H.R. 1378House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:25 AM UTC

The Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act creates a competitive internship for law‑school students at the Board of Veterans' Appeals and launches a nine‑year pilot honors program to recruit high‑achieving law graduates and entry‑level attorneys to the VA. It offers loan‑repayment benefits, mentorship, and rotational legal assignments, and requires reports to Congress on the program’s success and on improving telehearing access for veterans.

Key Provisions

Adds a new Section 7114 to 38 U.S.C. establishing a competitive internship for accredited law‑school students within the Board of Veterans' Appeals, to be created within one year.
Mandates the VA Secretary to start a nine‑year pilot honors program for law graduates, recent graduates, and entry‑level attorneys, giving priority to those who complete the internship.
Provides eligible participants with student‑loan repayment benefits if they agree to serve the VA for at least three years, with repayment required for early departure.
Assigns each participant a mentor and requires at least one 120‑180‑day assignment in the VA Office of General Counsel, plus optional short‑term rotational assignments.
Requires the Secretary to submit periodic reports to Congress on the pilot’s feasibility, recommendations for a permanent honors program, and recruitment/retention improvements.
Directs the Secretary to report within 180 days on ways to improve access to Board of Veterans' Appeals telehearings, including possible travel reimbursements and pilot programs for home‑based video hearings.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee

April 19, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 7, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 7, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee

March 28, 2023

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee

March 29, 2023

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee

April 19, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1378 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Juan CiscomaniR-AZ-6 · Dec 13, 2023

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the work being done on behalf of our veterans, the work that my office has been working on. Arizona's Sixth Congressional District is home to over 70,000…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the work being done on behalf of our veterans, the work that my office has been working on.

Arizona's Sixth Congressional District is home to over 70,000 veterans. Our district has a historic legacy of service to our country from the servicemembers at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca to incredible veterans like Walter Ram, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient.

In my role as their Congressman, I have made it my mission to secure as much assistance as possible for those who risk their lives for our freedom. That is why I made it a priority to help our veterans, servicemembers, and their families as they navigate Federal agencies. This year alone, my team has been able to return $345,000 to veterans.

The responsibility to provide for them is not one I take lightly, and I am committed to ensuring they receive the care and support that they deserve.

This is something that extends to my time here in Washington. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have made a concerted effort to introduce commonsense bills to improve the lives of those who serve. My first bill ever introduced in Congress, H.R. 1378, the Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act, aims to address the lengthy waiting period our veterans face when trying to appeal a claim at the VA.

I also led an effort to ensure and expand access to our veterans in rural areas seeking disability claims with two pieces of legislation: H.R. 5470, the Veteran Medical Exams for Distant Areas Act, and H.R. 5938, the Veterans Exam Expansion Act. It is critical that we ensure our veterans receive the same care no matter their ZIP Code.

The same goes for the educational benefits they receive. That is why I spearheaded H.R. 5702, the Expanding Access for Online Veteran Students Act, legislation to ensure our student veterans taking classes virtually receive the same housing benefits as their counterparts taking classes in person. I learned about that need when I visited the veterans center over at the University of Arizona. This was highlighted, and we took immediate action.

We must ensure our veterans are equipped with the tools they need to successfully transition out of uniform and into civilian life. That includes a meaningful career, which is what led me to introducing H.R. 1669, the VET-TEC Authorization Act. The bill reauthorizes a popular VA program that covers the cost of veterans seeking job training in high- tech industries.

Each of these bills is a small effort to improve the lives of those who sacrifice so much.

On behalf of the people of Arizona's Sixth Congressional District, I extend my deepest gratitude to the incredible men and women who have served our country. While we will never be able to fully repay all of them who have served, we have a duty to fight for them as they fought for us.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 7, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1378

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 7, 2023

Mr. Ciscomani (for himself, Mr. McGarvey, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, and Ms. Budzinski) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an internship program within the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and for other purposes.

Short title; table of contents

This Act may be cited as the Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act.

Board of Veterans' Appeals internship program

(a)

In general

Chapter 71 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

7114.

Internship program

The Secretary shall establish a competitive internship program within the Department for the purpose of providing an opportunity for high-achieving students at law schools accredited by the American Bar Association to gain experience with the Board.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 71 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

7114. Internship program.

(c)

Deadline

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the internship program required by section 7114 of such title, as added by subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Pilot program on establishment of Department of Veterans Affairs honors program

(a)

Establishment

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a nine-year pilot program under which the Secretary shall carry out a competitive honors program within the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of recruiting high-achieving law school students, recent law school graduates, and entry-level attorneys for employment with the Department.

(b)

Qualifications

To be eligible to participate in the competitive honors program under the pilot program, an individual shall have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and shall be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or the District of Columbia. The Secretary shall give priority consideration in application for the honors program to individuals who successfully complete the internship program established under section 7114 of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 2(a).

(c)

Student loan repayment benefits

(1)

In general

Subject to an agreement under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide student loan repayment benefits under section 5379 of title 5, United States Code, to each participant in the pilot program who is eligible for student loan repayment benefits under such section.

(2)

Participant agreement

The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with each participant in the pilot program who will receive benefits described in paragraph (1), in accordance with such section. Each such agreement shall specify that—

(A)

the participant agrees to remain in the service of the Department for a period of not less than three years, unless involuntarily separated, in accordance with subsection (c) of such section; and

(B)

if separated involuntarily on account of misconduct, or voluntarily, before the end of the period specified in the agreement, the participant shall repay to the Government the amount of any benefits received by the individual from the Department in accordance with subsection (c) of such section 5379.

(d)

Professional development activities

(1)

Assignment of mentors

Not later than 90 days after the date on which an individual begins participating in the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall assign the participant a mentor who is an employee of the Department who is—

(A)

to the extent practicable, a managerial employee; and

(B)

outside the participant's chain of command.

(2)

Assignments to Office of General Counsel

The Secretary shall provide each participant in the pilot program at least one assignment within the Office of General Counsel of the Department that includes full-time legal responsibilities in order to further the professional development of the participant. Such assignment shall be for a period of not less than 120 days and not more than 180 days, or longer at the discretion of the Secretary.

(3)

Other rotational assignments

The Secretary may provide a participant in the pilot program one or more other short-term rotational assignments. Such an assignment shall be for a period of not less than 30 days and not more than 180 days, at the discretion of the Secretary.

(e)

Periodic reports

(1)

Reports required

Not later than three years after the date on which the Secretary first accepts a participant into the competitive honors program carried out under the pilot program, and not less frequently than once every three years thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program.

(2)

Contents

Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

The findings of the Secretary with respect to the feasibility and advisability of establishing a permanent competitive honors program within the Department.

(B)

Such recommendations as the Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action to improve recruitment and retention of staff at the Department.

Report on improving access to Board of Veterans' Appeals telehearings

(a)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on improving access to hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals held by picture and voice transmission.

(b)

Contents

The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

Recommendations on the feasibility and advisability of reimbursing veterans for expenses incurred for travel from the home of a veteran to the location at which a hearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is held by picture and voice transmission, if the Secretary determines that travel to such location is reasonably necessary for such a hearing.

(2)

Recommendations on establishment of pilot programs to assess the feasibility and advisability of using other methods that could improve veteran access to hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals held by picture and voice transmission from a veteran’s home.

(3)

Such other recommendations to improve access to hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals held by picture and voice transmission as the Secretary may receive from stakeholders.