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H.R. 1286

U.S. House•In Senate Committee

Summary

H.R. 1286, the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act, was introduced in the House on Feb 13, 2025 by Rep. Robert Bresnahan (R) with 18 co-sponsors. It was referred to Veterans' Affairs, and last saw action on May 20, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Record

Text

H.R. 1286 has 18 co-sponsors and 1 roll call.

hb1286/engrossed-in-house.txt
119 HR 1286 EH: Simplifying Forms 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.
 IB
 119th CONGRESS  1st Session
 H. R. 1286
 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 forms that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act  .
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.
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 .
     Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2025.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-02-13
  2. Passed House2025-05-19
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Feb 13, 2025

hb1286/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (02/13/2025)

Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to assess the forms that the VA sends to claimants. The center must submit a written assessment to the VA that includes recommendations on how the VA may make the forms clearer and more organized.

The VA must implement certain recommendations in the assessment within two years after the assessment is received.

Sponsors

Rep. Robert Bresnahan (R) sponsors H.R. 1286, and 18 members have co-sponsored it, 5 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 1286 went before 3 committees: Veterans' Affairs, Veterans' Affairs and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

Veterans' Affairs
Veterans' Affairs
Referred To · May 20, 2025
Veterans' Affairs
Veterans' Affairs
Reported By · May 17, 2025 · 285 Bills
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
Reported by · Apr 9, 2025 · 62 Bills

Reports

1 committee report has been filed on H.R. 1286, the latest H. Rept. 119-100.

Actions

H.R. 1286 has taken 18 actions since Feb 13, 2025, the latest on May 20, 2025.

ChamberAction
May 20, 2025
Senate
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Veterans' Affairs Committee
May 19, 202516:32
House
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 19, 202516:32
House
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2124-2126)
May 19, 202516:32
House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1286.
May 19, 202516:39
House
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.

Votes

H.R. 1286 went to 1 roll call in the House, the latest on May 19, 2025 at 386–1.

ChamberQuestion
Yea
Nay
May 19, 2025
House
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
386
1

2 bills are related to H.R. 1286.

Titles

H.R. 1286 goes by 7 titles, 4 of them short titles.

  • 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. — Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
  • Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act — Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
  • Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act — Short Title(s) as Passed House
  • Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act — Short Title(s) as Reported to House
  • Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act — Display Title
  • Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act — Short Title(s) 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 forms that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Cost estimate

The Congressional Budget Office has filed 1 estimate for H.R. 1286, the latest on May 13, 2025.

Lobbying

6 clients hired 6 firms and 61 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 1286 in 16 quarterly filings, 2025 to 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Veterans, Budget/Appropriations, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Government Issues, Transportation, Civil Rights/Civil Liberties, Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs, Medicare/Medicaid.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS—District of Columbia16—
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA—District of Columbia16—
AARP—District of Columbia11—
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS AND AEROSPACE WORKERS—Maryland11—
MISSION ROLL CALLNonprofit organization serving veteransSouth Carolina11—
SIERRA CLUB—California11—

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

RegistrantClientsFilingsReported
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS16—
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA16—
AARP11—
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS AND AEROSPACE WORKERS11—
MISSION ROLL CALL11—
SIERRA CLUB11—

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill. The 20 named most often, of 61.

LobbyistFirmsClientsFilings
HEATHER ANSLEY116
JEREMY VILLANUEVA116
JON RETZER116
JULIE HOWELL116
MORGAN BROWN116
NAOMI MATHIS116
PETER DICKINSON116
SHAMALA CAPIZZI116
JOSEPH LEMAY115
SHANE LIERMANN115
ANTHONYA JAMES114
JOY ILEM114
LISA ELIJAH114
ANTHONYA HOLLINS112
DANICA GONZALVES112
JENNIFER HUNT112
KEVIN MILLER112
MARQUIS BAREFIELD112
ROSCOE BUTLER112
ANDREW DONNELLY111

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
AARPAARP2025 second_quarter$5.1M2nd Quarter - Report
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS AND AEROSPACE WORKERSINTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS AND AEROSPACE WORKERS2026 second_quarter$715K2nd Quarter - Report
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANSDISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS2026 first_quarter$175.9K1st Quarter - Report
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANSDISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS2025 fourth_quarter$161.3K4th Quarter - Report
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANSDISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS2026 second_quarter$149.2K2nd Quarter - Report
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANSDISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS2025 third_quarter$141.4K3rd Quarter - Report
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANSDISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS2025 second_quarter$141.4K2nd Quarter - Report
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANSDISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS2025 first_quarter$141.4K1st Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2026 second_quarter$112.1K2nd Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2026 first_quarter$108.2K1st Quarter - Report
SIERRA CLUBSIERRA CLUB2026 second_quarter$100K2nd Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2025 second_quarter$89.2K2nd Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2025 first_quarter$88.6K1st Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2025 fourth_quarter$87.2K4th Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2025 third_quarter$87.2K3rd Quarter - Report
MISSION ROLL CALLMISSION ROLL CALL2025 fourth_quarter—Registration - Amendm…

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 1286 under Armed Forces and National Security, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 5 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 1286’s is Armed Forces and National Security.

hr1286/policy-areas.txt
Armed Forces and National SecurityAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 1286 carries 5 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Congressional oversight to Veterans' pensions and compensation.

hr1286/subjects.txt
Congressional oversightGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsResearch and developmentVeterans' pensions and compensation

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 1286, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. BRESNAHAN:H.R. 1286.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Clause 1 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution, to``provide for the common defense and general welfare of theUnited States.''[Page H710]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com