Sponsors (2)
Last progress February 27, 2025 (1 year ago)
Introduced on February 27, 2025 by Greg Stanton
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Strengthens oversight of people and groups who help veterans with VA benefits claims. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include detailed information about all recognized agents, attorneys, and organizations in its yearly report to Congress and creates an official certification mark for recognized representatives, with penalties for anyone who uses it fraudulently. To keep records accurate, the VA must each year ask all recognized representatives to update their contact information, publish clear instructions on how to do that, and update the public VA Accreditation Search Database. The first round of updates is due within 180 days after the first annual report that includes the new accreditation information, and then occurs every year after that.
Add a new section (38 U.S.C. § 5907) requiring the Secretary to include information in the annual report to Congress about agents, attorneys, organizations, their representatives, and other individuals recognized under this chapter.
Include a description of the type and frequency of training that is required to be recognized, or to continue to be recognized, under this chapter, and any review or audit conducted of such training.
Describe the type of information the Secretary collects from individuals who request to be recognized, or to continue to be recognized, under this chapter.
Describe the method the Secretary uses to gather personal and qualifying information from individuals and organizations recognized or seeking recognition under this chapter.
Identify how often the Secretary receives updated personal and qualifying information from recognized individuals and organizations.