HR 7150 — Survivor Benefits Delivery Improvement Act of 2024

changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

 TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE

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 PART III--READJUSTMENT AND RELATED 
 BENEFITS

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 CHAPTER 37--HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS

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 SUBCHAPTER III--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

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Sec. 3729. Loan fee

 (a) Requirement of Fee.--(1) Except as provided in subsection 
(c), a fee shall be collected from each person obtaining a 
housing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, 
and each person assuming a loan to which section 3714 of this 
title applies. No such loan may be guaranteed, insured, made, 
or assumed until the fee payable under this section has been 
remitted to the Secretary.
 (2) The fee may be included in the loan and paid from the 
proceeds thereof.
 (b) Determination of Fee.--(1) The amount of the fee shall be 
determined from the loan fee table in paragraph (2). The fee is 
expressed as a percentage of the total amount of the loan 
guaranteed, insured, or made, or, in the case of a loan 
assumption, the unpaid principal balance of the loan on the 
date of the transfer of the property.
 (2) The loan fee table referred to in paragraph (1) is as 
follows:

 
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 Type of loan Active duty veteran Reservist Other obligor
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(A)(i) Initial loan described in 2.15 2.40 NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase or
 construct a dwelling with 0-down, or
 any other initial loan described in
 section 3710(a) other than with 5-
 down or 10-down (closed on or after
 October 1, 2004, and before January
 1, 2020).
(A)(ii) Initial loan described in 2.30 2.30 NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase or
 construct a dwelling with 0-down, or
 any other initial loan described in
 section 3710(a) other than with 5-
 down or 10-down (closed on or after
 January 1, 2020, and before April 7,
 2023).
(A)(iii) Initial loan described in 2.15 2.15 NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase or
 construct a dwelling with 0-down, or
 any other initial loan described in
 section 3710(a) other than with 5-
 down or 10-down (closed on or after
 April 7, 2023, and before November
 [15] 29, 2031).
(A)(iv) Initial loan described in 1.40 1.40 NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase or
 construct a dwelling with 0-down, or
 any other initial loan described in
 section 3710(a) other than with 5-
 down or 10-down (closed on or after
 November [15] 29, 2031).
(B)(i) Subsequent loan described in 3.30 3.30 NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase or
 construct a dwelling with 0-down, or
 any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or
 after October 1, 2004, and before
 January 1, 2020).
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in 3.60 3.60 NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase or
 construct a dwelling with 0-down, or
 any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or
 after January 1, 2020, and before
 April 7, 2023).
(B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in 3.30 3.30 NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase or
 construct a dwelling with 0-down, or
 any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or
 after April 7, 2023, and before
 November [15] 29, 2031).
(B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in 1.25 1.25 NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase or
 construct a dwelling with 0-down, or
 any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or
 after November [15] 29, 2031).
(C)(i) Loan described in section 1.50 1.75 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 5-down (closed before
 January 1, 2020).
(C)(ii) Loan described in section 1.65 1.65 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 5-down (closed on or
 after January 1, 2020, and before
 April 7, 2023).
(C)(iii) Loan described in section 1.50 1.50 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 5-down (closed on or
 after April 7, 2023, and before
 November [15] 29, 2031).
(C)(iv) Loan described in section 0.75 0.75 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 5-down (closed on or
 after November [15] 29, 2031).
(D)(i) Loan described in section 1.25 1.50 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed before
 January 1, 2020).
(D)(ii) Loan described in section 1.40 1.40 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed on or
 after January 1, 2020, and before
 April 7, 2023).
(D)(iii) Loan described in section 1.25 1.25 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed on or
 after April 7, 2023, and before
 November [15] 29, 2031).
(D)(iv) Loan described in section 0.50 0.50 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed on or
 after November [15] 29, 2031).
(E) Interest rate reduction 0.50 0.50 NA
 refinancing loan.
(F) Direct loan under section 3711... 1.00 1.00 NA
(G) Manufactured home loan under 1.00 1.00 NA
 section 3712 (other than an interest
 rate reduction refinancing loan).
(H) Loan to Native American veteran 1.25 1.25 NA
 under section 3762 (other than an
 interest rate reduction refinancing
 loan).
(I) Loan assumption under section 0.50 0.50 0.50
 3714.
(J) Loan under section 3733(a)....... 2.25 2.25 2.25.
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 (3) Any reference to a section in the ``Type of loan'' column 
in the loan fee table in paragraph (2) refers to a section of 
this title.
 (4) For the purposes of paragraph (2):
 (A) The term ``active duty veteran'' means any 
 veteran eligible for the benefits of this chapter other 
 than a Reservist.
 (B) The term ``Reservist'' means a veteran described 
 in section 3701(b)(5)(A) of this title who is eligible 
 under section 3702(a)(2)(E) of this title.
 (C) The term ``other obligor'' means a person who is 
 not a veteran, as defined in section 101 of this title 
 or other provision of this chapter.
 (D)(i) The term ``initial loan'' means a loan to a 
 veteran guaranteed under section 3710 or made under 
 section 3711 of this title if the veteran has never 
 obtained a loan guaranteed under section 3710 or made 
 under section 3711 of this title.
 (ii) If a veteran has obtained a loan guaranteed 
 under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this 
 title and the dwelling securing such loan was 
 substantially damaged or destroyed by a major disaster 
 declared by the President under section 401 of the 
 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), the Secretary shall 
 treat as an initial loan, as defined in clause (i), the 
 next loan the Secretary guarantees or makes to such 
 veteran under section 3710 or 3711, respectively, if--
 (I) such loan is guaranteed or made before 
 the date that is three years after the date on 
 which the dwelling was substantially damaged or 
 destroyed; and
 (II) such loan is only for repairs or 
 construction of the dwelling, as determined by 
 the Secretary.
 (E) The term ``subsequent loan'' means a loan to a 
 veteran, other than an interest rate reduction 
 refinancing loan, guaranteed under section 3710 or made 
 under section 3711 of this title that is not an initial 
 loan.
 (F) The term ``interest rate reduction refinancing 
 loan'' means a loan described in section 3710(a)(8), 
 3710(a)(9)(B)(i), 3710(a)(11), 3712(a)(1)(F), or 
 3762(h) of this title.
 (G) The term ``0-down'' means a downpayment, if any, 
 of less than 5 percent of the total purchase price or 
 construction cost of the dwelling.
 (H) The term ``5-down'' means a downpayment of at 
 least 5 percent or more, but less than 10 percent, of 
 the total purchase price or construction cost of the 
 dwelling.
 (I) The term ``10-down'' means a downpayment of 10 
 percent or more of the total purchase price or 
 construction cost of the dwelling.
 (c) Waiver of Fee.--(1) A fee may not be collected under this 
section from a veteran who is receiving compensation (or who, 
but for the receipt of retirement pay or active service pay, 
would be entitled to receive compensation), from a surviving 
spouse of any veteran (including a person who died in the 
active military, naval, air, or space service) who died from a 
service-connected disability, or from a member of the Armed 
Forces who is serving on active duty and who provides, on or 
before the date of loan closing, evidence of having been 
awarded the Purple Heart.
 (2)(A) A veteran described in subparagraph (B) shall be 
treated as receiving compensation for purposes of this 
subsection as of the date of the rating described in such 
subparagraph without regard to whether an effective date of the 
award of compensation is established as of that date.
 (B) A veteran described in this subparagraph is a veteran who 
is rated eligible to receive compensation--
 (i) as the result of a pre-discharge disability 
 examination and rating; or
 (ii) based on a pre-discharge review of existing 
 medical evidence (including service medical and 
 treatment records) that results in the issuance of a 
 memorandum rating.

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 PART IV--GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE 
 PROVISIONS

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 CHAPTER 53--SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO 
 BENEFITS

Sec.
5301. Nonassignability and exempt status of benefits.
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5321. Demographic data of certain beneficiaries.

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Sec. 5321. Demographic data of certain beneficiaries

 (a) Collection.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
entities described in subsection (b), shall--
 (1) develop a method to collect the demographic data 
 of--
 (A) each covered survivor receiving 
 dependency and indemnity compensation under 
 chapter 13 of this title, pension under chapter 
 15 of this title, or increased pension (or 
 additional compensation or allowances) under 
 this title based on the need of regular aid and 
 attendance or by reason of being permanently 
 housebound; and
 (B) each person who receives burial benefits 
 under chapter 23 of this title; and
 (2) collect demographic data pursuant to the method 
 developed under paragraph (1).
 (b) Entities for Consultation.--The entities described in 
this subsection are the following:
 (1) The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans 
 established under section 544 of this title.
 (2) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans 
 established under section 542 of this title.
 (3) The Veterans' Family, Caregiver, and Survivor 
 Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs, or successor advisory committee.
 (4) Veterans service organizations.
 (c) Designation of Underserved Demographics.--The Secretary 
shall--
 (1) designate as an underserved demographic any 
 demographic the Secretary determines, taking into 
 account the demographic data collected under subsection 
 (a), is underserved with respect to the benefits 
 specified in such subsection; and
 (2) review such designations on at least a biennial 
 basis and update as appropriate.
 (d) Inclusion in Annual Reports.--For each annual benefits 
report of the Veterans Benefits Administration, the Secretary 
shall include as part of the report information concerning the 
demographic data collected under subsection (a) during the 
fiscal year covered by the report.
 (e) Effect on Application.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as requiring any person to submit demographic data or 
as authorizing the Secretary to consider whether a person 
submits demographic data in evaluating any claim for benefits 
under the laws administered by the Secretary.
 (f) Definitions.--In this section:
 (1) The term ``covered survivor'' means a surviving 
 spouse, child, or parent of a veteran.
 (2) The term ``demographic data'' includes--
 (A) with respect to an individual--
 (i) age;
 (ii) race;
 (iii) ethnicity;
 (iv) tribal affiliation, if any; and
 (v) geographic location; and
 (B) with respect to a covered survivor, the 
 cause of death of the applicable veteran.
 (3) The term ``veterans service organization'' means 
 any organization recognized by the Secretary under 
 section 5902 of this title.

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 CHAPTER 63--OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

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 SUBCHAPTER I--OUTREACH SERVICES PROGRAM

Sec. 6301. Purpose; definitions

 (a) Purpose.--The Congress declares that--
 (1) the outreach services program authorized by this 
 subchapter is for the purpose of ensuring that all 
 veterans (especially those who have been recently 
 discharged or released from active military, naval, 
 air, or space service, or from a reserve component, and 
 those who are eligible for readjustment or other 
 benefits and services under laws administered by the 
 Department) are provided timely and appropriate 
 assistance to aid and encourage them in applying for 
 and obtaining such benefits and services in order that 
 they may achieve a rapid social and economic 
 readjustment to civilian life and obtain a higher 
 standard of living for themselves and their dependents; 
 and
 (2) the outreach services program authorized by this 
 subchapter is for the purpose of charging the 
 Department with the affirmative duty of seeking out 
 eligible veterans and eligible dependents and providing 
 them with such services.
 (b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this subchapter--
 (1) the term ``covered individual'' means--
 (A) a veteran; or
 (B) an individual who served in the uniformed 
 services (as defined in section 1965(6) of this 
 title);
 [(1)] (2) the term ``outreach'' means the act or 
 process of reaching out in a systematic manner to 
 proactively provide information, services, and benefits 
 counseling to [veterans] covered individuals, and to 
 the spouses, children, and parents of [veterans] 
 covered individuals who may be eligible to receive 
 benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary, 
 to ensure that such individuals are fully informed 
 about, and receive assistance in applying for, such 
 benefits;
 [(2)] (3) the term ``other governmental programs'' 
 includes all programs under State or local laws as well 
 as all programs under Federal law other than those 
 authorized by this title; and
 [(3)] (4) the term ``eligible dependent'' means a 
 spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent of 
 [a person who served in the active military, naval, 
 air, or space service] a covered individual.

Sec. 6302. Biennial plan

 (a) Biennial Plan Required.--The Secretary shall, during the 
first nine months of every odd-numbered year, prepare a 
biennial plan for the outreach activities of the Department for 
the two-fiscal-year period beginning on October 1 of that year.
 (b) Elements.--Each biennial plan under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
 (1) Plans for efforts to identify [eligible veterans] 
 covered individuals and eligible dependents who are not 
 enrolled or registered with the Department for benefits 
 or services under the programs administered by the 
 Secretary.
 (2) Plans for informing [eligible veterans] covered 
 individuals and eligible dependents of modifications of 
 the benefits and services under the programs 
 administered by the Secretary, including eligibility 
 for medical and nursing care and services.
 (c) Coordination in Development.--In developing the biennial 
plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the 
following:
 (1) Directors or other appropriate officials of 
 organizations approved by the Secretary under section 
 5902 of this title.
 (2) Directors or other appropriate officials of State 
 and local education and training programs.
 (3) Representatives of nongovernmental organizations 
 that carry out veterans outreach programs.
 (4) Representatives of State and local veterans 
 employment organizations.
 (5) Other individuals and organizations that the 
 Secretary considers appropriate.

Sec. 6303. Outreach services

 (a) Requirement To Provide Services.--In carrying out the 
purposes of this subchapter, the Secretary shall provide the 
outreach services specified in subsections (b) through (d). In 
areas where a significant number of [eligible veterans] covered 
individuals and eligible dependents speak a language other than 
English as their principal language, such services shall, to 
the maximum feasible extent, be provided in the principal 
language of such persons.
 (b) Individual Notice to New Veterans.--The Secretary shall 
by letter advise each veteran at the time of the veteran's 
discharge or release from active military, naval, air, or space 
service (or as soon as possible after such discharge or 
release) of all benefits and services under laws administered 
by the Department for which the veteran may be eligible. In 
carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure, 
through the use of veteran-student services under section 3485 
of this title, that contact, in person or by telephone, is made 
with those veterans who, on the basis of their military service 
records, do not have a high school education or equivalent at 
the time of discharge or release.
 (c) Distribution of Information.--(1) The Secretary--
 (A) shall distribute full information to [eligible 
 veterans] covered individuals and eligible dependents 
 regarding all benefits and services to which they may 
 be entitled under laws administered by the Secretary; 
 and
 (B) may, to the extent feasible, distribute 
 information on other governmental programs (including 
 manpower and training programs) which the Secretary 
 determines would be beneficial to veterans.
 (2) Whenever a [veteran or dependent] covered individual or 
eligible dependent first applies for any benefit under laws 
administered by the Secretary (including a request for burial 
or related benefits or an application for life insurance 
proceeds), the Secretary shall provide to the [veteran or 
dependent] covered individual or eligible dependent information 
concerning benefits and health care services under programs 
administered by the Secretary. Such information shall be 
provided not later than three months after the date of such 
application.
 (d) Provision of Aid and Assistance.--The Secretary shall 
provide, to the maximum extent possible, aid and assistance 
(including personal interviews) to members of the Armed Forces, 
[veterans] covered individuals, and eligible dependents with 
respect to subsections (b) and (c) and in the preparation and 
presentation of claims under laws administered by the 
Department.
 (e) Assignment of Employees.--In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary shall assign such employees as the Secretary 
considers appropriate to conduct outreach programs and provide 
outreach services for homeless veterans. Such outreach services 
may include site visits through which homeless veterans can be 
identified and provided assistance in obtaining benefits and 
services that may be available to them.

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Sec. 6306. Use of other agencies

 (a) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall 
arrange with the Secretary of Labor for the State employment 
service to match the particular qualifications of an [eligible 
veteran] covered individual or eligible dependent with an 
appropriate job or job training opportunity, including, where 
possible, arrangements for outstationing the State employment 
personnel who provide such assistance at appropriate facilities 
of the Department.
 (b) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, actively seek to 
promote the development and establishment of employment 
opportunities, training opportunities, and other [opportunities 
for veterans] opportunities for covered individuals, with 
particular emphasis on the needs of veterans with service-
connected disabilities and other [eligible veterans] covered 
individuals, taking into account applicable rates of 
unemployment and the employment emphases set forth in chapter 
42 of this title.
 (c) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall 
cooperate with and use the services of any Federal department 
or agency or any State or local governmental agency or 
recognized national or other organization.
 (d) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall, 
where appropriate, make referrals to any Federal department or 
agency or State or local governmental unit or recognized 
national or other organization.
 (e) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary may 
furnish available space and office facilities for the use of 
authorized representatives of such governmental unit or other 
organization providing services.
 (f) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall 
conduct and provide for studies, in consultation with 
appropriate Federal departments and agencies, to determine the 
most effective program design to carry out the purposes of this 
subchapter.

Sec. 6307. Outreach for eligible dependents

 (a) Needs of Dependents.--In carrying out this subchapter, 
the Secretary shall ensure that the needs of eligible 
dependents are fully addressed.
 (b) Information as to Availability of Outreach Services for 
Dependents.--The Secretary shall ensure that the availability 
of outreach services and assistance for eligible dependents 
under this subchapter is made known through a variety of means, 
including the Internet, announcements in veterans publications, 
and announcements to the media.
 (c) Outreach Services for Surviving Eligible Dependents.--
(1)(A) Upon receipt of notification of the death of a covered 
individual, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary 
for Benefits, shall provide outreach services, by either mail, 
email, or telephone, to each eligible dependent of such 
individual not less than once each quarter calendar year until 
the eligible dependent files a claim for a benefit under laws 
administered by the Secretary.
 (B) In the case of an eligible dependent described in 
subparagraph (A) who is a minor child, the Secretary shall 
provide such outreach services to the legal guardian of the 
eligible dependent.
 (C) If the Secretary does not have the contact information of 
an eligible dependent or legal guardian described in 
subparagraph (A) or (B), the Secretary shall make reasonable 
efforts to obtain such contact information to carry out this 
subsection.
 (D) An eligible dependent or legal guardian described in 
subparagraph (A) or (B) to whom the Secretary has provided 
outreach services under this subsection twice may elect to not 
receive, or to receive fewer, outreach services under this 
subsection. Not less than once each calendar year, the 
Secretary shall notify each such eligible dependent or legal 
guardian who has not made such an election of the option to 
make such an election.
 (2) Outreach services under this subsection shall provide an 
eligible dependent with information including the following:
 (A) Contact information for the Office of Survivors 
 Assistance established under section 321 of this title.
 (B) Information regarding assistance in filing a 
 claim for a benefit under laws administered by the 
 Secretary furnished by--
 (i) a veterans service organization 
 recognized under section 5902 of this title; or
 (ii) an attorney, agent, or other entity 
 recognized under section 5904 of this title.
 (C) How to find an entity--
 (i) described in clause (i) or (ii) of 
 subparagraph (B); and
 (ii) located near the residence of the 
 eligible dependent.
 (3) In developing and revising materials used in outreach 
services under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult 
with entities including the following:
 (A) Veterans service organizations recognized under 
 section 5902 of this title.
 (B) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans 
 established under section 542 of this title.
 (C) The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans 
 established under section 544 of this title.
 (D) The Veterans' Family, Caregiver, and Survivor 
 Advisory Committee of the Department, or successor 
 advisory committee.
 (4) The Secretary shall seek to ensure, to the extent 
practicable, that materials used in outreach services by the 
Pension and Fiduciary Service of the Veterans Benefits 
Administration are in accordance with materials used by the 
Under Secretary for Benefits to provide outreach services under 
this subsection.

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