What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 This bill requires the Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to prioritize individuals with three or more years of legal professional experience in relevant legal areas when recommending individuals to the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as members of the Board.
Action Timeline
2026-01-26
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2026-01-20
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-01-20
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H936)
2026-01-20
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H936)
2026-01-20
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 659.
2026-01-20
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H936-937)
2026-01-20
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2025-09-26
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 263.
2025-09-26
Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-309.
2025-09-26
Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-309.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.659 pass?
HR.659 is still alive. Current stage: PASSED_ONE. Pass likelihood: 48%.
What does HR.659 do?
Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 This bill requires the Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to prioritize individuals with three or more years of legal professional experience in relevant legal areas when recommending individuals to the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as members of the Board.
Who sponsored HR.659?
HR.659 was sponsored by Julia Brownley (D-California).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 659 EH: Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IB 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 659 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals to give priority to individuals with certain professional experience in recommending such individuals to serve as members of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 . 2. Priority for individuals with certain professional experience in appointments to Board of Veterans’ Appeals Subsection (a) of section 7101A of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) In recommending individuals to the Secretary to serve as members of the Board, the Chairman shall give priority to individuals with three or more years of legal professional experience in areas that pertain to the laws administered by the Secretary. . Passed the House of Representatives January 20, 2026. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.
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