Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025, as amended.

Obtaining veterans benefits can be confusing. The process can be cumbersome. Because of the complexity and scope of the VA and its programs, some veterans take to an internet search to figure out how to get their claims approved.

It seems certain actors have figured out that in the confusion of the process, they can make a profit or, with claims specifically, hundreds of millions of dollars in profits.

Oftentimes, when veterans log on and search how to get their claims submitted, they are greeted by a clickbait ad for claim sharks. These are the people who charge exorbitant fees, while assisting veterans in the preparation of their claims.

Current law mandates that VA has a duty to assist in the initial claims preparation process. This duty exists to ensure that there are no financial barriers to veterans in having their claims prepared and adjudicated and that veterans experience a nonadversarial process.

Moreover, there are thousands of veterans service organizations around the country who are willing and able to assist veterans for free. Those service officers have been vetted by VA, both for their character and competence.

In the spirit of ensuring that veterans are made aware that they are entitled to this preparation assistance, the Veterans Claims Education Act mandates that VA websites prominently give veterans notice that they are entitled to free assistance from an accredited representative and how to find that assistance.

Not only does it alert the veteran that they are entitled to assistance in their claims preparation at no cost but it also provides guidance on reporting bad actors like unaccredited claim sharks.

The VA's accreditation process serves to protect our Nation's veterans from financial exploitation so that veterans are less likely to be at risk of incurring outrageous debts, as well as losing out on months of their benefits.

Mr. Speaker, few people would think there is value in letting someone take 5 months of our paychecks just for reviewing our resume, right? Then why would we ever, ever be even remotely comfortable with someone taking 5 months of earned benefits away from our veterans?

I strongly support this bipartisan bill as it would promote those actors who are doing claims preparation and processing the right way, not the ones who pay to be the first result on an internet search.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Peters for introducing this legislation. This bill allows us to direct veterans to representatives who have the skills, knowledge, and accreditation to help them, not to take advantage of them during the initial claims process.

Mr. Speaker, today, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1578 and not just to stop there. I also urge them to continue to push back against claim sharks and to support legislation that reinstates the penalties that were in place to hold accountable bad actors who took advantage of veterans for years.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Peters), the author of H.R. 1578.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act.

I wrote this bill after a veteran in my district alerted my office about a challenge he faced accessing his hard-earned VA benefits. This veteran contracted with a for-profit company that promised to increase the veteran's disability benefits in exchange for a cut of the veteran's disability payment from the VA.

It is unconscionable that for-profit entities, known as claim sharks, prey on the trust and good will of our veterans to line their own pockets.

My bill takes a big step to correct this and will protect veterans in San Diego and throughout the country from similar scams in the future. The Veterans Claims Education Act provides educational resources to steer veterans toward veterans service organizations, qualified lawyers, and accredited entities who can provide not-for-profit assistance to veterans.

My bill also provides vets filing a disability claim with an online search tool to help veterans find accredited entities that can assist with claims. It creates an online portal to report claim sharks targeting veterans, which charge a fee for their services.

Republicans and Democrats may have sincere policy disagreements about how to provide world-class care to our Nation's veterans and their families, but I know we all agree that no one should be able to profit from the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

I thank the chairman and the ranking member and the entire House Veterans' Affairs Committee for advancing this legislation out of the House. I thank the numerous veterans organizations for their advocacy, including the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the VFW, and other great organizations.

I look forward to working with these groups to make this law the law of the land, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill and our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1578) to amend title 38, United States Code, to promote assistance from persons recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for individuals who file certain claims under laws administered by the Secretary, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1578, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1578, as amended, introduced by my colleague from California (Mr. Peters).

This bill would ensure veterans know about the availability of accredited representatives, including those who help with filing initial VA benefit claims at no cost. It would also give veterans the information and online resources they need to find an accredited representative who is right for them and to report any unaccredited bad actors who wrongfully charge a fee for their services.

This bill would also require the VA to review its accreditation process and give Congress recommendations for improvement. Veterans and their families deserve all the information they need to decide who will provide the best assistance with their claim. This bill ensures just that.

I thank Representative Peters for his work on this bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1578, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.