positions we've recorded so far; the outcome above is the official chamber result.
See how each member voted (66)
Yea(64)
- 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
- Christian D. Menefee
- Christopher H. Smith
- Christopher R. Deluzio
- Craig A. Goldman
- Dan Crenshaw
- Daniel Meuser
- Donald Norcross
- 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
- 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
- Wesley Hunt
Nay(1)
Not voting(1)
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.
Full text
AN ACT
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.
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 “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: “Sec. 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 pension 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).
“(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 sections 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.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “January 31, 2033” and inserting “February 28, 2033”.
Passed the House of Representatives February 2, 2026.
Attest:
Clerk. 119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3123
AN ACT
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.
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