To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow revision of veterans benefits decisions based on clear and unmistakable error.
Public Law 105-111 · H.R. 1090 · 105th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Nov 21, 1997 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL-17)
Cosponsors (46): Rep. Robert Stump, Rep. Bob Filner,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
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.
Subjects veterans' benefits claim decisions made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Board of Veterans' Appeals to revision on the grounds of clear and unmistakable error. Requires reversal or revision of such decision, by the same party making the original decision, if evidence establishes such error. Allows review requests for determining the existence of such error to be instituted by the Secretary, the Board, or the claimant.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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. 13 actions.
- Nov 21, 1997Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-111.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 13, 1997PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 10, 1997FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Apr 17, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Apr 16, 1997FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Stump moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Apr 14, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Mar 20, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Mar 18, 1997CommitteeCommittee · 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.