Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code. It focuses on the process of recommending members to serve on the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The bill directs the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals to prioritize certain individuals during the recommendation process. Specifically, priority is given to those with a specific level of professional experience. This change involves how individuals are recommended to the Secretary.
Yes
- Scored +3
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
By prioritizing more experienced legal professionals for the Board of Veterans' Appeals, the bill aims to enhance the adjudication process for veterans.
- Scored +3
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill seeks to improve the quality of the Board of Veterans' Appeals by requiring members to have specific legal professional experience.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Priority for Experienced Professionals: The Chairman must give priority to individuals with at least three years of legal professional experience in areas related to the laws administered by the Secretary (Section 2). This ensures that those recommended to the Board have a specific level of legal background.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text.
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — By prioritizing more experienced legal professionals for the Board of Veterans' Appeals, the bill aims to enhance the adjudication process for veterans.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill seeks to improve the quality of the Board of Veterans' Appeals by requiring members to have specific legal professional experience.
- 1/26/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1/20/2026
- 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 Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H936)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H936)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 659.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H936-937)
- Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 9/26/2025
- Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-309.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 263.
- 7/23/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 7/3/2025
- Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged
- 6/24/2025
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 5/6/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 3/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- 1/23/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Raúl GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Robert GarciaDemocrat · California
Delia RamirezDemocrat · Illinois
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida