[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3854 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 216
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3854
[Report No. 119-260]
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan to expand
the use of certain automation tools in the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 9, 2025
Mr. Valadao introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
September 9, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 9,
2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan to expand
the use of certain automation tools in the Department of Veterans
Affairs, 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 ``Modernizing All Veterans and
Survivors Claims Processing Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT ON CAUSES OF DEATH
AMONG VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Subchaper II of chapter 5 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 534. Annual report on causes of death among veterans
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate an
annual report that contains data and information on causes of death
among veterans.
``(b) Elements.--Such report shall include--
``(1) for each veteran that died during the period covered
by the report an identification of--
``(A) whether such veteran had a service-connected
disability rated as total;
``(B) the primary cause of death;
``(C) the secondary cause of death, if applicable;
and
``(D) the manner of death;
``(2) for each primary cause of death identified pursuant
to paragraph (1), a statement of the total number of veterans
that died from such primary cause of death during the period
covered by the report; and
``(3) for each manner of death identified pursuant to
paragraph (1), a statement of the total number of veterans that
died in such manner during the period covered by the report.
``(c) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on the date that is
five years after the date of the enactment of the Justice for America's
Veterans and Survivors Act of 2025.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 5 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 533 the following new item:
``534. Annual report on causes of death among veterans''.
SEC. 3. PLAN FOR USE OF AUTOMATION TOOLS TO PROCESS CLAIMS UNDER LAWS
ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives the plan of the Secretary to make available, to the
maximum extent practicable, an automation tool described in subsection
(b) to elements of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose
of processing claims under laws administered by the Secretary.
(b) Automation Tool Described.--An automation tool described in
this subsection is a technology developed for the Compensation Service
of the Veterans Benefits Administration that--
(1) automates the retrieval of the service record or health
records of a veteran;
(2) compiles evidence relevant to the determination of a
claim for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary;
(3) provides automated decision support relevant to such a
determination;
(4) automates information sharing between Federal agencies;
and
(5) assists in generating correspondence regarding such a
claim.
(c) Analysis.--In developing the plan required under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall conduct an analysis of each of the following:
(1) The feasibility and benefits of the use of an
automation tool described in subsection (b) by elements of the
Department for the purpose of processing claims under laws
administered by the Secretary.
(2) Any modification to an existing automation tool that
could render such tool usable for such purpose by such an
element.
(3) Any requirement of any such element pertaining to such
purpose that cannot be addressed by using an automation tool.
(4) The extent to which the technology offices of such
elements may need to collaborate with the technology office
responsible for developing an automation tool in the course of
the development and use of the tool by the element for such
purpose.
(5) A timeline for modifying and implementing any
automation tool for use by such elements for such purpose.
(d) Priority.--In providing an automation tool described in
subsection (b) to elements of the Department pursuant to the plan
required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to the
following elements:
(1) The Pension and Fiduciary Service of the Veterans
Benefits Administration.
(2) The Education Service of the Veterans Benefits
Administration.
(3) Program offices of the Veterans Benefits
Administration, as determined by the Secretary.
(4) The Debt Management Center.
(5) The Board of Veterans' Appeals.
SEC. 4. OTHER REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY AT DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Automatic Notices Regarding Benefits for Certain Children of
Veterans.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall implement policies, processes, and technological
capabilities, including in the National Work Queue (or
successor system), to ensure that, in the case of any covered
situation, a claims processors is made aware of, and assigned
to address, such covered situation.
(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) The term ``covered situation'' means--
(i) any increase in the amount of
dependency compensation paid to a beneficiary
for a child under the laws administered by the
Secretary; and
(ii) any educational assistance paid to the
child of a veteran under the laws administered
by the Secretary.
(B) The term ``child'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101(4)(A)(iii) of title 38, United
States Code.
(b) Correct Labeling of Documents.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives a plan to ensure that documents in the Veterans
Benefits Management System (or any successor system) are correctly
labeled when such documents are uploaded, including when such documents
are labeled using automation tools.
SEC. 5. 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 ``January 31, 2032''.
Union Calendar No. 216
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3854
[Report No. 119-260]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan to expand
the use of certain automation tools in the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 9, 2025
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed