Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog and Accountability Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 23, 2013

Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog and Accountability Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement the Strategic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation Claims Backlog (Plan) to ensure that, by Memorial Day (May 25) 2015, each VA disability claim is approved or denied within 125 days after its submission, with an accuracy rate of 98%. Requires a supplemental report from the Secretary to Congress on specific measures to assess implementation of the Plan and a detailed timeline to implement each initiative contained in the Plan.

Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration and the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that such Commissioner and DOD Secretary transfer to the VA disability or medical records the VA Secretary will use to evaluate a disability claim by not later than 30 days after the VA Secretary requests such records.

Requires the two Secretaries to submit to Congress, and implement, a plan to reduce to 30 days the time needed to provide members of the National Guard and the VA Secretary with the medical records of such members.

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Requires the VA Secretary to establish a three-year training program for newly-hired VA claims processors.

Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress every 90 days on the Secretary's progress in implementing the Plan.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA-23] · R–CA

Committees

Armed Services Committee
Veterans' Affairs Committee

9 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 6, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Jun 28, 2013
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 11, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
May 23, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 23, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 23, 2013
Introduced in House
May 23, 2013
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · May 23, 2013 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2138 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.2138, 113th Congress: Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog and Accountability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2138

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-05-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr2138/BILLS-113hr2138ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:39:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.2138 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2138 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2138, 113th Congress: Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog and Accountability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2138

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-05-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr2138/BILLS-113hr2138ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:39:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2138 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2138 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2138, 113th Congress: Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog and Accountability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2138

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-05-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr2138/BILLS-113hr2138ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:39:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2138 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2138 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2138, 113th Congress: Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog and Accountability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2138

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-05-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr2138/BILLS-113hr2138ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:39:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2138 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.