119-hr2278

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2278 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2278

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to improve equitable access to certain benefits under 
 the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to 
 improve certain outreach to individuals who served uniformed services 
 and dependents of such individuals, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 March 21, 2025

 Mr. Takano introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to improve equitable access to certain benefits under 
 the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to 
 improve certain outreach to individuals who served uniformed services 
 and dependents of such individuals, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Survivor Benefits Delivery 
Improvement Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CERTAIN BENEFITS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
 AFFAIRS FOR SURVIVORS OF VETERANS.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Survivor 
Benefits Data Collection Act of 2025''.

    (b) Collection of Demographic Data.--

    (1) Collection.--Chapter 53 of title 38, United States 
 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section 
 (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such 
 chapter accordingly):
``

Sec. 5322. Demographic data of certain beneficiaries
 ``

    (a) Collection.--The Secretary, in consultation with the entities 
described in subsection

    (b) , shall--
 ``

    (1) develop a method to collect the demographic data of--
 ``
        (A) each covered survivor receiving disability 
 and indemnity compensation under chapter 13 of this 
 title, pension under chapter 15 of this title, or 
 increased pension (or additional compensation or 
 allowances) under this title based on the need of 
 regular aid and attendance or by reason of being 
 permanently housebound; and
 ``
        (B) each person who receives burial benefits 
 under chapter 23 of this title; and
 ``

    (2) collect demographic data pursuant to the method 
 developed under paragraph

    (1) .
 ``

    (b) Entities for Consultation.--The entities described in this 
subsection are the following:
 ``

    (1) The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans 
 established under 

section 544 of this title.
 ``

    (2) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans established 
 under 

section 542 of this title.
 ``

    (3) The Veterans' Family, Caregiver, and Survivor 
 Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or 
 successor advisory committee.
 ``

    (4) Veterans service organizations.
 ``
            (c) Designation of Underserved Demographics.--The Secretary 
shall--
 ``

    (1) designate as an underserved demographic any 
 demographic the Secretary determines, taking into account the 
 demographic data collected under subsection

    (a) , is underserved 
 with respect to the benefits specified in such subsection; and
 ``

    (2) review such designations on at least a biennial basis 
 and update as appropriate.
 ``
            (d) Inclusion in Annual Reports.--For each annual benefits report 
of the Veterans Benefits Administration, the Secretary shall include as 
part of the report information concerning the demographic data 
collected under subsection

    (a) during the fiscal year covered by the 
report.
 ``

    (e) Effect on Application.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as requiring any person to submit demographic data or as 
authorizing the Secretary to consider whether a person submits 
demographic data in evaluating any claim for benefits under the laws 
administered by the Secretary.
 ``

    (f) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) The term `covered survivor' means a surviving spouse, 
 child, or parent of a veteran.
 ``

    (2) The term `demographic data' includes, with respect to 
 an individual, the following:
 ``
        (A) Race.
 ``
        (B) Ethnicity.
 ``
            (C) Tribal affiliation, if any.
 ``
            (D) LGBTQIA+ status.
 ``
        (E) Geographic location.
 ``

    (3) The term `veterans service organization' means any 
 organization recognized by the Secretary under 

section 5902 of 
 this title.''.

    (2) Deadlines; applicability.--
        (A) Deadline for collection.--The Secretary of 
 Veterans Affairs shall develop the data collection 
 method under subsection

    (a) of 

section 5322 of title 
 38, United States Code (as added by paragraph

    (1) ), and 
 commence the collection of data pursuant to such 
 method, by not later than 180 days after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act.
        (B) Deadline for initial designations.--The 
 Secretary shall make the initial designation of any 
 underserved demographics under subsection
            (c) of such 
 

section 5322 by not later than one year after the date 
 on which the Secretary commences the collection of data 
 under subsection

    (a) of such section.
            (C) Applicability regarding annual reports.--The 
 requirement under subsection
            (d) of such 

section 5322 
 shall apply with respect to annual benefits reports of 
 the Veterans Benefits Administration submitted on or 
 after the date that is one year after the date on which 
 the Secretary commences the collection of data under 
 subsection

    (a) of such section.
            (c) Outreach and Education.--

    (1) Strategy for underserved demographics.--Not later than 
 one year after the date of initial designation, the Secretary 
 shall develop and submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
 of the Senate and House of Representatives an outreach and 
 education strategy for raising awareness regarding the benefits 
 specified in 

section 5322

    (a) of title 38, United States Code 
 (as added by subsection

    (b) ), among covered survivors who 
 belong to an underserved demographic.

    (2) Eligibility of veterans for certain burial benefits.--
        (A) Outreach plan.--Not later than 180 days after 
 the date of initial designation, the Under Secretary 
 for Memorial Affairs shall develop and submit to the 
 Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
 Representatives and the Senate an outreach strategy for 
 raising awareness regarding eligibility for burial in a 
 national cemetery under 

section 2303 of title 38, 
 United States Code, among veterans and beneficiaries 
 who belong to an underserved demographic.
        (B) Education activities.--The Under Secretary 
 shall carry out education activities pursuant to the 
 plan developed under subparagraph
        (A) to ensure that 
 the veterans and beneficiaries specified in such 
 paragraph are made aware of any eligibility specified 
 in such subparagraph.
            (C) Reports.--Not later than one year after the 
 date of initial designation, and annually thereafter 
 for five years, the Under Secretary shall submit to the 
 Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
 Representatives and the Senate a report on the efforts 
 taken by the Under Secretary pursuant to this 
 paragraph.

    (3) === Definitions. ===
-In this subsection:
        (A) The term ``covered survivor'' has the meanings 
 given that term in 

section 5322

    (e) of title 38, United 
 States Code (as added by subsection

    (b) ).
        (B) The term ``date of initial designation'' means 
 the date on which the Secretary makes the initial 
 designation of any underserved demographics.
            (C) The term ``underserved demographic'' means a 
 demographic designated as an underserved demographic by 
 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under 

section 5322
            (c) of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection

    (b) ).
            (d) Assessment and Strategy for Office of Survivors Assistance.--
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall--

    (1) conduct an assessment of the resources of the Office of 
 Survivors Assistance of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or 
 any successor office; and

    (2) develop a strategy to ensure the availability of 
 resources necessary for the function of such office, as 
 determined by the Secretary as a result of the assessment.

SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO OUTREACH SERVICES PROVIDED BY SECRETARY OF 
 VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED IN THE 
 UNIFORMED SERVICES AND DEPENDENTS OF SUCH INDIVIDUALS.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Survivor Solid 
Start Act of 2025''.

    (b) Expansion of Outreach Services.--Subchapter I of chapter 63 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in 

section 6301

    (b) --
        (A) by redesignating paragraphs

    (1) through

    (3) as 
 paragraphs

    (2) through

    (4) , respectively;
        (B) by inserting before paragraph

    (2) (as so 
 redesignated) the following new paragraph:
 ``

    (1) the term `covered individual' means--
 ``
        (A) a veteran; or
 ``
        (B) an individual who served in the uniformed 
 services (as defined in 

section 1965

    (6) of this 
 title);'';
            (C) in paragraph

    (2) (as so redesignated), by 
 striking ``veterans'' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``covered individuals''; and
            (D) in paragraph

    (4) (as so redesignated), by 
 striking ``a person who served in the active military, 
 naval, air, or space service'' and inserting ``a 
 covered individual'';

    (2) in 

section 6302

    (b) , by striking ``eligible veterans'' 
 each place it appears and inserting ``covered individuals'';

    (3) in 

section 6303--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) , by striking ``eligible 
 veterans'' and inserting ``covered individuals'';
        (B) in subsection
            (c) (1)
        (A) , by striking ``eligible 
 veterans'' and inserting ``covered individuals'';
            (C) in subsection
            (c) (2) , by striking ``veteran or 
 dependent'' each place it appears and inserting 
 ``covered individual or eligible dependent''; and
            (D) in subsection
            (d) , by striking ``veterans'' and 
 inserting ``covered individuals'';

    (4) in 

section 6306--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) , by striking ``eligible 
 veteran'' and inserting ``covered individual''; and
        (B) in subsection

    (b) --
            (i) by striking ``opportunities for 
 veterans'' and inserting ``opportunities for 
 covered individuals''; and
            (ii) by striking ``eligible veterans'' and 
 inserting ``covered individuals''; and

    (5) in 

section 6308, by adding at the end the following new 
 subsection:
 ``
            (c) Outreach Services for Surviving Eligible Dependents.--

    (1)
        (A) Upon receipt of notification of the death of a covered individual, the 
Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Benefits, shall 
provide outreach services, by mail, email, and telephone, to each 
eligible dependent of such individual not less than once each quarter 
calendar year until the eligible dependent files a claim for a benefit 
under laws administered by the Secretary.
 ``
        (B) In the case of an eligible dependent described in 
subparagraph
        (A) who is a minor child, the Secretary shall provide such 
outreach services to the legal guardian of the eligible dependent.
 ``
            (C) If the Secretary does not have the contact information of an 
eligible dependent or legal guardian described in subparagraph
        (A) or
        (B) , the Secretary shall make reasonable efforts to obtain such contact 
information to carry out this subsection.
 ``
            (D) An eligible dependent or legal guardian described in 
subparagraph
        (A) or
        (B) may elect to not receive, or to receive fewer, 
outreach services under this subsection. Not less than once each 
calendar year, the Secretary shall notify each such eligible dependent 
or legal guardian of the option to make such an election.
 ``

    (2) Outreach services under this subsection shall provide an 
eligible dependent with information including the following:
 ``
        (A) Contact information for the Office of Survivors 
 Assistance established under 

section 321 of this title.
 ``
        (B) Information regarding assistance in filing a claim 
 for a benefit under laws administered by the Secretary 
 furnished by--
 ``
            (i) a veterans service organization recognized 
 under 

section 5902 of this title; or
 ``
            (ii) an attorney, agent, or other entity 
 recognized under 

section 5904 of this title.
 ``
            (C) How to find an entity--
 ``
            (i) described in clause
            (i) or
            (ii) of 
 subparagraph
        (B) ; and
 ``
            (ii) located near the residence of the eligible 
 dependent.
 ``

    (3) In developing and revising materials used in outreach 
services under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with 
entities including the following:
 ``
        (A) Veterans service organizations recognized under 
 

section 5902 of this title.
 ``
        (B) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans established 
 under 

section 542 of this title.
 ``
            (C) The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans 
 established under 

section 544 of this title.
 ``
            (D) The Veterans' Family, Caregiver, and Survivor 
 Advisory Committee of the Department, or successor advisory 
 committee.''.
            (c) Personnel.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 
at least 5, but not more than 10, full-time equivalent positions at 
call centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
subsection
            (c) of 

section 6308 of such title, as added by subsection

    (b) .
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