Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
VA Home Loan Program Reform Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Became Public Law No: 119-31.
Became law
Passed both chambers and was signed by the President, or became law without a signature.
Nothing more in Congress: it is law. When it takes effect depends on the dates written into it — some parts start at once, others a year or more later.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- Passed Senate voice vote
- To President
- Became Law
No one's position on it was recorded: the House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together), and the Senate by voice vote (members called out yes or no together).
What this bill would do
The VA Home Loan Program Reform Act aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code regarding home loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. It authorizes the Secretary to take specific actions to prevent foreclosures, including paying loan holders to avoid such actions. A new "Partial Claim Program" is established to allow the Secretary to purchase a portion of a veteran's indebtedness for their primary residence. The bill also mandates the creation of loss mitigation procedures and requires a report on strategies to help veterans secure real estate representation. Additionally, the Act increases funding authorizations for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +8
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill provides new tools to prevent foreclosure and increases support for homeless veterans.
- Scored +8
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill enhances home loan protections against foreclosure and increases funding for homeless veteran services.
- Scored +7
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill introduces the Partial Claim Program to help veterans avoid foreclosure on their primary residences.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill limits judicial review of the Secretary's decisions regarding loan actions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Prevention of Foreclosure: The Secretary is authorized to pay loan holders an amount necessary to avoid a foreclosure on a guaranteed loan (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i)).
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Loss Mitigation Options: The Secretary must prescribe specific procedures, including a mandatory sequence of options, to help prevent foreclosures (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Partial Claim Program: This program allows the Secretary to purchase a portion of a loan's indebtedness to help prevent or resolve a default on a veteran's primary residence (Section 3(a)(1)-(2)).
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Expanded Support for Disaster Victims: The Secretary may allow an additional partial claim for individuals who failed to make payments during a major disaster declared by the President (Section 3(a)(2)(B)).
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Addressing Real Estate Disadvantages: The Secretary is required to report on a strategy to ensure veterans are not at a disadvantage when trying to secure representation by a real estate agent or broker (Section 4).
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Increased Funding for Homeless Veterans: The bill increases the authorization of appropriations for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Limited Judicial Oversight: Decisions made by the Secretary regarding loan actions or the partial claim program are final and not subject to judicial review (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(C) and Section 3(f)(2)).
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Liability for Defaults: An individual who defaults on a loan for which a partial claim was made is liable to the Secretary for any loss suffered, and this can be recovered as a debt to the United States (Section 3(e)(1)(A)).
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Reduction of Future Benefits: In the event of a default on a partial claim, the Secretary may reduce the aggregate amount of guaranty or insurance housing loan entitlement available to the individual (Section 3(e)(1)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill introduces the Partial Claim Program to help veterans avoid foreclosure on their primary residences. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The act significantly increases funding for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill provides new tools to prevent foreclosure and increases support for homeless veterans.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill enhances home loan protections against foreclosure and increases funding for homeless veteran services.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill allows for additional partial claim opportunities for veterans facing major disasters.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' authority over loan defaults and limits judicial review. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill limits judicial review of the Secretary's decisions regarding loan actions.
- Public Law (7/31/2025)
The text as it became law
- Enrolled Bill
The final version, on its way to the President
- 7/30/2025
- Signed by President.
- Became Public Law No: 119-31.
- 7/18/2025
- Presented to President.
- 7/16/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 7/15/2025
- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S4373-4374)
- 5/20/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 5/19/2025
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-104.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 77.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2126-2127)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2126-2127)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1815.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2126-2129)
- Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 5/6/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 4/9/2025
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 3/10/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 3/3/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.