US Congress · 119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 1286In Second Chamber

Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act

Source of recordUS Congress · congress.govLast synced Jul 14, 2026

Chamber

House

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became Law

Overview

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work with a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) to review and simplify the forms veterans use to apply for benefits. The FFRDC will assess these forms and provide recommendations to the VA on how to make them clearer and more organized. The VA must then implement these recommendations within two years, aiming to improve the veteran claims process.

Key provisions

The VA must seek an agreement with an FFRDC.
The FFRDC will assess VA forms used for benefit claims.
The assessment must include recommendations for clarity and organization.
The VA must submit the assessment to Congress.
The VA must implement the recommendations within two years.
The assessment process must involve consultation with various stakeholders.
The definition of ‘covered entities’ includes veterans service organizations and veteran advocates.

Who is affected

Veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers
Veterans Service Organizations
Advocacy Groups for Veterans

Notable changes

The VA will utilize an external expert (FFRDC) to evaluate and improve benefit claim forms.
A formalized process is established for gathering recommendations on form clarity and organization.

Bill text

Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.

Feb 13, 2025XMLView source

Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.

Legislative history

20 recorded actions · showing the most recent 12

May 17, 2025House

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 73.

May 17, 2025House

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-100.

May 17, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-100.

May 19, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

May 19, 2025House

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 386 - 1 (Roll no. 133). (text: CR H2125)

May 19, 2025

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): 386 - 1 (Roll no. 133). (text: CR H2125)

May 19, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2136-2137)

May 19, 2025House

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.

May 19, 2025House

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1286.

May 19, 2025House

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2124-2126)

May 19, 2025House

Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

May 20, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Votes

Recorded roll calls and chamber actions on this bill.

Vote map

US House by district

Loading map data

Updating map data

0 districts with vote data

Nay

Yea

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Recorded roll calls

Geography

Recorded positions across the country.

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments

Reasons offered for and against this legislation.

Arguments in favor

No arguments in favor have been submitted.

Submit yours

Arguments opposed

No arguments opposed have been submitted.

Submit yours

Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act

Progress