# 119-hr-1286: Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act

119-hr-1286, Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8] (R-PA); status passed_house; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1286
- As of: 2026-07-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1286
- Congress: 119
- Title: Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act
- Status: passed_house
- Introduced: 2025-02-13
- Sponsor: Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8] (R-PA)
- Cosponsors: 18
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-15

## Summary

**Simplify and clarify VA benefits forms** by requiring an independent assessment from a federally funded research and development center and implementing its recommendations. It would also move a pension payment limit deadline from November 30, 2031 to December 31, 2031. - Claimants (veterans and survivors) would get clearer, better-organized forms aimed at making benefits easier to file for and understand. Recommended changes must be implemented within 2 years after the VA begins implementation. - The Department of Veterans Affairs would contract with an FFRDC to perform an independent assessment in consultation with defined experts and advocates. The VA must submit the assessment to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committees within 90 days of receipt and implement recommendations that comply with law. - Veterans service organizations and survivor advocates are named consultation partners, giving them a formal role in shaping form redesign. - People affected by pension payment limits would see the relevant deadline extended by one month to December 31, 2031.

## Cosponsors (18)

- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (R-IL), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22] (R-CA), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9] (R-PA), 2025-02-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] (R-PA), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] (R-TX), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15] (R-TX), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3] (R-AR), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] (R-MN), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48] (R-CA), 2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV), 2025-03-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] (R-CA), 2025-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2] (R-AR), 2025-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25] (R-TX), 2025-05-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7] (R-MN), 2025-05-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-05-19T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended | Passed | 386 | 1 |

## Provisions PRIA read

- Outside review to simplify VA claim forms: benefit, low. If enacted, VA would seek to hire a federally funded research center within 30 days to review benefit claim forms. The center would consult VA, a legal expert, a recognized veterans service group, and advocates for veterans and survivors. The review would recommend how to make forms clearer and bet…
- VA pension payment limits extended: cost, low. If enacted, current limits on some VA pension payments would run through December 31, 2031, instead of November 30, 2031. This would apply only if your pension is limited under 38 U.S.C. 5503(d)(7). The change would take effect upon enactment.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7567: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
- 119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
- 119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025
- 119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-1286 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1286)

## Related
- [119-hr-7567: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7567)
- [119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1422)
- [119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-452)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-979)
- [119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-909)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1286 (as of 2026-07-15).