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118th Congress Armed Forces and National Security

H.R. 1530: Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023

Passed HouseSep 20, 2023

  1. Introduced (completed)Mar 10, 2023
  2. Passed House (completed)Sep 20, 2023, 423–0
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Passed House, Sep 20, 2023

This bill addresses certain requirements related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical disability examinations for purposes of benefit claims and other administrative matters related to the benefit claims processes and personnel.

First, the bill updates procedures related to the publishing of VA disability benefit questionnaire forms. Specifically, the VA does not have to publish certain forms if it determines the form could not reasonably be completed to a clinically acceptable standard by someone who is not an employee or contractor of the VA.

The bill also requires the VA to report on its efforts to provide reimbursement for a veteran's travel to a facility, regardless of whether the facility is inside or outside of the United States, when such travel is incident to a medical disability examination for purposes of VA benefits.

Read the full summary

The VA must also include certain elements in contracts it enters with non-VA providers to provide medical disability examinations. Specifically, the contracts must require that every communication from the provider to the applicant regarding the scheduling of a medical disability examination must be transmitted to any person or organization that is legally designated by the applicant and is recognized for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims.

Additionally, the VA must partner with veterans service organizations and other stakeholders (as determined by the VA) to implement an outreach program for veterans regarding (1) contact information for non-VA providers that are providing medical disability examinations, and (2) the requirement for veterans to provide personally identifiable information when contacted by such providers to verify their identity.

The VA must report on improving its support of governmental veterans service officers.

The VA must establish a Board of Veterans' Appeals internship program for individuals enrolled in the first or second year of law school.

The VA must also implement a program to furnish student loan repayment benefits or reimbursements for courses, bar exams, or bar membership dues to certain attorneys who agree to work for the VA for at least 3 years.

The bill increases the maximum possible number of judges presiding over the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to nine judges.

Finally, the VA must report on improving access to telehearings for Board of Veterans' Appeals hearings.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Key votes

House final vote, Sep 20, 2023

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Passed 423–0

Yea 423two-thirds 282Nay 0

  • Democrats209 yea, 0 nay
  • Republicans213 yea, 0 nay
  • Independents1 yea, 0 nay
See how all 423 members voted

Showing 433 of 433 members

Yea 423

Republicans (213)

Democrats (209)

Independents (1)

Not voting 10

Republicans (7)

Democrats (3)

Senate

Not yet voted

Passed the House Sep 20, 2023. Awaiting Senate action.

Roll calls

1 vote on this bill

Showing 1 of 1 roll calls

  • Sep 20, 2023HouseOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as AmendedFinal passagePassed, yea-nay 423–0
    Roll call 401 tally by party
    PartyYeaNayPresentNot voting
    Democrats209003
    Republicans213007
    Independents1000
    Total4230010

    House roll call 401: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended. Passed.

    How each member voted (433)

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

5

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

76 points earned
  1. 1Morgan Luttrell R-TX SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reported, passed House4 events+56
  2. 2Stephanie Bice R-OKCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  3. 2Julia Brownley D-CACosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  4. 2Morgan McGarvey D-KYCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  5. 2Chris Pappas D-NHCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Morgan Luttrell

History

  1. Sep 20, 2023Passed the House, 423–0.
  2. Mar 10, 2023Introduced in the House by Morgan Luttrell.
Show the full action history (19 actions)
  1. Sep 21, 2023Received in the Senate.
  2. Sep 20, 2023Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4426-4427)
  3. Sep 20, 2023Passed/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): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 401). (text: 9/18/2023 CR H4358-4359)
  4. Sep 20, 2023On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 401). (text: 9/18/2023 CR H4358-4359)
  5. Sep 20, 2023Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. Sep 18, 2023Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  7. Sep 18, 2023Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4358-4361)
  8. Sep 18, 2023DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1530.
  9. Sep 18, 2023At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Bost objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
  10. Sep 14, 2023Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 118-199.
  11. Sep 14, 2023Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 162.
  12. Apr 28, 2023Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged.
  13. Apr 28, 2023Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  14. Apr 28, 2023Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  15. Apr 19, 2023Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  16. Mar 29, 2023Subcommittee Hearings Held.
  17. Mar 28, 2023Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  18. Mar 10, 2023Introduced in House
  19. Mar 10, 2023Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.