Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act

What this measure contains

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.

The latest Congressional Research Service summary in the bill's GovInfo status record, or its official title when no summary has been published. Amendments can change the wording; read a specific version for its complete provisions.

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Bill text and versions

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• Referred in Senate · Official document ↗· Feb 3, 2026
• Engrossed in House · Official document ↗· Feb 2, 2026
• Reported in House · Official document ↗· Oct 8, 2025
• Introduced in House · Official document ↗· Apr 30, 2025

Legislative path

Each stage below is a House or Senate floor decision: every recorded roll call on this measure, plus passage by voice vote or unanimous consent, which records no individual votes. Each stage shows the latest version published before that day; the chamber may have voted on an amended text. Roll calls name every member. A member's row follows their votes, and a highlighted vote marks where they voted for advancing the measure at one stage and against it at another (passage, cloture, motions to proceed, agreeing to the other chamber's version). Amendments and motions such as recommit or table don't count as a change, because an aye there isn't a vote for the measure.

1. Introduced in House
2. Reported in House
3. Engrossed in Houseby House suspend rules and pass
4. Referred in Senate

Decision stages

1. Feb 2, 2026 · House

   House suspend rules and pass on Reported in House: Passed, reported as Engrossed in House

   405 aye · 1 no · 26 not voting · Source roll call

House members along the path

Aye yea or aye · No nay or no · Present · NV not voting · Changed reversed on advancing the measure

Members are identified by the Bioguide ID in each roll call, not by name. Not voting is not a no vote; a blank cell means the member wasn't listed for that roll call.Congress.gov actions ↗

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Legislative history

1. Apr 30, 2025

   Introduced in House

2. Apr 30, 2025

   Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

3. May 15, 2025

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

4. Jun 24, 2025

   Subcommittee Hearings Held

5. Jul 23, 2025

   Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged

6. Jul 23, 2025

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

7. Jul 23, 2025

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

8. Oct 8, 2025

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-339.

9. Oct 8, 2025

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 291.

10. Feb 2, 2026

    Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

11. Feb 2, 2026

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1930-1932)

12. Feb 2, 2026

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3123.

13. Feb 2, 2026

    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.

14. Feb 2, 2026

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1937-1938)

15. Feb 2, 2026

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 1 (Roll no. 50). (text: CR H1930-1931)

16. Feb 2, 2026

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 1 (Roll no. 50). (text: CR H1930-1931)

17. Feb 2, 2026

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

18. Feb 3, 2026

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill sponsors