# 119-hr-1732: GUARD VA Benefits Act

119-hr-1732, GUARD VA Benefits Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1732
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1732
- Congress: 119
- Title: GUARD VA Benefits Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-02-27
- Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH)
- Cosponsors: 137
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (137)

- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2] (D-ME), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13] (D-OH), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] (R-WA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8] (R-TN), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4] (D-AZ), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5] (R-AL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] (D-IL), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] (R-NY), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30] (D-CA), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3] (D-MN), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1] (D-IN), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3] (D-NJ), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3] (R-TN), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] (D-TX), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (D-NM), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4] (R-UT), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] (D-OH), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5] (R-KY), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10] (D-VA), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] (D-WA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] (D-CO), 2025-08-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2025-08-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3] (D-WA), 2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] (D-CA), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large] (D-PR), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] (D-AL), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] (R-NJ), 2025-12-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2025-12-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2026-01-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2026-01-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3] (D-MI), 2026-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2026-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2026-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] (R-MN), 2026-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2026-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2026-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2026-04-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA), 2026-04-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2026-04-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7] (R-FL), 2026-04-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-04-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] (R-WI), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16] (D-CA), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2026-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19] (D-NY), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA), 2026-06-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2026-08-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban on unauthorized VA fees: benefit, low. 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 wit…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
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- 119-hres-1641: Honoring the contributions of Indian Americans and supporting the designation of July as "Indian American Heritage Month".
- 119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1732 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1732)

## Related
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-70)
- [119-hres-1641: Honoring the contributions of Indian Americans and supporting the designation o…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-1641)
- [119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2550)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1810)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1732 (as of 2026-09-21).