MERCED, CA — Congressman John Duarte (CA-13), along with a bipartisan group of his colleagues, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12), Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04), Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), and Congressman Don Davis (NC-05), recently introduced the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act (HR 7816), which requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract with a third-party to develop and then implement recommendations to improve written communications with veterans—called Notice Letters—so that they are shorter and easier to understand for veterans and their families.
Congressman John Duarte issued the following statement:
“The process by which veterans apply for and receive the benefits they earned in the course of their duty and service to this grateful nation is at best complicated, and at worst, broken. The VA should be able to clearly and concisely inform veterans of the status of their veterans benefits and claims, and yet, these written notifications can lead to more questions. This is unacceptable.
My bill, the Clear Communications for Veterans Claims Act, seeks to ensure that the VA clearly and concisely communicates with veterans on the status of their benefits claims, and other applications so they can make informed decisions about the next steps they may need to pursue to obtain the benefits and support they have rightfully earned.”
Members of Congress co-sponsoring the bill issued the following statements:
“For many veterans, filing a disability compensation claim for benefits from VA is one of the most important steps they’ll take after serving our country. Navigating this process should not be painstakingly difficult and confusing, like we’ve heard far too often that it can be. That’s why I am pleased to see my colleague and friend, Rep. Duarte, introduce theClear Communication For Veterans Claims Act, to ensure that VA’s notice letters for disability claims are straightforward and easy for veterans to understand, without the confusing legal jargon that we know can cause veterans and their survivors undue anxiety and stress.”
- Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost
“Every day, my office hears from veterans who are struggling to access the benefits they’ve earned because of confusing processes and overcomplicated documents. I’m proud to be leading bipartisan legislation with Congressman John Duarte that would simplify the Department of Veterans Affairs’ correspondence with our nation’s heroes and cut out the complicated legal jargon. By ensuring that the VA communicates clearly and concisely with our veterans, we can improve access to critical services for veterans across the country.”
- Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski
“Too often our veterans and their families struggle with bureaucratic red tape to get their hard-earned benefits. The Clear Communications for Veterans Act would improve this often confusing process and make it easier for veterans to navigate the benefits process. I’m grateful for Rep. Duarte’s leadership on this important issue.”
- Congressman David Valadao
“The Clear Communications for Veterans Claims Act will bring much needed aid to our veterans by making claims easier and more intuitive at the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am proud to support the brave men and women in Miami who put their lives on the line for our country by making their benefits claim experience as efficient and consumer friendly as possible."
- Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar
Background and Summary of the Clear Communications for Veterans Claims Act
- Veterans and their families often struggle with the complexity of correspondence, often called Notice Letters, from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) regarding benefits decisions, including those related to education, healthcare, and other services. The complexity of these correspondence can be confusing, which can be frustrating for veterans and increase stress levels.
- The Clear Communications for Veterans Claims Act (HR 7816) would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve V.A. Notice Letters so that they are shorter and easier to understand for veterans and their families. Specifically, HR 7816:
- Requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) to assess Notice Letters within 30 days after the Act’s enactment; and
- Requires the Secretary, within 90 days of receiving the assessment, to submit the recommendations from the FFRDC to the Committees on Veterans Affairs in the Senate and the House, and to implement these recommendations.
Additional Information
Link to Summary
Bill Text
