US Congress House Bill 2288 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Passed on August 23 2017 - 100% progression
Action: 2017-08-23 - Became Public Law No: 115-55. (TXT | PDF)
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [PDF]

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 This bill revises the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims appeals system. The bill permits a veteran to appeal within one year by: (1) requesting a review of the agency of original jurisdiction's (AOJ) decision by a higher-level adjudicator within AOJ using the same evidentiary record; (2) filing a supplemental claim with a regional office that includes the opportunity to submit additional evidence and have a hearing; or (3) appealing directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, with the opportunity to select an expedited review to submit new evidence but without a hearing, or to select a review with the option to submit new evidence and request a hearing. A veteran may: (1) maintain the original effective date of a claim if he or she submits new and relevant evidence within one year of the most recent decision, and (2) retain the services of attorneys and accredited agents who charge a fee when the AOJ provides notice of the original decision. The VA's statutory duty to assist a veteran terminates after the original decision. The bill: (1) requires the VA to issue decision notification letters, (2) permits certain veterans who initiated an appeal prior to the bill's effective date to opt-in to the modernized appeals system, (3) authorizes the VA to conduct a pilot program to test such system, and (4) requires the VA, prior to full implementation, to certify to Congress that it has sufficient resources and personnel to carry out the legacy and modernized appeals systems.

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017

Rep. Mike Bost [R-IL]	Rep. Elizabeth Esty [D-CT]	Rep. David Roe [R-TN]	Rep. Timothy Walz [D-MN]
Rep. Gus Bilirakis [R-FL]	Rep. Mark Takano [D-CA]	Rep. Mike Coffman [R-CO]	Rep. Julia Brownley [D-CA]
Rep. Brad Wenstrup [R-OH]	Rep. Ann Kuster [D-NH]	Rep. Amata Radewagen [R-AS]	Rep. Beto O'Rourke [D-TX]
Rep. Bruce Poliquin [R-ME]	Rep. Kathleen Rice [D-NY]	Rep. Neal Dunn [R-FL]	Rep. Luis Correa [D-CA]
Rep. Jody Arrington [R-TX]	Rep. Gregorio Sablan [D-MP]	Rep. John Rutherford [R-FL]	Rep. Scott Peters [D-CA]
Rep. Clay Higgins [R-LA]	Rep. Jack Bergman [R-MI]	Rep. Jim Banks [R-IN]	Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon [R-PR]
Rep. Dina Titus [D-NV]	Rep. Ryan Costello [R-PA]	Rep. Earl Carter [R-GA]

2017-05-23 - House - On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended RC# 273 (Y: 418 N: 0 NV: 12 Abs: 0) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2017-08-23	Senate	Became Public Law No: 115-55. (TXT | PDF)
2017-08-23	Senate	Signed by President.
2017-08-11	Senate	Presented to President.
2017-08-11	Senate	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2017-08-11	Senate	On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H6595-6601; text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H6595-6601)
2017-08-11	Senate	Mrs. Comstock asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendment.
2017-08-02	Senate	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2017-08-01	Senate	Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
2017-08-01	Senate	S.Amdt.745 Amendment SA 745 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
2017-08-01	Senate	S.Amdt.745 Amendment SA 745 proposed by Senator Portman for Senator Isakson. (consideration: CR S4687; text: CR S4674-4680) In the nature of a substitute.
2017-08-01	Senate	Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4687)
2017-08-01	Senate	Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
2017-05-24	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2017-05-23	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2017-05-23	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 273). (text: CR H4457-4463)
2017-05-23	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4483)
2017-05-23	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.
2017-05-23	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2288.
2017-05-23	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4457-4466)
2017-05-23	House	Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2017-05-19	House	Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 84.
2017-05-19	House	Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-135.
2017-05-17	House	Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
2017-05-17	House	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2017-05-02	House	Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2017-05-02	House	Introduced in House

SB1024 (Related) 2017-07-10 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2288/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2288/BILLS-115hr2288ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2288/BILLS-115hr2288rh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2288/BILLS-115hr2288eh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2288/BILLS-115hr2288eas.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2288/BILLS-115hr2288enr.pdf
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017273