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119-hr-1732119th CongressWALLET

GUARD VA Benefits Act

Sponsored By: Representative Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

In Committee

Summary

Would reinstate criminal penalties for charging veterans unauthorized fees for VA benefit claims and create a clear withholding-of-benefits rule. It restructures 38 U.S.C. §5905 by renaming the heading to “Penalties,” adding a separate "Withholding of Benefits" subsection, and adding a "Charging of Unauthorized Fees" subsection that makes those fee violations punishable by fines under Title 18.

Show full summary
  • Veterans: Strengthens protections by creating a clearer legal deterrent against unauthorized fee charges when pursuing VA benefits.
  • People who prepare or charge fees: Makes anyone who solicits, contracts for, charges, or receives unauthorized fees subject to criminal fines under Title 18, except where sections 5904 or 1984 apply.
  • Department of Veterans Affairs: Adds an explicit withholding-of-benefits tool tied to fee violations to help enforce the ban on unauthorized charges.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban on unauthorized VA fees

This bill would ban people from charging or trying to charge fees to help prepare, present, or prosecute VA benefit claims. If enacted, anyone who solicits, contracts for, charges, receives, or attempts those acts would face a criminal fine as provided in Title 18. The bill would add a separate withholding-of-benefits remedy and rename the section heading from Penalty to Penalties. The rule would not apply where sections 5904 or 1984 of title 38 apply, and it does not set a specific dollar amount for fines.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

NH • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

    MS • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

    KY • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]

    WA • R

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

    CO • D

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  • Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

    OR • D

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  • Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

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  • Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

    NC • D

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  • Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

    CA • D

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  • Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

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  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

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  • Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

    CA • D

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  • Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]

    AZ • D

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  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

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  • Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]

    AL • R

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  • Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

    NJ • D

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  • Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]

    IL • D

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  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

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  • Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

    NY • R

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  • Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

  • Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

  • Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

    NY • D

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  • Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]

    WA • D

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  • Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 8/26/2025

  • Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

    CA • D

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  • Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2025

  • Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2025

  • Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/26/2025

  • Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]

    PR • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 12/11/2025

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 12/11/2025

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/20/2026

  • Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/20/2026

  • Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/20/2026

  • Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

    MN • R

    Sponsored 2/20/2026

  • Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/5/2026

  • Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/5/2026

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/6/2026

  • Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/6/2026

  • Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/6/2026

  • Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]

    WA • D

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  • Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

    MD • D

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  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

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    NJ • D

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    NY • D

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    CA • D

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    IL • D

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  • Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]

    NJ • D

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Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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