# 119-hr-1656: PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025

119-hr-1656, PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1] (R-MI); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1656
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1656
- Congress: 119
- Title: PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-02-27
- Sponsor: Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1] (R-MI)
- Cosponsors: 20
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**This bill would **tighten and standardize how agents, attorneys, and organizations represent veterans on VA claims** by capping fees, requiring disclosures, and increasing penalties for improper charging.** It also clarifies that giving a medical exam or completing the related report is not the same as preparing a claim for purposes of these rules. - Veterans and claimants would get clearer protections. The bill would cap flat fees for initial claims at the lesser of $12,500 or five times the monthly benefit increase, require a standard fee form, bar fee collection before an initial decision, and confirm the option to pick a private physician for exams. - People who want recognition as agents or attorneys would face a formal application process with mail, fax, or electronic options. The bill would allow conditional recognition if background checks take longer than 90 days, permit one-year temporary recognition and further one-year extensions, and require reporting on suspensions or denials by representative type. - Oversight, money, and penalties would be strengthened. The Secretary could assess applicants who charge fees with assessments up to $500 to fund administration. The bill would reinstate criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized fees, add enhanced penalties during conditional recognition including a $50,000 fine and possible bars from recognition, and deposit fines into a revolving fund. The bill would also preempt any state laws that conflict with these federal rights.

## Cosponsors (20)

- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1] (R-IA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7] (R-NC), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11] (R-FL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6] (R-NC), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10] (R-NC), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4] (R-MO), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9] (R-PA), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7] (R-GA), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9] (R-NC), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] (R-NY), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3] (R-WI), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8] (R-NC), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2] (R-MO), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28] (R-FL), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3] (R-IA), 2025-03-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8] (R-TN), 2025-04-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4] (R-MI), 2025-04-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8] (R-CO), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Fee caps for veterans' initial claims: benefit, high. If enacted, you could not be asked to pay before the VA’s initial decision on your claim. Any fee would have to depend on a win for you. The total fee could not exceed the lesser of $12,500 or five times your monthly benefit increase. The $12,500 cap would adjust each Oct. 1 for inflation starting…
- Heavy penalties for violations by temporary reps: benefit, high. If enacted, the VA would revoke conditional recognition after notice when a temporary representative breaks VA laws or rules. After notice and a chance to be heard, that person could be fined $50,000. They would be barred for one year for a first violation and 10 years for later ones.
- Criminal ban on unauthorized VA fees: benefit, medium. If enacted, it would be a crime to ask for or take fees for VA claim help unless the law allows it. Violators could face fines, up to one year in jail, or both. This would take effect 90 days after the VA issues required rules.
- Federal rules override conflicting state laws: benefit, medium. If enacted, this Act would supersede any state law that conflicts with the rights it creates. States could not enforce rules that block these federal protections, whether old or new.
- Medical exams not claim preparation: benefit, low. If enacted, giving or reporting a required medical exam would not count as preparing or prosecuting a claim. This would keep exam duties separate from representation rules.
- VA must issue rules and annual reports: benefit, low. If enacted, the VA would have 180 days after enactment to issue rules for these changes. The VA would also report to Congress one year after enactment and every year after on suspensions and denials, with reasons and rep type.
- New rules and $500 fee for paid reps: mixed, low. If enacted, agents and attorneys could apply for VA recognition by mail, fax, or online. If the VA cannot verify qualifications in 90 days, the VA would grant one-year conditional recognition and renew it yearly until verification. The VA could charge an assessment, capped at $500, for applicants w…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3132: CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025
- 119-hconres-12: Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.
- 119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025
- 119-hr-703: Main Street Tax Certainty Act
- 119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1656 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1656)

## Related
- [119-hr-3132: CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3132)
- [119-hconres-12: Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hconres-12)
- [119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-452)
- [119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-979)
- [119-hr-703: Main Street Tax Certainty Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-703)
- [119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-425)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1656 (as of 2026-04-21).