,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #hje  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #ad1 #bjai,mr4    
,te/] 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,mr4   
,br[n1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1 ,ms4 ,/ab5[1 ,ms4
 ,h>ris1 ,ms4 ,w>r51 ,mr4 ,wyd51 & ,mrs4
 ,%ahe57 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
improve ! process+ ( vet]ans b5efits by 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 to     
limit ! au?ority ( ! ,secret>y (        
,vet]ans ,affairs to recov] ov]paym5ts  
made by ! ,dep>tm5t & o!r am\nts ow$ by 
vet]ans to ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 to improve !
 due process accord$ vet]ans ) respect  
to su* recov]y1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4  
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,vet]an ,debt ,fairness ,act ( #bjai4   
#b4 ,improv+ process+ ( vet]ans b5efits 
by ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7   
,notification ( debts incurr$ ,!        
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all make 
su* *anges to su* in=mation te*nology   

sy/ems ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans         
,affairs1 includ+ ! e,benefits sy/em or 
successor sy/em1 z may be necess>y s t a
 p]son :o is entitl$ to a paym5t f !    
,dep>tm5t by virtue ( ! p]son's         
p>ticipation 9 a b5efits program        
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y w receive1 at ! 
reque/ ( ! p]son1 a notice f ! ,dep>tm5t
 ?r\gh means select$ by ! individual 7by
 electronic mail or o!r me*anism7 :5ev] 
su* p]son incurs a debt to ! ,unit$     
,/ates by virtue ( su* p>ticipation4    
7b7 ,updat+ dep5d5t in=mation ,!        
,secret>y %all make su* *anges to su*   
in=mation te*nology sy/ems ( !          
,dep>tm5t1 includ+ ! e,benefits sy/em or
 successor sy/em1 z may be necess>y s t 
:5ev] ! ,secret>y records 9 su* sy/ems  
in=mation ab\t a dep5d5t ( a p]son1 !   
p]son is able to review & revise su*    
in=mation4  7c7 ,track+ ( metrics ,!    
,secret>y %all make su* *anges to su*   
in=mation te*nology sy/ems ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 z may be necess>y to track ! foll[+3   
7#a7 ,! numb] & am\nt ( paym5ts made by 

! ,dep>tm5t to p]sons z "p ( a b5efits  
program adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y :i*     
result 9 ! p]sons incurr+ a debt to !   
,unit$ ,/ates by virtue ( su* paym5ts4  
7#b7 ,! av]age debt to ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
incurr$ by a p]son by virtue ( a paym5t 
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,!      
frequ5cy by :i* applications = relief "u
 section #ecjb7;a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 are approv$ & d5i$4  7#d7 
,su* o!r metrics z ! ,secret>y consid]s 
appropriate4  #c4 ,re=ms relat+ to      
recov]y by ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 ( am\nts ow$ by vet]ans to ! ,unit$    
,/ates  7a7 ,indebt$ness (fsets  7#a7   
,limitation on scope ( au?ority         
,subsection 7a7 ( section #ecad ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--    
7,a7 by ins]t+ 7#a7 be=e ,subject to2   
7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 z designat$ by    
subp>agraph 7,a71 by /rik+ to           
subsections 7b7 & 7d7 ( ?is section &   
ins]t+ to p>agraphs 7#b7 ?r\gh 7#f7 (   
?is subsection1 subsections 7b7 & 7e7 ( 
?is section12 &  7,c7 by add+ at ! end !

 foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#b7 ,not)/&+ any
 o!r provision ( law1 ! ,secret>y may   
only d$uct "u p>agraph 7#a7 an am\nt ( !
 indebt$ness ( a vet]an1 ! e/ate ( a    
vet]an1 a sp\se or *ild ( a vet]an :o is
 deceas$1 or a recipi5t ( educational   
assi/ance "u *apt] #cj1 #ca1 #cb1 #cc1  
#cd1 or #ce ( ?is title if ! indebt$ness
 is a result ( "o or m ( ! foll[+3  7,a7
 ,an error made by or failure to report 
requir$ in=mation to ! ,dep>tm5t by !   
vet]an1 e/ate1 sp\se1 *ild1 or recipi5t 
( educational assi/ance1 z ! case may   
be4  7,b7 ,fraud p]petrat$ by ! vet]an1 
e/ate1 sp\se1 *ild1 or recipi5t (       
educational assi/ance1 z ! case may be4 
7,c7 ,a misrepres5tation made by !      
vet]an1 e/ate1 sp\se1 *ild1 or recipi5t 
( educational assi/ance1 z ! case may   
be4  7,d7 ,9 ! case ( a recipi5t (      
educational assi/ance "u su* *apt]s1 a  
r$uction 9 or t]m9ation ( pursuit ( a   
program ( education by ! recipi5t4  7,e7
 ,a failure describ$ 9 section          
#ccai7;i77#b77;,a7 ( ?is title4  7#c7   

7,a7 ,! ,secret>y may n d$uct "u        
p>agraph 7#a7 f any paym5t made "u *apt]
 #aa or #ae ( ?is title m ?an ! lessor  
(--  7i7 #be p]c5t ( su* paym5t2 or     
7ii7 su* o!r p]c5t ( su* paym5t z !     
,secret>y & ! p]son ^: future paym5ts   
are to be r$uc$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 agree  
w\ld n cause a h>d%ip to ! p]son ( !    
paym5t4  7,b7 ,a p]son ^: future paym5ts
 are to be r$uc$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 may   
reque/1 via ! adm9i/rative process      
prescrib$ "u subsection 7c71 ! ,secret>y
 make a det]m9ation "u subp>agraph      
7,a77ii7 ( ?is p>agraph4  7#d7 ,9 ! case
 ( an indebt$ness t 0 incurr$ z a result
 ( an error or failure describ$ 9       
p>agraph 7#b77;,a71 ! ,secret>y may n   
d$uct "u p>agraph 7#a7 any am\nt relat+ 
to su* indebt$ness aft] ! date t is five
 ye>s aft] ! date on :i* ! debt 0       
incurr$4  7#e7 ,! ,secret>y may n d$uct 
"u p>agraph 7#a7 any am\nt relat+ to an 
indebt$ness :ile ! exi/5ce or am\nt (   
su* indebt$ness is be+--  7,a7 disput$  
"u subsection 7c72 or  7,b7 appeal$4    

7#f7 ,! ,secret>y may n d$uct "u        
p>agraph 7#a7 any am\nt if ! ,secret>y  
det]m9es t ! co/ t w\ld be incurr$ by ! 
,dep>tm5t to recov] su* am\nt w\ld exce$
 ! am\nt to be recov]$4  7#g7 ,p>agraphs
 7#b7 ?r\gh 7#f7 %all n apply to paym5ts
 "u *apt] #ai ( ?is title4  4  7#b7 ,due
 process  7,a7 ,m9imum p]iod = notice   
,subsection 7b7 ( su* section is am5d$--
  7i7 by am5d+ p>agraph 7#a7 to read z  
foll[s3  7#a7 has made reasonable ef=ts 
to notify su* p]son ( su* p]son's "r--  
7,a7 to dispute ?r\gh prescrib$         
adm9i/rative processes ! exi/5ce or     
am\nt ( su* indebt$ness2  7,b7 to reque/
 a waiv] ( su* indebt$ness "u section   
#ecjb ( ?is title2 &  7,c7 to reque/ !  
,secret>y make a det]m9ation "u         
subsection 7a77#c77;,a77ii72  2 &  7ii7 
by /rik+ p>agraph 7#c7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+
 new p>agraphs3  7#c7 has notifi$ su*   
p]son ab\t ! propos$ d$uctions by mail+ 
a notice ( int5t lett]1 :i*--  7,a7 is  
mail$ to ! p]son-- 7i7 9 ! case ( a debt
 incurr$ by a p]son by virtue ( !       

p]son's p>ticipation 9 a program (      
educational assi/ance adm9i/]$ by !     
,secret>y1 n lat] ?an #de days be=e mak+
 any ( su* d$uctions2 &  7ii7 9 ! case (
 a debt incurr$ by a p]son by virtue ( !
 p]son's p>ticipation 9 any o!r b5efit  
program adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 n lat] 
?an #ij days be=e mak+ any ( su*        
d$uctions2 &  7,b7 includes detail$     
in=mation ab\t ! indebt$ness1 includ+1 9
 ! case ( an ov]paym5t1 an itemiz$ li/ (
 ea* ov]paym5t & ! specific reason = !  
ov]paym5t4  4  7,b7 ,adjudication (     
disputes  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,su* section is  
am5d$-- 7,i7 by r$esignat+ subsections  
7c7 & 7d7 z subsections 7d7 & 7e72 &    
7,,ii7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7b7 !  
foll[+ new subsection 7c73  7c7 7#a7 ,! 
,secret>y %all prescribe an adm9i/rative
 process =--  7,a7 ! dispute ( ! exi/5ce
 or am\nt ( an indebt$ness subject to   
subsection 7a72 &  7,b7 mak+ reque/s "u 
p>agraph 7#c77;,b7 ( su* subsection4    
7#b7 ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t ea*     
dispute "u p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 is        

adjudicat$ n lat] ?an #abj days aft] !  
dispute is fil$4  7#c7 ,! ,secret>y may 
n submit to any debt collector 7z def9$ 
9 section #hjc ( ! ,fair ,debt          
,collection ,practices ,act 7#ae        
,u4,s4,c4 #afib;a77 any debt p5d+       
adjudication "u ! process prescrib$ "u  
p>agraph 7#a74  7#d7 ,no?+ 9 ?is        
subsection %all be con/ru$ to prohibit a
 p]son f seek+ relief f a c\rt (        
compet5t jurisdiction4  4  7ii7         
,limitations on int]e/ & fees *>g$ dur+ 
p]iod ( dispute ,section #ecae ( su*    
title is am5d$-- 7,i7 9 subsection      
7b77#a71 9 ! fir/ s5t5ce by /rik+ or    
7,b7 & ins]t+ 7,b7 = any p]iod dur+ :i* 
! exi/5ce or am\nt ( ! indebt$ness is   
be+ disput$ "u section #ecad7;c7 ( ?is  
title1 or 7,c72 &  7,,ii7 9 subsection  
7c7-- 7aa7 by ins]t+ 7#a7 be=e ,!       
adm9i/rative2 &  7bb7 by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#b7 ,no         
adm9i/rative co/s may be *>g$ "u ?is    
section ) respect to an indebt$ness     
describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 :ile ! exi/5ce

 or am\nt ( ! indebt$ness is be+ disput$
 "u section #ecad7;c7 ( ?is title4  4   
7#c7 ,effective date ,?is subsection & !
 am5dm5ts made by ?is subsection %all   
take effect on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act & %all apply ) respect to         
d$uctions made "u section #ecad ( su*   
title on or aft] su* date4  7#d7 ,rule (
 con/ruction ,?is subsection & !        
am5dm5ts made by ?is subsection %all be 
con/ru$ to apply to an error 9 a paym5t 
to a p]son f ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs ! p]son is entitl$ to by virtue
 ( ! p]son's p>ticipation 9 a b5efits   
program adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y (       
,vet]ans ,affairs foll[+ ! p]son's      
notice to ! ,dep>tm5t ( a *ange 9 !     
p]son's eligibility reg>d+ su* b5efit or
 p>ticipation4  7b7 ,limitation on      
au?ority ,to sue ,to collect c]ta9 debts
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #ecaf7;a7 ( su*
 title is am5d$-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 
by /rik+ 7#b7 & 7#c7 & ins]t+ 7#b71     
7#c71 & 7#d72  7,b7 by r$esignat+       
p>agraph 7#c7 z p>agraph 7#d72 &  7,c7  

by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#b7 ! foll[+   
new p>agraph 7#c73  7#c7 ,9 ! case ( an 
indebt$ness t 0 incurr$ z a result or an
 error or failure describ$ 9 section    
#ecad7;a77#b77;,a7 ( ?is title1 no suit 
may be fil$ "u ?is section to recov] !  
indebt$ness aft] ! date t is five ye>s  
aft] ! date on :i* ! debt 0 incurr$4  4 
7#b7 ,effective date ,?is subsection & !
 am5dm5ts made by ?is subsection %all   
take effect on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act & %all apply ) respect to suits   
fil$ "u section #ecaf ( su* title on or 
aft] su* date4  7c7 ,limitation on      
coop]ation ) o!r ,f$]al ag5cies ,to     
collect ,section #ecaf ( su* title is   
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
subsection3  7d7 ,! ,secret>y may n     
provide any in=mation or assi/ance to   
any o!r elem5t ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t to  
recov]1 :e!r by br++ suit 9 a c\rt (    
compet5t jurisdiction1 by d$uct+ am\nts 
f future paym5ts1 or by o!r me?od1 any  
indebt$ness ( any p]son :o has be5      
det]m9$ to be indebt$ to ! ,unit$ ,/ates

 by virtue ( su* p]son's p>ticipation 9 
a b5efits program adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y if ! ,secret>y does n h !     
au?ority to recov] su* indebt$ness "u   
?is title4  4  7d7 ,repair ( cr$it  7#a7
 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #ec ( su* title is     
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new     
section3  #ecbj4 ,correction ( errone\s 
in=mation submitt$ to consum] report+   
ag5cies  7a7 ,correct+ errors by !      
,dep>tm5t ,9 any case 9 :i* ! ,secret>y 
f9ds t ! ,dep>tm5t has submitt$ errone\s
 in=mation to a consum] report+ ag5cy   
ab\t ! indebt$ness ( any p]son :o has   
be5 det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y to be indebt$
 to ! ,unit$ ,/ates by virtue ( su*     
p]son's p>ticipation 9 a b5efits program
 adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 ! ,secret>y   
%all--  7#a7 in/ruct ! consum] report+  
ag5cy to remove su* errone\s in=mation f
 ! consum] report ( su* p]son or take   
su* o!r action z may be requir$ to      
ensure t su* errone\s in=mation is n    
includ$ 9 ! report ( su* p]son2 &  7#b7 
transmit to ! consum] report+ ag5cy su* 

in=mation z ! consum] report+ ag5cy may 
require to take su* appropriate actions4
  7b7 ,correct+ errors by debt          
collectors ,9 any case 9 :i* ! ,secret>y
 f9ds t a debt collector act+ on behalf 
( ! ,dep>tm5t has submitt$ errone\s     
in=mation to a consum] report+ ag5cy    
ab\t ! indebt$ness ( any p]son :o has   
be5 det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y to be indebt$
 to ! ,unit$ ,/ates by virtue ( su*     
p]son's p>ticipation 9 a b5efits program
 adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 ! ,secret>y   
%all in/ruct ! debt collector to reque/ 
! consum] report+ ag5cy remove su*      
errone\s in=mation f ! consum] report ( 
su* p]son or take su* o!r action z may  
be requir$ to ensure su* errone\s       
in=mation is n includ$ 9 ! report ( su* 
p]son40  7c7 ,notice ,n lat] ?an #fj    
days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y     
issues an in/ruction "u subsection      
7a77#a7 or 7b7 ) respect to a p]son1 !  
,secret>y %all notify ! p]son t !       
,secret>y issu$ su* in/ruction4  7d7    
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]ms

 consum] report & consum] report+ ag5cy 
h ! mean+s giv5 su* t]ms 9 section #fjc 
( ! ,fair ,cr$it ,report+ ,act 7#ae     
,u4,s4,c4 #afha;a74  7#b7 ,! t]m debt   
collector has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9    
section #hjc ( ! ,fair ,debt ,collection
 ,practices ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4         
#afib;a74  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!  
table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #ec
 ( su* title is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+ new item3  #ecbj4 ,correction ( 
errone\s in=mation submitt$ to consum]  
report+ ag5cies4  4  7e7 ,audits  7#a7  
,"o-"t audit ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] 
! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !       
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
complete an audit to det]m9e ! foll[+3  
7,a7 ,! frequ5cy by :i* ! ,dep>tm5t (   
,vet]ans ,affairs makes an error t      
results 9 a paym5t to a p]son by virtue 
( su* p]son's p>ticipation 9 a b5efits  
program adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y t su*   
p]son is n entitl$ to or 9 an am\nt t   
exce$s ! am\nt to :i* ! p]son is        
entitl$4  7,b7 ,:e!r & to :at degree    

vacant positions 9 ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits  
,adm9i/ration affect su* errors4  7#b7  
,annual audits ,section #ecad ( su*     
title1 z am5d$ by subsection 7a71 is    
fur!r am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+   
new subsection3  7f7 ,n less frequ5tly  
?an once ea* ye>1 ! ,secret>y %all      
complete an audit ( n less ?an #aj p]c5t
 ( all debts to ! ,unit$ ,/ates incurr$ 
by virtue ( a p]son's p>ticipation 9 a  
b5efits program adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 
to id5tify errors4  4  7f7 ,plan ,n lat]
 ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !
 ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
plan & description ( res\rce requirem5ts
 necess>y to align in=mation te*nology  
sy/ems to ensure t errors describ$ 9    
subsection 7d77#a7 are n ! result (     
communication or abs5ce ( communication 
betwe5 in=mation te*nology sy/ems4  7g7 
,coord9ation ) o!r ,f$]al ag5cies  7#a7 
,int]ag5cy work+ gr\p ,! ,secret>y (    

,vet]ans ,affairs may e/abli% an        
int]ag5cy work+ to assess h[ executive  
ag5cies %\ld submit timely in=mation to 
! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 9 ord]  
to r$uce ov]paym5ts to vet]ans 9 ! ev5t 
( a life ev5t1 su* z a *ange 9 "w /atus1
 inc>c]ation1 or *ange 9 m>ital /atus4  
7#b7 ,qu>t]ly report+ by ,secret>y (    
,def5se to ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 ,ea* qu>t]1 ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se %all 
transmit to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs in=mation on comp5sation       
receiv$ by memb]s ( ! res]ve compon5ts (
 ! ,arm$ ,=ces :o receiv$ dur+ su* qu>t]
 = in/ruction1 tra9+1 or o!r duties "u  
section #bjf ( title #cg1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code4