Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 659) 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.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 659

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025''. SEC. 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.''.

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Mr. BOST. 659.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 659.

This bill would require the chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals to prioritize people with at least 3 years of relevant experience working in veterans law when recommending new veteran law judges to the VA Secretary for positions at the VA.

This legislation does not alter the criteria the board currently uses to evaluate judges, and it does not restrict the board chairman from recommending other qualified candidates.

Madam Speaker, this bill would ensure that the best judges with vitally important firsthand experience are serving our veterans at the VA.

Veterans expect that those who are hearing their appeal or reviewing evidence in support of their appeal, have the skills, knowledge, and experience in veterans law to make sound decisions.

I support this commonsense legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 659. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentlewoman from California for her time in service here. I wish her the best. Hopefully, we will continue working together, as we still have a lot of things to get done. This bill is a very good bill.

Mr. Speaker, I, once again, encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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