H.R. 1994House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

VETERAN Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:36 PM UTC

The VETERAN Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to upgrade the information technology system used by the Veterans Benefits Administration. The upgrades are meant to speed up and automate the processing of educational assistance claims for veterans, reducing the need for manual review. The bill also requires the VA to report on its progress and provides funding to carry out the changes.

Key Provisions

Require the VA to modify its IT system so that most educational assistance claims (chapter 33) are processed electronically.
Implement rules‑based, automated decision‑making to minimize human intervention in claim adjudication.
Mandate that the Secretary submit an implementation plan to Congress within 180 days of the law’s enactment.
Require a progress report to Congress within one year of enactment.
Authorize $30 million in funding for FY 2017‑2018 to support the IT improvements.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

April 7, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 6, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 6, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

April 7, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 6, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1994

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 6, 2017

Mr. Bilirakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make improvements to the information technology system of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Vocational Education and Training Enhancements for Reintegration Assistance Now Act or the VETERAN Act.

Improvement of information technology of the veterans benefits administration of the department of veterans affairs

(a)

Processing of certain educational assistance claims

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to the maximum extent possible, make such changes and improvements to the information technology system of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that—

(1)

to the maximum extent possible, all original and supplemental claims for educational assistance under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, are adjudicated electronically; and

(2)

rules-based processing is used to make decisions with respect to such claims with little human intervention.

(b)

Implementation plan

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a plan to implement the changes and improvements described in subsection (a).

(c)

Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the changes and improvements described in subsection (a).

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $30,000,000 to carry out this section during fiscal years 2017 and 2018.