H.R. 659, Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025

August 7, 2025

Cost Estimate

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on July 23, 2025

H.R. 659, Veterans Law Judge Experience Act of 2025 As ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on July 23, 2025
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars		2025	2025-2030	2025-2035
Direct Spending (Outlays)		0	0	0
Revenues		0	0	0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit		0	0	0
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)		0	0	0
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036?	No	Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?		Yes
	No	Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036?	No	Contains intergovernmental mandate?		No
	No	Contains private-sector mandate?		No

H.R. 659 would require the Chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board) to prioritize people with at least three years of relevant experience working in veterans’ law when recommending new Board members to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Board is a component of VA that hears appeals on matters affecting VA benefits. The bill might affect the composition of the Board’s members but would not change the number of members or their compensation. As a result, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 659 would not affect the federal budget.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Logan Smith. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

Phillip L. Swagel Director, Congressional Budget Office

Phillip L. Swagel

Director, Congressional Budget Office