Skip to main content
HR 2935 117th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Administrative law and regulatory procedures Administrative remedies Computers and information technology Congressional oversight Debt collection Department of Veterans Affairs Government information and archives Health information and medical records Performance measurement User charges and fees Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation Veterans' medical care Veterans' pensions and compensation

VA Beneficiary Debt Collection Improvement Act

Introduced: April 30, 2021 Introduced by: Pappas, Chris Democratic · New Hampshire See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 4, 2021
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 6.
May 4, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 4, 2021
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Discharged.
May 3, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Apr 30, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr 30, 2021
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

VA Beneficiary Debt Collection Improvement Act

This bill addresses the administration of debt related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and benefits.

Specifically, the bill prohibits an individual from incurring a debt to the United States that arises from participation in a VA benefits program and is attributable to the failure of the VA to process information according to its timeliness standards.

The VA must notify an individual if it has made an overpayment to the individual and include in the notice information on the right to dispute the overpayment or request a waiver of indebtedness. The VA is prohibited from taking action regarding an overpayment until 90 days after the notice is issued, except in specified circumstances.

The VA is prohibited from charging interest or administrative costs for debts related to its disability compensation program, pension program, or educational assistance program.

The bill extends from 180 days to one year the deadline by which an individual may request a waiver for relief from paying a debt related to VA benefits.

Additionally, the VA is prohibited from seeking to recover a debt if it determines the cost to the VA to recover the debt would exceed the amount of the debt itself.

The VA must establish an administrative process for the dispute of a debt's existence or the amount of the debt. The VA is prohibited from deducting from an individual's VA benefits to offset a debt if the amount of the debt is being disputed.

What's happening now May 4, 2021

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 6.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1