Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2303
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Committee Hearings Held
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T08:08:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to improve the recruitment and retention of attorneys at the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). By enhancing attorney pay scales, it seeks to boost the quality of decisions and speed up the processing of veterans' appeals, reducing backlogs in claims.
Key Provisions
- Promotion Eligibility: Non-supervisory attorneys employed by the BVA can now be promoted to Grade GS-15 on the federal General Schedule pay scale (a high-level pay grade typically reserved for senior roles, offering higher salaries to attract and retain talent).
- Technical Amendment: Updates Section 7101A(b) of Title 38, U.S. Code, by redesignating existing text and adding a new paragraph to explicitly allow these promotions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, BVA attorneys (especially non-supervisory ones) were limited in pay progression, often capping below GS-15. This bill removes that barrier, aligning BVA attorney compensation more closely with other high-level federal legal roles to make the positions more competitive.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA and BVA could see improved staffing stability, leading to faster resolution of appeals (currently backlogged) and higher-quality decisions, potentially reducing operational costs from turnover.
- On Citizens: Veterans filing appeals for benefits (e.g., disability claims) may experience quicker processing times and more accurate outcomes, easing delays in receiving deserved support.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic veterans' affairs matter.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans and Their Families: Primary beneficiaries through faster and better-handled appeals.
- BVA Attorneys: Gain opportunities for higher pay and career advancement, aiding retention.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Faces administrative changes but benefits from enhanced workforce efficiency.
- Taxpayers: Indirectly affected via federal budget implications for higher attorney salaries, balanced by potential savings from reduced backlogs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the administrative framework under Title 38, U.S. Code, by modernizing personnel rules without altering veterans' due process rights in appeals.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate federal employee compensation (Article I, Section 8) and support veterans' benefits (as implied in the Constitution's welfare clause), promoting efficient government operations.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Reps. McGarvey and Bilirakis) highlights focus on veterans' services; could set precedent for pay reforms in other federal agencies facing staffing shortages, though it may spark debates on federal spending priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Committee Hearings Held
- 2026-03-18: Committee Hearings Held
- 2025-04-09: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 2025-04-08: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- 2025-03-24: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-03-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act — issued 2025-03-24 — PDF (2 pages)