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Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024

USA118th CongressS-2513| Senate 
| Updated: 12/23/2024
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (1)
Jerry Moran (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024 This act 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 act 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 act 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. 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 three years. The act extends and increases by one the temporary increase in the maximum number of judges presiding over the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Finally, the VA must report on improving access to telehearings for Board of Veterans' Appeals hearings.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3388
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2021
Jul 26, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Jul 26, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sep 21, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-1530
Received in the Senate.
Dec 12, 2024
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 12, 2024
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7011-7013)
Dec 12, 2024
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7043)
Dec 12, 2024
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 13, 2024
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 16, 2024
Received in the House.
Dec 16, 2024
Held at the desk.
Dec 16, 2024
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 16, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7207-7209)
Dec 16, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2513.
Dec 16, 2024
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7207-7208)
Dec 16, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7207-7208)
Dec 16, 2024
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 23, 2024
Presented to President.
Dec 23, 2024
Signed by President.
Dec 23, 2024
Became Public Law No: 118-196.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3388
    Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2021


  • July 26, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 26, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • September 21, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-1530
    Received in the Senate.


  • December 12, 2024
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 12, 2024
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7011-7013)


  • December 12, 2024
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7043)


  • December 12, 2024
    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 13, 2024
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 16, 2024
    Received in the House.


  • December 16, 2024
    Held at the desk.


  • December 16, 2024
    Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 16, 2024
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7207-7209)


  • December 16, 2024
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2513.


  • December 16, 2024
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7207-7208)


  • December 16, 2024
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7207-7208)


  • December 16, 2024
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 23, 2024
    Presented to President.


  • December 23, 2024
    Signed by President.


  • December 23, 2024
    Became Public Law No: 118-196.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 118-1530: Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023
Intergovernmental relationsPublic contracts and procurementVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensation

Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024

USA118th CongressS-2513| Senate 
| Updated: 12/23/2024
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024 This act 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 act 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 act 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. 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 three years. The act extends and increases by one the temporary increase in the maximum number of judges presiding over the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Finally, the VA must report on improving access to telehearings for Board of Veterans' Appeals hearings.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3388
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2021
Jul 26, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Jul 26, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sep 21, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-1530
Received in the Senate.
Dec 12, 2024
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 12, 2024
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7011-7013)
Dec 12, 2024
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7043)
Dec 12, 2024
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 13, 2024
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 16, 2024
Received in the House.
Dec 16, 2024
Held at the desk.
Dec 16, 2024
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 16, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7207-7209)
Dec 16, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2513.
Dec 16, 2024
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7207-7208)
Dec 16, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7207-7208)
Dec 16, 2024
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 23, 2024
Presented to President.
Dec 23, 2024
Signed by President.
Dec 23, 2024
Became Public Law No: 118-196.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3388
    Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2021


  • July 26, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 26, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • September 21, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-1530
    Received in the Senate.


  • December 12, 2024
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 12, 2024
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7011-7013)


  • December 12, 2024
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7043)


  • December 12, 2024
    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 13, 2024
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 16, 2024
    Received in the House.


  • December 16, 2024
    Held at the desk.


  • December 16, 2024
    Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 16, 2024
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7207-7209)


  • December 16, 2024
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2513.


  • December 16, 2024
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7207-7208)


  • December 16, 2024
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7207-7208)


  • December 16, 2024
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 23, 2024
    Presented to President.


  • December 23, 2024
    Signed by President.


  • December 23, 2024
    Became Public Law No: 118-196.
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (1)
Jerry Moran (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 118-1530: Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Intergovernmental relationsPublic contracts and procurementVeterans' medical careVeterans' pensions and compensation