[Pages H2124-H2126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SIMPLIFYING FORMS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS ACT

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill

[[Page H2125]]

(H.R. 1286) 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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 1286

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''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.

General Leave

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 1286, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1286, as amended. The
bill was introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Bresnahan),
my friend and colleague.
This bill would require VA to contract with research entities to
improve the forms that VA requires veterans and their families to fill
out throughout the VA claims process.
Incorrectly filling out these forms can force veterans to wait longer
for a decision on their claim and cause veterans to receive wrongful
denials of their claim.
Veterans and their advocates have told Congress time and time again
how disorganized and difficult these forms can be. As a veteran myself,
it has been a challenge for me to complete these forms for my own
disability claims.
We must make VA's standard forms more understandable for veterans so
they can more easily access their earned VA benefits. This bill would
do just that.
Representative Bresnahan's commonsense bill would ensure that
Congress continues to push VA forward to better serve veterans, and I
am proud to co-lead it.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1286, as amended, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1286, Simplifying Forms for
Veterans Claims Act, as amended.
Time and time again we hear from veterans that they cannot make heads
or tails out of some of the forms necessary to access veterans'
benefits. Not only have we heard it from veterans, but we have also
heard it from accredited experts who assist in preparing disability
claims.
This must be corrected. We cannot have veterans leaving earned
benefits on the table because they put a piece of information on a line
below where it should have been because the form was hard to
understand.
It is not a stretch to think of a veteran attempting to file for a
claim in their later years when their eyes don't see as well or they
can't remember all the minute details from service long ago.
That can be a frustrating experience, and H.R. 1286 proposes that the
VA enter into an agreement with a federally-funded research and
development center to assess the forms VA is currently using.
Sometimes, when you are so close to a problem, it is hard to see what
the core of the issue is. This bill will allow fresh eyes to review and
study the forms VA uses in order to find areas for improvement. These
could be small fixes that lead to positive improvement in a veteran's
life.
As we work to better the veterans' experience, we should be looking
at making large programs better. We should be looking at building new
state-of-the-art facilities with technology that integrates seamlessly
between agencies, doctors, and departments. We should be making big
changes which make big impacts, but we should also commit to small
changes that can also improve the veteran experience.
That is what this bill does. It starts to move in the direction of
making forms easier for our veterans to review, complete, and
ultimately get their earned benefits.
I support this bill and the agreement to enter into a study to see
where there is room for improvement as veterans seek better access to
their earned benefits.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill and to
continue to advocate for a better veteran experience, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Bresnahan), the sponsor of this bill and the
Representative from Pennsylvania's Eighth District.
Mr. BRESNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bost for yielding me
time.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to speak on H.R. 1286, the
Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act.
I am proud to lead this bipartisan bill with the support of Chairman
Bost and the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
When our veterans return home from serving our country, they are
often tasked with filling out dozens of pages of paperwork just to
receive the benefits they rightfully earned.
These forms are often confusing, difficult to navigate, and
duplicative. It is crucial that our veterans and survivors understand
how to fill out each form completely and accurately because failure to
do so can result in delays in processing their claim, delays in
receiving a decision on their claim, or even a denial of their claim.
Veterans and survivors are often forced to rely on Veteran Service
Organizations, VSOs, to assist them with completing forms because these
VA standard forms, including their attached instructions, can be
disorganized and confusing to navigate. These VSOs have highlighted the
need to improve VA's standard forms so that they are more
straightforward and user friendly.
That is why I introduced the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims
Act. It would require the VA to contract with a nonpartisan, federally-
funded research entity to conduct a study on and provide
recommendations for revising VA forms to be more understandable for
veterans and their survivors.
Our military members dedicated their lives to serving our Nation. The
last thing they need when they come

[[Page H2126]]

home are mountains of daunting paperwork. Veterans and their families
have the best chance of accessing their earned VA benefits and should
not be subjected to a VA claims process that is more difficult and
stressful than necessary.
Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional District is home to 40,000
veterans. I am proud to spearhead this legislation for each and every
one of them and their families.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1286 because we owe our
veterans a system that works efficiently and effectively on their
behalf.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 1286, Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act, as
amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1286, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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