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H.R. 3123

U.S. House•In Senate Committee

Summary

H.R. 3123, the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act, was introduced in the House on Apr 30, 2025 by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R) with 2 co-sponsors. It was referred to Veterans' Affairs, and last saw action on Feb 3, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Record

Text

H.R. 3123 has 2 co-sponsors and 1 roll call.

hb3123/engrossed-in-house.txt
119 HR 3123 EH: Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act
 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.
 I
 119th CONGRESS   2d Session
 H. R. 3123
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws relating to the payment of certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by death, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act  .
2.
Payment by Secretary of Veterans Affairs of pension after death of a veteran in certain circumstances
(a)
In general
 Chapter 51  of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting, after section 5121A, the following new section:
5121B.
Payment of pension after death of a veteran in certain circumstances
(a)
In general
Subject to subsection (b), if the Secretary issues a decision awarding entitlement to a pension to a veteran before the death of such veteran, and the Secretary issues payment of such pension after the veteran dies, such pension that was due and unpaid at the time of the veteran’s death shall be paid to the first living person or entity listed below:
(1)
The veteran’s spouse.
(2)
The veteran’s children (in equal shares).
(3)
The veteran’s dependent parents (in equal shares).
(4)
The estate of the deceased veteran unless the estate will escheat.
(b)
Limitation
In a case described in subsection (a), if no application is filed under section 5121 of this title during the one-year period following the death of the veteran, the pension described in such subsection shall be paid to the estate of the deceased veteran unless the estate will escheat.
 .
(b)
Technical and conforming amendments
(1)
Conforming amendment
Section 5121(a) of such title is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting  section 5121B of this title, or  before  sections 3329 and 3330 .
(2)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting, after the item relating to section 5121A, the following new item:
5121B. Payment of pension after death of a veteran in certain circumstances.
  .
(c)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the death of a veteran that occurs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
3.
Extension of certain limits on payments of pension
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking  January 31, 2033  and inserting  February 28, 2033 .
     Passed the House of Representatives February 2, 2026.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-04-30
  2. Passed House2026-02-02
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Apr 30, 2025

hb3123/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (04/30/2025)

Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act

This bill establishes procedures for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue a pension that was due but unpaid at the time of a veteran’s death. Specifically, if the VA issues a decision awarding entitlement to a pension to a veteran prior to the veteran’s death but issues the payment after the veteran dies, the pension must be paid to the first available recipient on the following list: (1) the veteran’s living spouse; (2) the veteran’s living children; (3) the veteran’s living dependent parents; or (4) the estate of the veteran, unless the estate will escheat (i.e., transfer to the state). To be eligible for such pension payments, a claimant of accrued benefits must file an application within one year after the veteran's death.

If no application for accrued benefits is filed within one year following the death of the veteran, the pension must be paid to the veteran’s estate unless the estate will escheat.

Sponsors

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R) sponsors H.R. 3123, and 2 members have co-sponsored it, 1 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 3123 went before 3 committees: Veterans' Affairs, Veterans' Affairs and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

Veterans' Affairs
Veterans' Affairs
Referred To · Feb 3, 2026
Veterans' Affairs
Veterans' Affairs
Reported By · Oct 8, 2025 · 285 Bills
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
Hearings By (subcommittee) · Jun 24, 2025 · 62 Bills

Reports

1 committee report has been filed on H.R. 3123, the latest H. Rept. 119-339.

Actions

H.R. 3123 has taken 18 actions since Apr 30, 2025, the latest on Feb 3, 2026.

ChamberAction
Feb 3, 2026
Senate
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Veterans' Affairs Committee
Feb 2, 202617:02
House
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 2, 202617:02
House
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1930-1932)
Feb 2, 202617:02
House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3123.
Feb 2, 202617:12
House
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

Votes

H.R. 3123 went to 1 roll call in the House, the latest on Feb 2, 2026 at 405–1.

ChamberQuestion
Yea
Nay
Feb 2, 2026
House
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
405
1

Titles

H.R. 3123 goes by 7 titles, 4 of them short titles.

  • Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act — Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
  • Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act — Short Title(s) as Passed House
  • To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws relating to the payment of certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by death, and for other purposes. — Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
  • Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act — Short Title(s) as Reported to House
  • Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act — Display Title
  • Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws relating to the payment of certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by death, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Cost estimate

The Congressional Budget Office has filed 1 estimate for H.R. 3123, the latest on Oct 7, 2025.

Lobbying

1 client hired 1 firm and 10 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 3123 in 5 quarterly filings, 2025 to 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Budget/Appropriations, Civil Rights/Civil Liberties, Government Issues, Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs, Medicare/Medicaid, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Transportation, Unemployment.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA—District of Columbia15—

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

RegistrantClientsFilingsReported
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA15—

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill.

LobbyistFirmsClientsFilings
HEATHER ANSLEY115
JEREMY VILLANUEVA115
JULIE HOWELL115
MORGAN BROWN115
ANTHONYA JAMES113
LISA ELIJAH113
ANTHONYA HOLLINS112
DANICA GONZALVES112
JENNIFER HUNT112
ROSCOE BUTLER111

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2026 second_quarter$112.1K2nd Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2026 first_quarter$108.2K1st Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2025 second_quarter$89.2K2nd Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2025 fourth_quarter$87.2K4th Quarter - Report
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICAPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA2025 third_quarter$87.2K3rd Quarter - Report

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 3123 under Armed Forces and National Security, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 2 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 3123’s is Armed Forces and National Security.

hr3123/policy-areas.txt
Armed Forces and National SecurityAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 3123 carries 2 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Family relationships to Veterans' pensions and compensation.

hr3123/subjects.txt
Family relationshipsVeterans' pensions and compensation

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 3123, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Ms. STEFANIK:H.R. 3123.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.[Page H1776]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com