Veterans' Judicial Review Amendments of 1991
Public Law 102-82 · H.R. 153 · 102nd Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Aug 6, 1991 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Sonny Montgomery (D-MS-3)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Robert Stump
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Repeals certain provisions relating to decisions made by the Court of Veterans Appeals (Court) in veterans' benefits determinations.
Authorizes the Chief Judge of the Court to annually summon the judges of such Court to a judicial conference in order to consider business of the Court and to improve the administration of justice within the Court's jurisdiction.
Directs the Court to prescribe rules which establish procedures for the filing, investigation, and resolution of complaints with respect to the conduct of any judge of the Court.
Applies current Federal rules concerning the disqualification of justices, judges, or magistrates to judges of the Court.
Authorizes the judges to participate in a thrift savings plan through contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund. Limits to five percent of basic pay the annual authorized contributions for such purpose. Requires the judges to make an election to participate in the thrift savings plan within 60 days after enactment of this Act.
Requires the Congressional Record to be distributed to the Court.
Authorizes the Court to accept and utilize services, gifts, and bequests of personal property in order to aid or facilitate the work of the court.
Makes discretionary (currently, mandatory) the return by the Court of books, records, and diagrams submitted to the Court as part of an administrative determination.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Veterans' Affairs Committee · Senate · hearings by (full committee), markup by, referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 19 actions.
- Aug 6, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-82.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jul 29, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jul 24, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Montgomery asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
- Jul 16, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 762 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jul 15, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Jun 6, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- May 23, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Mar 7, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Feb 20, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Montgomery moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jan 3, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.