Pappas Veterans Bill Signed Into Law

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, announced that President Biden has signed his bipartisan legislation, the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act, into law. This legislation will improve the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) processes for identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find survivors of recently deceased veterans and ensure they get the benefits and support they are owed and have earned. 

"I'm pleased that President Biden has signed my bipartisan legislation into law to ensure that veterans' families and beneficiaries do not face undue barriers or delays in receiving their benefits and payments," said Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01). "By ensuring that family members and spouses have the resources and support that they need, we continue to honor and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our country. The Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act will allow the VA to better identify and locate surviving family members of recently deceased veterans and make sure they receive payments in a timely manner. I remain committed to fighting to guarantee our veterans and their families get the care, support, and respect they have earned and are owed."

The bipartisan Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act will improve VA's processes for identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find survivors of recently deceased veterans. It establishes specific steps for VA to strengthen its management of undisbursed funds to ensure beneficiaries receive payments promptly.

Specifically, the bill will:

• Shorten the time frame in which VA is authorized to designate, contact, and pay primary and appropriate alternate insurance beneficiaries from 2 years to 1 year and from 4 years to 2 years, respectively. Existing statutory constraints delay the release of undisbursed funds.
• Ensure that the procedures for paying alternate beneficiaries are uniformly applied and consistent between VA life insurance programs.
• Improve and better publicize an existing online tool that veterans' families can use to search for money they may be owed.
• Ensure VA has the staff it needs to reach hard-to-find beneficiaries.
• Set a goal of disbursing all funds that are owed to a survivor of a deceased veteran or beneficiary within two years.
• Require a report to Congress within 180 days on VA's progress.
  

The bill is supported by Veteran Services Organizations, including Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Modern Military Association of America (MMAA), and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).

Background: 

In September, Pappas led the House of Representatives in passing his bipartisan legislation, the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act, which will improve the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) processes for identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find survivors of recently deceased veterans.

On July 19, the legislation advanced out of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee with bipartisan support.

On July 1, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act.

In April, Pappas secured a commitment from VA to continue to work together to speed up the delivery of VA benefits to veterans' survivors.