H.R. 1139

GUARD VA Benefits Act

Latest

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1139

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 21, 2023

Mr. Pappas (for himself, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Allred, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Keating, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Mr. Peters, Ms. Strickland, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Foster, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Norton, Mr. Costa, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Valadao, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Carson, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Bonamici, Mrs. McBath, Ms. Porter, Ms. Tokuda, Ms. Wild, Ms. Titus, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Underwood, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Hern, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Sherrill, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Case, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Casten, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Garbarino, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Cuellar, Ms. Jacobs, Ms. Ross, Ms. Pingree, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Webster of Florida, and Ms. Budzinski) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate penalties for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees relating to claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act.

2.

Reinstatement of penalties for charging veterans unauthorized fees relating to claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Section 5905 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the section heading, by striking Penalty and inserting Penalties (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 59 of such title accordingly);

(2)

by inserting (a) Withholding of benefits.— before Whoever; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(b)

Charging of unauthorized fees

Except as provided in sections 5904 or 1984 of this title, whoever solicits, contracts for, charges, or receives, or attempts to solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, any fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary shall be fined as provided in title 18.

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