Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/3835
Last Updated: July 22, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

ID: B001295

Follow the money

The bill

Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025

HR. 3835, 119th Congress.

The sponsor

Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$104,500 raised

27 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

64% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Introduction" section, p. 679-681 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held

June 23, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 - because nothing says "efficiency" like adding more bureaucracy and paperwork to an already bloated system.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** This bill is a masterclass in legislative doublespeak, claiming to improve the efficiency of adjudications and appeals for veterans' benefits. In reality, it's just another attempt to paper over the systemic failures of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more reports, guidelines, and tracking requirements.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:**

* Requires the Secretary of VA to submit annual reports on the length of adjudications and appeals, because apparently, nobody has been keeping track of this information before. * Creates new guidelines for advancing cases on the docket of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, which will undoubtedly lead to more delays and inefficiencies. * Mandates the use of technology to track and maintain information on certain claims, because the VA's current system is clearly not broken enough. * Expands the authority of the Board of Veterans' Appeals to aggregate certain claims, because who needs individualized attention when you can just lump everything together?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:**

* Veterans: The supposed beneficiaries of this bill will likely see little to no improvement in their experiences with the VA. Instead, they'll be subjected to more bureaucratic red tape and delays. * Department of Veterans Affairs: The VA gets to add more layers of complexity to its already Byzantine system, ensuring that it remains a bloated, inefficient behemoth. * Congress: Lawmakers get to pat themselves on the back for "doing something" about veterans' issues, while actually accomplishing nothing.

**Potential Impact & Implications:**

* More delays and inefficiencies in the adjudication and appeals process * Increased bureaucracy and paperwork burdens on the VA and veterans * A continued lack of accountability and transparency within the VA * A further erosion of trust between veterans and the government

In short, this bill is a classic example of legislative theater, designed to create the illusion of action while accomplishing nothing meaningful. It's a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, a drop in the ocean of bureaucratic incompetence that plagues our nation's capital.

Related Topics

Military & Veterans Affairs
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$104,500
19 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$12,100
Committees
$0
Individuals
$92,400

No PAC contributions found

1
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$6,600
2
MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
1 transaction
$2,000
3
CAMPBELL FARMS
1 transaction
$1,500
4
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
2 transactions
$1,500
5
WAITE, TOMB & EBERLY LLP
1 transaction
$500

No committee contributions found

1
EMMET, RICHARD
4 transactions
$23,100
2
GILLIAM, RICHARD
2 transactions
$9,900
3
SCHWAB, CHARLES
1 transaction
$6,600
4
STERN, ELIZABETH MAY
1 transaction
$6,600
5
WEEKLEY, RICHARD
1 transaction
$6,600
6
BRADLEY, JACQUELINE
1 transaction
$6,600
7
BUKOWSKY, BRANT N. MR.
2 transactions
$6,600
8
BUKOWSKY, BROCK R. MR.
2 transactions
$6,600
9
BUKOWSKY, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$3,300
10
DONOHO, KIMBERLY K. MRS.
1 transaction
$3,300
11
FLINT, ETHAN
1 transaction
$3,300
12
GREENBLATT, SCOTT
1 transaction
$3,300
13
HOPKINS, JUSTIN MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
14
MCINERNEY, THOMAS E.
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

ID: T000472

Top Contributors

10

1
SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION)
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$5,000
Mar 30, 2023
2
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Jun 28, 2023
3
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Jun 28, 2023
4
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA
OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
May 1, 2023
5
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$1,000
Oct 10, 2024
6
BECKER, TODD
LAW OFFICES OF TODD B BECKERATTORNEY
IndividualPASADENA, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2023
7
ELDRIDGE, SEAN
STAND UP AMERICAPRESIDENT
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 29, 2023
8
HUH, JIHEE
PAFCOVICE CHAIRMAN
IndividualROLLING HILLS, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2023
9
HUH, PETER
PAFCOCHAIRMAN
IndividualPALOS VERDES PENINSULA, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2023
10
LI, LI
MEBO INTERNATIONALPRESIDENT
IndividualARCADIA, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2023

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

ID: V000129

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Dec 20, 2023
4
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
5
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Feb 28, 2024
6
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Feb 28, 2024
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
May 25, 2023
8
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$3,300
Jun 29, 2024
9
MOORETOWN RANCHERIA
OrganizationOROVILLE, CA
$3,300
Sep 26, 2024
10
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Aug 16, 2024

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

ID: B001257

Top Contributors

10

1
COOL MASTER PRO LLC
OrganizationTAMPA, FL
$6,600
Mar 8, 2023
2
ARTECHE, LEON
V-ME MEDIA INC.CFO
IndividualDORAL, FL
$5,000
Jan 18, 2024
3
OF FLORIDA, SEMINOLE TRIBE
EMPLOYEE RECOGNIZED TRIBE
IndividualHOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Aug 2, 2024
4
LAGOS, JAMES H.
LAGOS LAGOS, PLLATTORNEY
IndividualSPRINGFIELD, OH
$3,300
Sep 9, 2024
5
RICE, WILLIAM LLOYD
FALFURRIAS CAPITAL PARTNERS
IndividualMINT HILL, NC
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
6
WANEK, RON
ASHLEY FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
IndividualTAMPA, FL
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
7
WANEK, TODD
ASHLEY FURNITURECEO
IndividualTAMPA, FL
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
8
WANEK, JOYCE
N/AN/A
IndividualTAMPA, FL
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
9
WANEK, KAREN
SUPERIOR FRESHOWNER
IndividualTAMPA, FL
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
10
HEPSCHER, WILLIAM S
RX MANAGE USABUSINESS OWNER
IndividualTAMPA, FL
$3,300
Oct 30, 2024

Rep. James, John [R-MI-10]

ID: J000307

Top Contributors

10

1
REPUBLICAN CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
COMSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$300
Oct 25, 2024
2
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,000
Dec 31, 2023
3
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBE
OrganizationLAS VEGAS, NV
$1,000
Dec 23, 2024
4
MWR CONSULTING
OrganizationCLARKSVILLE, MD
$1,000
Jan 31, 2023
5
SABBYS LOUNGE
OrganizationSAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI
$250
Sep 11, 2024
6
FAUST, ANNE
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualNEWTOWN SQUARE, PA
$6,600
Apr 30, 2024
7
COURTNEY, KRISTEN ANN
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualOKEMOS, MI
$6,600
May 1, 2024
8
DANIELS, GEORGE G.
DANIELS MANUFACTURING CORPEXECUTIVE
IndividualORLANDO, FL
$6,600
Jun 26, 2024
9
FAISON, JAY W.
CLEARPATH ACTION INCPRESIDENT
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$6,600
Jun 27, 2024
10
BRAY, STEVEN R.
POWER PLUSPRESIDENT / CEO
IndividualNEWPORT BEACH, CA
$6,600
Jun 30, 2024

Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

ID: B001298

Top Contributors

10

1
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$3,300
Mar 28, 2023
2
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 28, 2023
3
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 28, 2023
4
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Jun 27, 2023
5
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$3,300
Jun 30, 2024
6
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Jun 27, 2023
7
REPUBLICAN MAIN STREET PARTNERSHIP
OrganizationWASHINGTON, DC
$1,000
Jul 11, 2024
8
CARSON, RUSSELL S.
THE CARSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTPHILANTHROPY
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Apr 24, 2024
9
FRANK, JIM
2FILLCEXEC
IndividualWINNETKA, IL
$6,600
Apr 23, 2024
10
DANIELS, BRANDON
EXIGERCEO
IndividualRICHMOND, VA
$6,600
Apr 21, 2024

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

ID: L000599

Top Contributors

10

1
MURTAGH, COSSU, VENDITTI & CASTRO-BLANCO, LLP
OrganizationWHITE PLAINS, NY
$1,000
Feb 24, 2024
2
BATMASIAN, JAMES
INVESTMENTS LIMITEDOWNER
IndividualBOCA RATON, FL
$6,600
Sep 27, 2023
3
BATMASIAN, JAMES
IndividualBOCA RATON, FL
$6,600
Sep 29, 2023
4
AUSTIN, ROBERT
UNAKA CO., INC.BUSINESSMAN
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,600
Jul 18, 2024
5
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualSURFSIDE, FL
$6,534
Feb 15, 2024
6
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
IndividualSURFSIDE, FL
$6,534
Feb 22, 2024
7
SCALA, MARY ELLEN
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualPORT CHESTER, NY
$5,300
Aug 27, 2023
8
DEUTSCH, SHMULEY
SELFPRESIDENT
IndividualSPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,900
Jun 24, 2024
9
DEUTSCH, SHMULEY
IndividualSPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,900
Jun 25, 2024
10
PERLMUTTER, RAFUEL
GOLDEN TASTECEO
IndividualSPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,400
Jun 24, 2024

Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

ID: S001196

Top Contributors

10

1
MAGGIE'S LIST- EAMARKS
PACTAMPA, FL
$50
Oct 23, 2024
2
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, NY
$6,600
Mar 29, 2023
3
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, NY
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
4
SAN MANUAL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$2,000
Dec 31, 2023
5
FISHER, CYNTHIA A. MS.
PATIENTRIGHTSADVOCATE.ORGFOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN
IndividualPALM BEACH, FL
$6,600
Oct 10, 2023
6
BERK, MICHAEL
TA ASSOCIATESINVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
IndividualWEST NEWTON, MA
$6,600
Dec 27, 2023
7
CUTLER, ROBERT
C3CEO
IndividualLEAWOOD, KS
$6,600
Dec 27, 2023
8
DAVIS, ANN L.
N/AHOMEMAKER
IndividualATLANTA, GA
$6,600
Dec 30, 2023
9
KRAFT, DANIEL
THE KRAFT GROUPINTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
IndividualFOXBORO, MA
$6,600
Dec 31, 2023
10
FITZPATRICK, MARY
NONECOMMUNITY VOLUNTEER
IndividualOSPREY, FL
$6,600
Sep 21, 2023

Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

ID: K000398

Top Contributors

10

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Oct 24, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Dec 27, 2024
3
LOEB, JOHN
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualPURCHASE, NY
$6,600
Nov 4, 2024
4
LOEB, JOHN
IndividualPURCHASE, NY
$6,600
Nov 4, 2024
5
VOCCOLA, FREDERICK
KASEYACEO
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$6,600
Mar 1, 2024
6
PISANO, JOHN
IndividualWEST PALM BEACH, FL
$3,700
Jan 22, 2024
7
VOCCOLA, FREDERICK
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$3,500
Mar 12, 2024
8
NIEMIEC, DAVID
SELFINVESTMENTS
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Oct 11, 2024
9
TAYLOR, ALEXANDER
MATRIX DEV GRPREAL ESTATE
IndividualBELMAR, NJ
$3,300
Oct 1, 2024
10
BRUECKNER, RICHARD F.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualBEDMINSTER, NJ
$3,300
Oct 4, 2024

Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]

ID: B001321

Top Contributors

10

1
MICHIGAN AGGREGATES ASSOCIATION PAC
OrganizationOKEMOS, MI
$300
Feb 27, 2024
2
DEMKOWICZ, BRIAN MR.
HURON CAPITALINVESTOR
IndividualGROSSE POINTE, MI
$13,200
Jan 8, 2024
3
STADLER, BRIAN
WOLGAST CORPORATIONMANAGER
IndividualSAGINAW, MI
$6,870
Sep 28, 2023
4
UIHLEIN, RICHARD
ULINECHAIRMAN
IndividualLAKE FOREST, IL
$6,870
Sep 26, 2023
5
COURTNEY, JOHN
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualOKEMOS, MI
$6,870
Dec 8, 2023
6
BAKER, JEFFREY
MUSKEGON CAR CREDITEXECUTIVE
IndividualGRAND RAPIDS, MI
$6,600
Jul 25, 2023
7
BANCROFT, NICHOLAS
AGROLIQUIDCEO
IndividualSAINT JOHNS, MI
$6,600
Sep 19, 2023
8
HAWORTH, MATTHEW
HAWORTH, INC.CHAIRMAN
IndividualHOLLAND, MI
$6,600
Sep 18, 2023
9
HAWORTH, RICHARD
HAWORTH, INC.CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IndividualSAUGATUCK, MI
$6,600
Sep 18, 2023
10
O'NEIL, WILLIAM
W J O'NEIL COMPANYEXECUTIVE
IndividualCOMMERCE TOWNSHIP, MI
$6,600
Sep 11, 2023

Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]

ID: C001121

Top Contributors

10

1
TOLLEY, RUSSELL C
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualMANHATTAN, KS
$6,600
Jan 26, 2024
2
ALVARADO, LINDA
ALVARADO CONSTRUCTIONPRESIDENT
IndividualDENVER, CO
$3,300
Oct 30, 2024
3
ALVARADO, ROBERT L. JR
ALVARADO RESTAURANT NATIONBUSINESS OWNER
IndividualGREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO
$3,300
Oct 30, 2024
4
ASARCH, CHAD
MONROE GROUPREAL ESTATE
IndividualDENVER, CO
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
5
CATTO, JOHN H
SELF-EMPLOYEDBUSINESS
IndividualBASALT, CO
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
6
DIXON, PETER
SECOND FRONT SYSTEMSFOUNDER
IndividualPORTOLA VALLEY, CA
$3,300
Oct 27, 2024
7
HARING-SMITH, WHITNEY
ANZU PARTNERSMANAGING PARTNER
IndividualMARLBOROUGH, NH
$3,300
Nov 1, 2024
8
LAMBERT, RYAN
RYAN LAMBERTENTREPRENEUR
IndividualMCLEAN, VA
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
9
RESNICK, ERIC
KSL CAPITAL PARTNERSCEO
IndividualVAIL, CO
$3,300
Oct 25, 2024
10
RESNICK, SARA
N/ANOT EMPLOYED
IndividualVAIL, CO
$3,300
Oct 25, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

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Showing 66 nodes and 42 connections (65 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $155,100

Top Donors - Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

5 Orgs14 Individuals

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.

Introduction

Moderate63.7%
Pages: 679-681

— 646 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise 3. Section 121 (developing and administering an education program that teaches veterans about their health care options available from the Department of Veterans Affairs). 4. Section 152 (returning the Office for Innovation of Care and Payment to the Office of Enterprise Integration with a joint governance process set up with the VHA). 5. Section 161 (overhauling Family Caregiver Program expansion, which has gone poorly, so that it focuses on consistency of eligibility and awareness that the most severely wounded or injured may require the program indefinitely). l Require the VHA to report publicly on all aspects of its operation, including quality, safety, patient experience, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness, using standards similar to those in the Medicare Accountable Care Organization program so that the government may monitor and achieve continuous improvement in the VA system more effectively. l Encourage VA Medical Centers to seek out relevant academic and private- sector input in their communities to improve the overall patient experience. Budget l Conduct an independent audit of the VA similar to the 2018 Department of Defense (DOD) audit to identify IT, management, financial, contracting, and other deficiencies. l Assess the misalignment of VHA facilities and rising infrastructure costs. The VHA operates 172 inpatient medical facilities nationally that are an average of 60 years old. Some of these facilities are underutilized and inadequately staffed. Facilities in certain urban and rural areas are seeing significant declines in the veteran population and strong competition for fresh medical staff. In 2018, Congress authorized an Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) of national VHA medical markets to provide insight into where the VA health care budget should be responsibly allocated to serve veterans most effectively. However, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee lacked the political will to act on the White House’s nominations of commission members, and this ultimately led to termination of the AIR process. The next Administration should seek out agile, creative, and politically acceptable operational solutions to this aging infrastructure status quo,

Introduction

Moderate63.7%
Pages: 679-681

— 646 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise 3. Section 121 (developing and administering an education program that teaches veterans about their health care options available from the Department of Veterans Affairs). 4. Section 152 (returning the Office for Innovation of Care and Payment to the Office of Enterprise Integration with a joint governance process set up with the VHA). 5. Section 161 (overhauling Family Caregiver Program expansion, which has gone poorly, so that it focuses on consistency of eligibility and awareness that the most severely wounded or injured may require the program indefinitely). l Require the VHA to report publicly on all aspects of its operation, including quality, safety, patient experience, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness, using standards similar to those in the Medicare Accountable Care Organization program so that the government may monitor and achieve continuous improvement in the VA system more effectively. l Encourage VA Medical Centers to seek out relevant academic and private- sector input in their communities to improve the overall patient experience. Budget l Conduct an independent audit of the VA similar to the 2018 Department of Defense (DOD) audit to identify IT, management, financial, contracting, and other deficiencies. l Assess the misalignment of VHA facilities and rising infrastructure costs. The VHA operates 172 inpatient medical facilities nationally that are an average of 60 years old. Some of these facilities are underutilized and inadequately staffed. Facilities in certain urban and rural areas are seeing significant declines in the veteran population and strong competition for fresh medical staff. In 2018, Congress authorized an Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) of national VHA medical markets to provide insight into where the VA health care budget should be responsibly allocated to serve veterans most effectively. However, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee lacked the political will to act on the White House’s nominations of commission members, and this ultimately led to termination of the AIR process. The next Administration should seek out agile, creative, and politically acceptable operational solutions to this aging infrastructure status quo, — 647 — Department of Veterans Affairs reimagine the health care footprint in some locales, and spur a realignment of capacity through budgetary allocations. Specifically: 1. Embrace the expansion of Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) as an avenue to maintain a VA footprint in challenging medical markets without investing further in obsolete and unaffordable VA health care campuses. 2. Explore the potential to pilot facility-sharing partnerships between the VA and strained local health care systems to reduce costs by leveraging limited talent and resources. Personnel l Extend the term of the Under Secretary for Health (USH) to five years. Additionally, authority should be given to reappoint this individual for a second five-year term both to allow for continuity and to protect the USH from political transition. l Establish a Senior Executive Service (SES) position of VHA Care System Chief Information Officer (CIO), selected by and reporting to the chief of the VHA Care System with a dotted line to the VA CIO. l Identify a workflow process to bring wait times in compliance with VA MISSION Act–required time frames wherever possible. 1. Assess the daily clinical appointment load for physicians and clinical staff in medical facilities where wait times for care are well outside of the time frames required by the VA MISSION Act. 2. Require VHA facilities to increase the number of patients seen each day to equal the number seen by DOD medical facilities: approximately 19 patients per provider per day. Currently, VA facilities may be seeing as few as six patients per provider per day. 3. Consider a pilot program to extend weekday appointment hours and offer Saturday appointment options to veterans if a facility continues to demonstrate that it has excess capacity and is experiencing delays in the delivery of care for veterans. 4. Identify clinical services that are consistently in high demand but require cost-prohibitive compensation to recruit and retain talent, and examine exceptions for higher competitive pay.

Introduction

Moderate63.1%
Pages: 682-684

— 649 — Department of Veterans Affairs approaches and technology tools that currently exist in the private sector could be employed to improve existing VBA activities. This problem is most pronounced in the disability claims process, which needs more and better management attention focused on streamlining the procedures involved in processing claims and administering benefits. The VA must improve timeliness of claim adjudication and benefits delivery: Veterans want the VBA to provide timely responses to requests for benefits support, render empathetic customer service and understandable explanations of those benefits, and deliver those benefits without frustrating delays (weeks, not months). l Identify performance targets for benefits, report publicly on actual performance each quarter, and use these metrics to drive consistent improvement. l Develop a new pilot “Express 30” commitment for a veteran’s first fully developed disability compensation claim and organize the VBA to complete the first claim in 30 days. l Hire more private companies to perform disability medical examinations. Delays in completing the examinations could be eliminated with more external capacity. l Increase automation. Hiring additional staff to process claims is costly, is inflexible, and has yielded mixed results. Attempting to change laws and regulations simply to adjudicate claims would be a herculean effort given their complexity. The best way to provide benefits faster and more accurately is by using technology to perform most of the work. Technology currently exists in the private sector, but the VBA lacks the expertise to use it. This would be more of an organizational challenge than a technology hurdle. l Reduce improper payment and fraud. About $500 million is improperly paid out each year. Better tools, training, and management could reduce this substantially, but rule changes at the departmental level would be needed. Budget The VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) has assigned disability ratings to a growing number of health conditions over time; some are tenuously related or wholly unrelated to military service. The further growth in presumptive service-connected medical conditions pursued by Congress and Veteran Service Organizations, begun with Agent Orange and most recently for Burn Pits/Airborne

Showing 3 of 5 policy matches

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text. A score of 60% or higher indicates meaningful thematic overlap. This does not imply direct causation or intent, but highlights areas where legislation aligns with Project 2025 policy objectives.

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