WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Congressman David Valadao’s (CA-22) bill, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act. This legislation would standardize software the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses to process benefit claims and streamline the process to ensure no veterans or survivors are left behind when seeking benefits they have earned.

Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) originally introduced this bill in the 118^th Congress.

“Our veterans put their lives on the line to defend our nation, and they shouldn’t have to fight another battle just to access the benefits they’ve earned,” said Congressman Valadao. “The VA’s current claims system is inefficient, creates backlogs, and burdens veterans and their families with unnecessary paperwork. House passage of my bill is an important step to expand automation tools, streamline the process, and ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get it across the finish line.”

Congressman Valadao spoke on the House Floor during debate on his legislation. Watch his remarks here or read as prepared below:

Mr. Speaker,

I rise to urge support for my bill, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Act.

Our veterans put their lives on the line to defend this country. When they come home, they shouldn’t have to fight another battle just to get the benefits they’ve earned.

Unfortunately, outdated systems at the VA are causing unnecessary delays that create real hardships for both veterans and their families.

To speed up disability claims, the VA has used automation tools like AI to draft letters and gather documents. But that same technology hasn’t been applied to other types of claims, such as pensions or survivors’ benefits. 

This has led to growing backlogs and, in some cases, missed benefits altogether.

My bill takes steps to fix this. It requires the VA to expand the use of automation tools, ensure documents are properly labeled in the system, and improve coordination between offices. 

It also directs the VA to use these tools for pensions and survivors’ benefits so families aren’t left behind.

By improving coordination across the VA and other federal agencies, we can also reduce overpayments and prevent families from being hit with unexpected debt notices.

This is a commonsense bill that will help ensure veterans and survivors receive the benefits they deserve in a timely and efficient manner, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support.

I also want to thank Chairman Bost and his staff at the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs for their work on this important bill.

Thank you, and I yield back.

Background:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has several offices that handle different types of benefits claims. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) processes claims, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals reviews denied claims, and the Debt Management Center handles debts caused by VA overpayments. Throughout the claims and appeals process, VA employees gather evidence, send letters to veterans and survivors, and make decisions based on the evidence. To speed up disability claims, the VA has used AI tools to draft letters and gather key documents. However, these tools haven’t been extended to other claims like pensions or survivors’ benefits which leads to long delays—sometimes years—for those decisions. Claims processing is also slowed by mislabeled documents in VA’s electronic system which can cause delays or even missed evidence that could support a veteran’s claim.

Read the full bill here.

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