,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #bahi  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #bc1 #bjac ,mr4  
,mill] ( ,florida 7= himself & ,mr4     
,mc,carthy ( ,cali=nia7 introduc$ !     
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a    
,,bill  ,to e/abli% a commission or task
 =ce to evaluate ! backlog ( disability 
claims ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans         
,affairs4  #a4 ,evaluation ( backlog (  
disability claims ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!re is e/abli%$
 a commission or task =ce to evaluate ! 
backlog ( claims )9 ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs4  7b7 ,/udy  7#a7 ,9  
g5]al ,! ,commission or ,task ,=ce %all 
c>ry out a /udy on ! backlog ( claims1  
includ+ ! curr5t process ! ,secret>y (  
,vet]ans ,affairs uses to evaluate      
claims & appeals & ! laws & regulations 
applicable to su* claims & appeals4 ,su*
 /udy %all be a compreh5sive evaluation 
& assessm5t ( ! backlog ( claims1 an    
analysis ( possible improvem5ts to !    

proc$ures us$ to process su* claims1 &  
any relat$ issues t ! ,commission or    
,task ,=ce consid]s relevant4  7#b7     
,consid]ation ,9 c>ry+ out ! /udy "u    
p>agraph 7#a7 & mak+ any recomm5dations 
"u ?is section1 ! ,commission or ,task  
,=ce %all consid] ! foll[+3  7,a7 ,!    
int]e/s ( vet]ans1 includ+ ) respect to 
accuracy1 fairness1 & transp>5cy 9 !    
claims process ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7,b7 ,!  
values & requirem5ts ( ! ,con/itution1  
includ+ ) respect to compliance )       
proc$ural & sub/antive due process4     
7,c7 ,! public int]e/1 includ+ ) respect
 to ! responsible use ( available       
res\rces4  7,d7 ,! importance ( !       
claimant fri5dly1 nonadv]s>ial nature ( 
! claims process4  7#c7 ,matt]s includ$ 
,9 c>ry+ out ! /udy "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! 
,commission or ,task ,=ce %all exam9e ! 
foll[+3  7,a7 ,! backlog ( claims1      
includ+ an analysis (--  7i7 ! mo/      
effective means to quickly & accurately 
resolve all claims p5d+ z ( ! date ( !  
/udy2 &  7ii7 ) respect to ! ,dep>tm5t1 

! annual fund+1 numb] ( full-"t         
employees1 workload managem5t practices1
 & ! progress1 z ( ! date ( ! /udy1 ( ! 
trans=mation plan ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7,b7  
,possible improvem5ts to ! claims       
process1 includ+ an evaluation &        
recomm5dations ) respect to :e!r        
sub/antive & /ructural *anges to !      
ov]all claims process are requir$4  7,c7
 ,9 c>ry+ out ! evaluation &            
recomm5dations "u subp>agraph 7,b71 an  
exam9ation (--  7i7 options t make no   
major sub/antive *anges to ! claims     
process2  7ii7 options t ma9ta9 !       
process b make m9or *anges2 &  7iii7    
options t make broad *anges to !        
process4  7,d7 ,! appeals process1      
includ+--  7i7 an analysis ( ! necessity
 ( ! multi-ti]$ levels ( appeals at !   
,regional ,(fice level1 includ+ fil+ a  
notice ( disagreem5t1 receipt ( a       
/atem5t ( ! case1 supplem5tal /atem5t ( 
! case 7if applicable71 & sub/antive    
appeal 7,,va =m #i72  7ii7 an analysis (
 ! role ( ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals1 

includ+--  7,i7 ! effectiv5ess ( !      
workload managem5t ( ! ,bo>d2  7,,ii7   
:e!r ! ,bo>d %\ld be regionaliz$ or     
ma9ta9 ! c5traliz$ /ructure 9 ! ,di/rict
 ( ,columbia2 &  7,,iii7 :e!r ,bo>d     
,memb]s %\ld be requir$ to pass !       
adm9i/rative law judges c]tification    
exam9ation2 &  7iii7 an analysis ( !    
role ( ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans    
,claims & ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ! ,f$]al 
,circuit1 includ+--  7,i7 ! cont9u$     
effectiv5ess & necessity ( a two-ti]$   
/ructure ( judicial review2  7,,ii7 !   
,article ,i /atus ( ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals =
 ,vet]ans ,claims2  7,,iii7 expansion ( 
ei!r ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ,vet]ans      
,claims or ! ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ! ,f$]al
 ,circuit jurisdiction1 includ+ by all[+
 su* ,c\rts to he> class action lawsuits
 ) respect to claims2 &  7,,iv7 !       
possibility ( exp&+ judicial review (   
claims to all ,f$]al circuit c\rts (    
appeals4  7#d7 ,role ( ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs  7,a7 ,in=mation ,9   
c>ry+ out a /udy on ! backlog ( claims  

"u p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,commission or ,task
 ,=ce %all submit to ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs1 at times t !         
,commission or ,task ,=ce det]m9es      
appropriate1 in=mation ) respect to     
rem$ies & solutions = ! backlog ( claims
 t ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce id5tifies
 pursuant to su* /udy4  7,b7            
,implem5tation ,! ,secret>y %all--  7i7 
fully consid] ! rem$ies & solutions     
submitt$ "u subp>agraph 7,a72  7ii7     
implem5t su* rem$ies & solutions z !    
,secret>y det]m9es appropriate2 &  7iii7
 submit to ,congress ju/ification =     
fail+ to implem5t any su* rem$y or      
solution4  7c7 ,reports  7#a7 ,initial  
report ,n lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! date 
on :i* ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce fir/ 
meets1 ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce %all 
submit to ! ,presid5t & ,congress an    
initial report on ! /udy conduct$ "u    
subsection 7b71 includ+--  7,a7 ! f9d+s 
( ! causes ( ! backlog ( claims2 &  7,b7
 ! level ( coop]ation ! ,commission or  
,task ,=ce has receiv$ f ! ,secret>y (  

,vet]ans ,affairs & ! heads ( o!r       
dep>tm5ts or ag5cies ( ! ,f$]al         
,gov]nm5t4  7#b7 ,int]im reports ,n lat]
 ?an #ij days aft] ! date on :i* !      
,commission or ,task ,=ce fir/ meets1 & 
ea* #cj-;day p]iod !reaft] end+ on !    
date on :i* ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce 
submits ! f9al report "u p>agraph 7#c71 
! ,commission or ,task ,=ce %all submit 
to ! ,presid5t & ,congress a report on--
  7,a7 ! progress ( ! ,secret>y (       
,vet]ans ,affairs ) respect to implem5t+
 solutions to exp$ite ! elim9ation ( !  
backlog ( claims pursuant to subsection 
7b77#d77;,b77ii72 &  7,b7 ! level (     
coop]ation ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce  
has receiv$ f ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs & ! heads ( o!r dep>tm5ts or   
ag5cies ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t4  7#c7     
,f9al report ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] 
! date on :i* ! ,commission or ,task    
,=ce fir/ meets1 ! ,commission or ,task 
,=ce %all submit to ! ,presid5t &       
,congress a report on ! /udy conduct$ "u
 subsection 7b74 ,! report %all include 

! foll[+3  7,a7 ,! f9d+s1 conclusions1 &
 recomm5dations ( ! ,commission or ,task
 ,=ce ) respect to ! matt]s ref]r$ to 9 
su* subsection4  7,b7 ,! recomm5dations 
( ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce = revis+ &
 improv+ ! backlog ( claims & !         
proc$ures us$ to process claims4  7,c7  
,! progress ( ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs ) respect to implem5t+         
solutions to exp$ite ! elim9ation ( !   
backlog ( claims pursuant to subsection 
7b77#d77;,b77ii74  7,d7 ,o!r in=mation &
 recomm5dations ) respect to claims z ! 
,commission or ,task ,=ce consid]s      
appropriate4  7d7 ,memb]%ip  7#a7 ,numb]
 & appo9tm5t ,! ,commission or ,task    
,=ce %all be compos$ ( #ae memb]s1      
appo9t$ z foll[s3  7,a7 ,two memb]s     
appo9t$ by ! ,speak] ( ! ,h\se (        
,repres5tatives1 at lea/ "o ( :om %all  
be a vet]an4  7,b7 ,two memb]s appo9t$  
by ! m9ority lead] ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives1 at lea/ "o ( :om %all  
be a vet]an4  7,c7 ,two memb]s appo9t$  
by ! majority lead] ( ! ,s5ate1 at lea/ 

"o ( :om %all be a vet]an4  7,d7 ,two   
memb]s appo9t$ by ! m9ority lead] ( !   
,s5ate1 at lea/ "o ( :om %all be a      
vet]an4  7,e7 ,?ree memb]s appo9t$ by ! 
,presid5t1 at lea/ two ( :om %all be    
vet]ans4  7,f7 ,two memb]s appo9t$ by ! 
,secret>y ( ,def5se4  7,g7 ,two memb]s  
appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]an        
,affairs1 at lea/ "o ( :om %all be a    
vet]an1 & at lea/ "o ( :om %all be an   
employee ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits          
,adm9i/ration4  7#b7 ,advisors ,9       
addition to ! #ae memb]s appo9t$ "u     
p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,commission or ,task   
,=ce %all--  7,a7 h five nonvot+1       
nonmemb] advisors1 appo9t$ by a majority
 ( ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce f v>i\s  
vet]ans s]vice organizations2 &  7,b7   
seek advice f exp]ts f nongov]nm5tal    
organizations 7includ+ vet]ans s]vice   
organizations & milit>y organizations71 
! ,int]net te*nology indu/ry1 & !       
insurance indu/ry4  7#c7 ,*airman ,!    
,presid5t %all designate a memb] ( !    
,commission or ,task ,=ce to be !       

*airman4  7#d7 ,p]iod ( ,appo9tm5t      
,memb]s ( ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce   
%all be appo9t$ = ! life ( ! ,commission
 or ,task ,=ce4 ,a vacancy %all n affect
 its p[]s4  7#e7 ,vacancy ,a vacancy on 
! ,commission or ,task ,=ce %all be     
fill$ 9 ! mann] 9 :i* ! orig9al         
appo9tm5t 0 made4  7#f7 ,appo9tm5t      
deadl9e ,! appo9tm5t ( memb]s ( !       
,commission or ,task ,=ce e/abli%$ 9 ?is
 section %all be made n lat] ?an #ae    
days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
,act4  7e7 ,meet+s  7#a7 ,initial meet+ 
,! ,commission or ,task ,=ce %all hold  
its fir/ meet+ n lat] ?an #ae days aft] 
! date on :i* a majority ( ! memb]s are 
appo9t$4  7#b7 ,meet+s ,! ,commission or
 ,task ,=ce %all meet at ! call ( !     
*airman4  7#c7 ,quorum ,a majority ( !  
memb]s ( ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce    
%all con/itute a quorum1 b a less] numb]
 may hold he>+s4  7f7 ,p[]s ( !         
,commission or ,task ,=ce  7#a7 ,he>+s  
,! ,commission or ,task ,=ce may hold   
su* he>+s1 sit & act at su* times &     

places1 take su* te/imony1 & receive su*
 evid5ce z ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce  
consid]s advisable to c>ry out !        
purposes ( ?is section4  7#b7 ,in=mation
 f ,f$]al ,ag5cies ,! ,commission or    
,task ,=ce may secure directly f any    
dep>tm5t or ag5cy ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t  
su* in=mation z ! ,commission or ,task  
,=ce consid]s necess>y to c>ry out !    
provisions ( ?is section4 ,^u reque/ ( !
 *airman1 ! head ( su* dep>tm5t or ag5cy
 %all furni% su* in=mation to !         
,commission or ,task ,=ce4  7#c7 ,po/al 
,s]vices ,! ,commission or ,task ,=ce   
may use ! ,unit$ ,/ates mails 9 ! same  
mann] & "u ! same conditions z o!r      
dep>tm5ts & ag5cies ( ! ,f$]al          
,gov]nm5t4  7#d7 ,gifts ,! ,commission  
or ,task ,=ce may accept1 use1 & dispose
 ( gifts or donations ( s]vice or       
prop]ty4  7g7 ,p]sonnel ,matt]s  7#a7   
,comp5sation ( ,memb]s ,ea* memb] ( !   
,commission or ,task ,=ce :o is n an    
(fic] or employee ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all
 be comp5sat$ at a rate equal to ! daily

 equival5t ( ! annual rate ( basic pay  
prescrib$ = level ,,iv ( ! ,executive   
,s*$ule "u section #ecae ( title #e1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 = ea* day 7includ+ 
travel "t7 dur+ :i* ! memb] is engag$ 9 
! p]=mance ( ! duties ( ! ,commission or
 ,task ,=ce4 ,all memb]s ( ! ,commission
 or ,task ,=ce :o are (fic]s or         
employees ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all s]ve   
)\t comp5sation 9 addition to t receiv$ 
= _! s]vices z (fic]s or employees ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates4  7#b7 ,travel ,exp5ses ,!
 memb]s ( ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce   
%all be all[$ travel exp5ses1 includ+ p]
 diem 9 lieu ( subsi/5ce1 at rates      
au?oriz$ = employees ( ag5cies "u       
sub*apt] ,i ( *apt] #eg ( title #e1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 :ile away f _!     
homes or regul> places ( bus9ess 9 !    
p]=mance ( s]vice ( ! ,commission or    
,task ,=ce4  7#c7 ,/aff  7,a7 ,! *airman
 ( ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce may1 )\t 
reg>d to ! civil s]vice laws &          
regulations1 appo9t an executive        
director & su* o!r p]sonnel z may be    

necess>y to enable ! ,commission or     
,task ,=ce to p]=m its duties4 ,!       
appo9tm5t ( an executive director %all  
be subject to ! approval ( ! ,commission
 or ,task ,=ce4  7,b7 ,! *airman ( !    
,commission or ,task ,=ce may fix !     
comp5sation ( ! executive director & o!r
 p]sonnel )\t reg>d to ! provisions (   
*apt] #ea & sub*apt] ,,iii ( *apt] #ec (
 title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 relat+  
to classification ( positions & ,g5]al  
,s*$ule pay rates1 except t ! rate ( pay
 = ! executive director & o!r p]sonnel  
may n exce$ ! rate payable = level ,v ( 
! ,executive ,s*$ule "u section #ecaf ( 
su* title4  7#d7 ,detail ( ,gov]nm5t    
,employees ,^u reque/ ( ! *airman ( !   
,commission or ,task ,=ce1 ! head ( any 
dep>tm5t or ag5cy ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t  
may detail1 on a nonreimbursable basis1 
any p]sonnel ( t dep>tm5t or ag5cy to ! 
,commission or ,task ,=ce to assi/ x 9  
c>ry+ out its duties4  7#e7 ,procurem5t 
( ,tempor>y & ,int]mitt5t ,s]vices ,!   
*airman ( ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce   

may procure tempor>y & int]mitt5t       
s]vices "u section #caji7;b7 ( title #e1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 at rates =        
individuals :i* d n exce$ ! daily       
equival5t ( ! annual rate ( basic pay   
prescrib$ = level ,v ( ! ,executive     
,s]vice "u section #ecaf ( su* title4   
7h7 ,t]m9ation ( ,commission or ,task   
,=ce ,! ,commission or ,task ,=ce %all  
t]m9ate #fj days aft] ! date on :i* !   
,commission or ,task ,=ce submits ! f9al
 report "u subsection 7c77#c74  7i7     
,fund+  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all1
 ^u ! reque/ ( ! *airman ( ! ,commission
 or ,task ,=ce1 make available to !     
,commission or ,task ,=ce su* am\nts z !
 ,commission or ,task ,=ce may require  
to c>ry out ! duties ( ! ,commission or 
,task ,=ce "u ?is section4  7#b7        
,availability ,any sums made available  
to ! ,commission or ,task ,=ce %all     
rema9 available1 )\t fiscal ye>         
limitation1 until ! t]m9ation ( !       
,commission or ,task ,=ce4  7j7 ,claim  
def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m claim means 

a claim = disability comp5sation "u !   
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans 
,affairs4