Mike Bost

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 6656, as amended.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6656, offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), my good friend and colleague. The Stuck on Hold Act would require the VA to implement an automated callback system. This bill would inform veterans of the expected wait time for their call to be answered. This change would make life easier for veterans while ensuring the VA responds to them in a timely manner. During my time in Congress, I have long heard horror stories from veterans about waiting on hold for over an hour to talk to someone at the VA. That is unacceptable in today's digital age, and the VA needs to do better. Representative Calvert's bill is in lockstep with the House Republicans' effort to modernize VA care and services. I thank the VFW and DAV for their support of this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6656, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6656) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Commissioner of Social Security to implement automated systems with callback functionality for each customer service telephone line of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration, respectively, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 522) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide or assist in providing a vehicle adapted for operation by disabled individuals to certain eligible persons, to pay expenses associated with the delivery of such vehicle, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 522, as amended.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Ask that question again. I am sorry.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7816, as amended. This bill was introduced by my colleague, Representative Duarte, and I am a proud cosponsor. This bill, H.R. 7816, as amended, would require VA to contract with a research entity to improve the notice letters VA sends to veterans and survivors who file claims for VA benefits. VA is required to provide information throughout the VA claims process to veterans and their survivors who have filed claims for VA benefits. However, at a recent oversight hearing, we heard from veterans and their advocates that VA's notice letters are difficult to understand, too long, filled with legal jargon, and contained information that is not relevant to a veteran's or survivor's overall claim. These complex letters have caused veterans and survivors confusion and stress. Some have become so overwhelmed that they abandon their claims. This is unacceptable. As a veteran myself, I have also received these complex letters. A veteran shouldn't have to be a Member of Congress or an attorney to understand his or her rights under the claims process. H.R. 7816, as amended, would ensure that VA's notice letters do not discourage veterans from accessing the benefits they have earned. This legislation would ensure that VA sends veterans and survivors understandable notice letters so that they can make informed decisions about their claims. I thank the veterans service organizations for their support and help in drafting this bill. I also thank Ranking Member Takano and his staff for working with Representative Duarte and me to make the changes necessary to move this bill forward. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7816, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7816) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center for an assessment of notice letters that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 7816, as amended.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Duarte), our colleague who is the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7342, offered by my friend and colleague, Congressman David Valadao of California. This bill would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access. The committee would advise the VA Secretary on how to improve access to VA services, programs, and facilities for veterans living with disabilities to enhance their experience at VA. The committee would rightfully bring together veterans with disabilities, subject matter experts, VA employees, and representatives of veterans service organizations to get to the heart of the matter. Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that this is long overdue. Americans with disabilities are entitled to equal access to healthcare and benefits nationwide, and that includes at VA. Congress made that very clear through the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws, but veterans with disabilities are still being shortchanged far too often. We know these accessible gaps still exist because of the work of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Blinded Veterans Association, other VSOs and advocacy groups, and the work of this committee. I thank them for their collaboration with Congress on this legislation. Their only focus is to eliminate barriers and achieve universal access and equality for veterans living with disabilities. This is an important goal, and I believe the advisory committee is well justified. I also share many of my colleagues' concerns about the growth of advisory committees in the Federal Government. There are simply too many. That is why this legislation would direct VA to eliminate or consolidate an inactive advisory committee. This bill is a reasonable step forward to use VA resources wisely and ultimately improve access for veterans living with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 7342, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao), who has sponsored the bill.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7342) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes as amended.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation to improve access to VA services for veterans with disabilities, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 7342, as amended.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 7777.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7777) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2024, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4190) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to repay the estates of deceased beneficiaries for certain benefits paid by the Secretary and misused by fiduciaries of such beneficiaries, as amended.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6324) to authorize major medical facility projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2024, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 6324, as amended.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaLota), the sponsor of the bill.