H.R. 7816 – Reading Mode

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7816

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 18, 2024

Received

AN ACT

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 notice letters that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act.

Independent assessment of notices 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 notices 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 of such notices. The assessment shall include the following:

(1)

The determination of the FFRDC, made in consultation with covered entities, whether each such notice may be feasibly altered to reduce paper consumption by, and costs to, the Federal Government.

(2)

The recommendations of the FFRDC regarding how the Secretary may make such notices clearer to claimants, better organized, and more concise.

(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 one year 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; and

(D)

an entity that advocates for veterans.

(3)

The terms claimant and notice have the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code.

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.

Passed the House of Representatives September 17, 2024.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.