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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 2288 (115th)

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

2 May 2017

Last action

23 August 2017 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 115-55.

Sponsors

Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Esty, Elizabeth H. [D-CT-5], Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1], Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2], Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2], Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large], Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16], Rep. Poliquin, Bruce [R-ME-2], Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Del. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN], Rescom. González-Colón, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Costello, Ryan A. [R-PA-6], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]

Subjects

Defence

Source updated

14 January 2026

Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 This bill revises the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims appeals system. The bill permits a veteran to appeal within one year by: (1) requesting a review of the agency of original jurisdiction's (AOJ) decision by a higher-level adjudicator within AOJ using the same evidentiary record; (2) filing a supplemental claim with a regional office that includes the opportunity to submit additional evidence and have a hearing; or (3) appealing directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, with the opportunity to select an expedited review to submit new evidence but without a hearing, or to select a review with the option to submit new evidence and request a hearing. A veteran may: (1) maintain the original effective date of a claim if he or she submits new and relevant evidence within one year of the most recent decision, and (2) retain the services of attorneys and accredited agents who charge a fee when the AOJ provides notice of the original decision. The VA's statutory duty to assist a veteran terminates after the original decision. The bill: (1) requires the VA to issue decision notification letters, (2) permits certain veterans who initiated an appeal prior to the bill's effective date to opt-in to the modernized appeals system, (3) authorizes the VA to conduct a pilot program to test such system, and (4) requires the VA, prior to full implementation, to certify to Congress that it has sufficient resources and personnel to carry out the legacy and modernized appeals systems.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 2 May 2017

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 2 May 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 2 May 2017

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 17 May 2017

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  5. 17 May 2017

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  6. 19 May 2017

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 84.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 19 May 2017

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-135.

    Source: Committee

  8. 19 May 2017

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-135.

    Source: Committee

  9. 23 May 2017

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  10. 23 May 2017

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 273). (text: CR H4457-4463)

    Source: Floor

  11. 23 May 2017

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 273).(text: CR H4457-4463)

    Source: Floor

  12. 23 May 2017

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4457-4466)

    Source: Floor

  13. 23 May 2017

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  14. 23 May 2017

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2288.

    Source: Floor

  15. 23 May 2017

    Floor

    Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

  16. 24 May 2017

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  17. 1 August 2017

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4687)

    Source: Floor

  18. 1 August 2017

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  19. 1 August 2017

    Discharge

    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Discharge

  20. 1 August 2017

    Committee

    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Committee

  21. 2 August 2017

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  22. 11 August 2017

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(consideration: CR H6595-6601; text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H6595-6601)

    Source: NotUsed

  23. 11 August 2017

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mrs. Comstock asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendment.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  24. 11 August 2017

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  25. 11 August 2017

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  26. 11 August 2017

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  27. 11 August 2017

    Passed

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H6595-6601; text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H6595-6601)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  28. 23 August 2017

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 115-55.

    Source: President

  29. 23 August 2017

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  30. 23 August 2017

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

23 May 2017 · passed · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · Passed · Official source

Yes 418 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 12

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

16 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 23 August 2017

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 23 August 2017

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 23 August 2017

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  • Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)

    Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 1 August 2017

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  • Engrossed Amendment Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 1 August 2017

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  • Referred in Senate (text)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 24 May 2017

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  • Referred in Senate (PDF)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 24 May 2017

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 23 May 2017

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 23 May 2017

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 19 May 2017

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 19 May 2017

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 2 May 2017

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 2 May 2017

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 2 May 2017

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