,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ijbj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,decemb] #ag1         
#bjbj,mr4 ,panetta 7= himself1 ,mr4     
,higg9s ( ,l\isiana1 ,miss ,rice ( ,new 
,york1 ,mrs4 ,axne1 ,mr4 ,/eube1 & ,ms4 
,%]rill7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to direct !       
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to exp$ite
 ! process+ ( claims = disability       
comp5sation by vet]ans affect$ by major 
disa/]s4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may 
be cit$ z ! ,priority ,response =       
,vet]ans ,impact$ by ,disa/]s &         
,em]g5cies ,act or ! ,,provide ,act4    
#b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7
 ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs sets  
=? crit]ia = priority process+ (        
vet]ans' disability claims by !         
,dep>tm5t4  7#b7 ,su* crit]ia include   
vet]ans affect$ by extreme f9ancial     
h>d%ip1 homelessness1 t]m9al illness1 & 
p>ticipants 9 ! ,dep>tm5t's ,fully      
,develop$ ,claim program4  7#c7         

,curr5tly !re is no process 9 place to  
prioritize ! disability claims ( vet]ans
 affect$ by major disa/]s su* z fires & 
floods4  7#d7 ,priority claims process+ 
= vet]ans affect$ by major disa/]s w    
significantly help su* vet]ans beg9     
rebuild+ _! lives4  #c4 ,priority       
,claims ,process+ 9 ! ,ev5t ( a ,major  
,disa/]  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all 
prescribe regulations sett+ =? crit]ia =
 priority process+ ( a claim =          
comp5sation "u *apt] #aa ( title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4 ,individuals ^:    
claim %all be eligible = su* priority   
process+ %all include-- 7#a7 vet]ans    
affect$ by extreme f9ancial h>d%ip2     
7#b7 vet]ans affect$ by homelessness2   
7#c7 vet]ans diagnos$ ) a t]m9al        
illness2  7#d7 p>ticipants 9 ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,fully ,develop$   
,claim program2 &  7#e7 vet]ans :o live 
9 an area = :i* ! ,presid5t has decl>$ a
 major disa/] "u section #dja ( ! ,rob]t
 ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy  
,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj74  

7b7 ,special consid]ations = claims     
process+ 9 ! ev5t ( a major disa/] ,!   
,secret>y %all prescribe additional     
regulations relat+ only to subsection   
7a77#e74 ,su* additional regulations    
include-- 7#a7 e/abli%+ flexible evid5ce
 requirem5ts = vet]ans unable to meet ! 
ord9>y evid5ce requirem5ts = su* a claim
 due to a major disa/]2 &  7#b7 e/abli%+
 a flexible fil+ deadl9e = su* a claim4 
7c7 ,notice to vet]ans ( eligibility =  
priority claims process+ ,n lat] ?an #fj
 days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,secret>y %all po/ a p]man5t notice  
to vet]ans on ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs website ( ! categories (       
eligibility = priority process+ ( su*   
claims1 includ+ ! *anges to su*         
categories made pursuant to subsection  
7a74