119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 6588
The Priority Response for Veterans Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies Act (PROVIDE Act) directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to expedite processing of disability compensation claims for veterans living in areas affected by major disasters declared by the President, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. The bill adds disaster-affected veterans to the existing list of those eligible for priority claim processing, which currently includes veterans experiencing financial hardship, homelessness, terminal illness, and those in the VA's Fully Developed Claim program. To help disaster-affected veterans, the VA must also establish flexible evidence requirements and filing deadlines for claims from those unable to meet normal documentation standards due to disaster impacts. The VA has 60 days from the bill's enactment to post information on its website about all eligibility categories for priority processing. The bill does not specify dedicated funding, as it directs the VA to use existing resources to reallocate processing priorities to disaster-affected veterans.