Both sides have signed this (Bill Ranking)
H.R. 1039 · 119th Congress (2025-2026)
10 members · Left 1 · Center 1 · Right 8 (Bill Ranking)
| Sponsor | Rep. Barrett, Tom (R-MI) (Introduced 02/06/2025) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Voting Record | Lean right · DW-NOMINATE +0.50 · measured from every roll-call vote this member has cast (voteview.com) (Sponsor Ranking) |
| Support |
LLLCLRR support across the spectrum: 10 members signed on (Bill Ranking) this bill: sponsor + current cosponsors, each once |
| Committees | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee; House - Veterans' Affairs Committee |
| Latest Action | 04/08/2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. |
| Roll Call Votes | 1 |
| Source | view on congress.gov → |
Introduced in House (02/06/2025)
Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to assess notices that the VA sends to claimants applying for or submitting claims for VA benefits. The VA must report on the findings of the assessment and implement recommendations in the assessment.
The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through June 23, 2034, under the VA's home loan program.
119 HR 1039 EH: Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1039
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 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.
1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act.
2.Independent assessment of notices that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs sends to claimants (a)AgreementNot 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)AssessmentAn 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; implementationNot 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 implementationThe 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)DefinitionsIn 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 the survivors of veterans. (3)The terms claimant and notice have the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code.
3.Extension of certain limits on payments of pensionSection 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 April 7, 2025.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.
119 HR 1039 IH: Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-02-06 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1039IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 6, 2025Mr. Barrett (for himself, Mr. Bost, and Ms. Budzinski) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo 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.
1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act.
2.Independent assessment of notices that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs sends to claimants (a)AgreementNot 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)AssessmentAn 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; implementationNot 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 implementationThe 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)DefinitionsIn 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 the survivors of veterans. (3)The terms claimant and notice have the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code.
3.Modification of certain housing loan feesThe loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking June 9, 2034 each place it appears and inserting June 23, 2034.
119 HR 1039 : Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-04-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IIB119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1039IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESApril 8, 2025Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsAN ACTTo 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.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act.2.Independent assessment of notices that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs sends to claimants(a)AgreementNot 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)AssessmentAn 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; implementationNot 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 implementationThe 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)DefinitionsIn 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 the survivors of veterans.(3)The terms claimant and notice have the meanings given such terms in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code.3.Extension of certain limits on payments of pensionSection 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 April 7, 2025.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.
The bill's own words, from our database (synced from the GPO BILLS XML); paragraph breaks added at the bill's section boundaries, nothing else changed.
| Date | Chamber | All Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 02/06/2025 | Library of Congress | Introduced in House |
| 02/06/2025 | Library of Congress | Introduced in House |
| 02/06/2025 | House floor actions | Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. |
| 03/26/2025 | House committee actions | Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. |
| 03/26/2025 | House committee actions | Subcommittee Hearings Held |
| 04/07/2025 | House floor actions | Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. |
| 04/07/2025 | House floor actions | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1437-1439) |
| 04/07/2025 | House floor actions | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1039. |
| 04/07/2025 | House floor actions | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. |
| 04/07/2025 | House floor actions | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1442-1443) |
| 04/07/2025 | Library of Congress | Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 0 (Roll no. 90). (text: CR H1437: 1) |
| 04/07/2025 | House floor actions | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 0 (Roll no. 90). (text: CR H1437) |
| 04/07/2025 | House floor actions | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 04/08/2025 | Senate | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. |
| Title Type | Title |
|---|---|
| Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text | 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 Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text | Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act |
| Short Title(s) as Passed House | Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act |
| Display Title | Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act |
| Short Title(s) as Introduced | Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act |
| Official Title as Introduced | 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. |
There are no amendments to this bill.
* = Original cosponsor
| Committee | Activity |
|---|---|
| Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee | 04/08/2025 Referred To |
| House - Veterans' Affairs Committee | 02/06/2025 Referred To |
Policy Area: Armed Forces and National Security
All data on this page comes from our own database (legislation.congress_* tables), synced daily from the GPO govinfo BILLSTATUS and BILLS collections. Formatted after congress.gov; nothing is generated. Member placement is their DW-NOMINATE score (voteview.com, Lewis et al.) - a measurement of roll-call voting behavior, not our judgement. Buckets: Left below −0.50 · Lean Left to −0.25 · Center to +0.25 · Lean Right to +0.50 · Right above +0.50. The bill's Support meter aggregates the people who signed the bill - sponsor and current cosponsors, each counted once - nothing else.