To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of past-due benefits awarded an individual pursuant to a proceeding before the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, any payment of attorneys fees allowed with respect to such award shall be paid directly to the attorney by the Secretary.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 12, 1998

Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to require (current law authorizes) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in the case of past-due benefits awarded to an individual in a veterans' claims adjudication, to direct that the payment of attorney's fees (not to exceed 20 percent of such award) be made out of such past due benefits.

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PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Evans, Lane [D-IL-17] · D–IL

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

8 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.

Mar 30, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
Mar 12, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 12, 1998
Introduced in House
Mar 12, 1998
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 · Mar 12, 1998 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2572 · To amend title 38, United States Code, to require that in the case of past-due benefits awarded an individual pursuant to a proceeding before the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the payment of attorneys fees with respect to such award may not exceed 20 percent of the award.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3444 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3444, 105th Congress: To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of past-due benefits awarded an individual pursuant to a proceeding before the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, any payment of attorneys fees allowed with respect to such award shall be paid directly to the attorney by the Secretary.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/3444

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr3444/BILLS-105hr3444ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:49:50Z. 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.3444 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.3444 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.3444, 105th Congress: To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of past-due benefits awarded an individual pursuant to a proceeding before the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, any payment of attorneys fees allowed with respect to such award shall be paid directly to the attorney by the Secretary.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/3444

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr3444/BILLS-105hr3444ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:49:50Z. 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.3444 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.3444 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.3444, 105th Congress: To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of past-due benefits awarded an individual pursuant to a proceeding before the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, any payment of attorneys fees allowed with respect to such award shall be paid directly to the attorney by the Secretary.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/3444

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr3444/BILLS-105hr3444ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:49:50Z. 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.3444 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.3444 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.3444, 105th Congress: To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of past-due benefits awarded an individual pursuant to a proceeding before the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, any payment of attorneys fees allowed with respect to such award shall be paid directly to the attorney by the Secretary.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/3444

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr3444/BILLS-105hr3444ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:49:50Z. 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.3444 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.