HR3132119th CongressWALLET

CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Bergman

In Committee

Summary

Creates regulated accreditation and fee limits for people who help veterans file VA benefits claims. It would set a national recognition system for agents, attorneys, and organizations, standardize fee agreements, and expand claimants' access to no-cost accredited help.

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  • Veterans and families: Veterans would get a public, quarterly-updated list of accredited representatives and an online warning about fees. The VA must point claimants to recognized organizations that offer no-cost claim preparation.
  • Representatives: Agents and attorneys would need formal recognition and a knowledge test and must meet higher continuing education requirements. The VA could grant temporary recognition and charge an assessment of up to $500 for recognition applications.
  • Oversight and penalties: The VA would gain audit authority and must report annually to Congress while the Government Accountability Office would review the recognition process. The bill creates civil and criminal-like penalties, requires revocation for violators, and sets a $50,000 penalty for repeat offenses.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Find accredited, no-cost VA claim help

If enacted, the VA would have to tell unrepresented claimants about free, accredited help. The VA would keep a public online list of accredited helpers and update it at least every quarter. Claim portals would show fee warnings and links to that list. You could also report unaccredited preparers and any fees they charged.

Federal rules override conflicting state laws

If enacted, the bill’s federal rules would override any state law that conflicts with them. States could not enforce rules that undercut the rights this bill creates.

New fee limits for VA claims

If enacted, you would see new rules on fees for VA claims. Fees must be contingency-only and may not be more than the lower of $12,500 or five times your monthly benefit increase. If fees are higher than your past‑due award, the representative would have to offer installments, with each payment no more than your monthly increase. Representatives could not charge in some cases, like presumptive service‑connection claims, claims filed on active duty, certain delays they caused, or when the same organization already charged you. The cap would also rise each October 1 with inflation (CPI).

Pension date extended to April 2032

If enacted, a VA pension payment limit date would move from November 30, 2031 to April 30, 2032. This would keep the current rule in place a few months longer.

More oversight of VA recognition program

If enacted, VA and GAO would review and report on how VA recognizes agents and attorneys. VA would finish its own review within 180 days and send recommendations to Congress. GAO would report within one year with findings and suggested fixes. VA would also report to Congress each year on denials, suspensions, and penalties, with reasons.

Criminal ban on unauthorized claim fees

If enacted, it would be a crime to charge or try to charge VA claim fees unless the law allows it. Penalties could include a fine under federal law, up to one year in jail, or both. The VA would define what “preparation, presentation, or prosecution” of a claim means within 90 days, and the new penalty rules would start 180 days after those regulations are issued. The ban would not cover independent medical exams with no business tie to a recognized representative.

Stronger penalties for rule-breaking representatives

If enacted, conditionally recognized representatives who break VA rules could lose recognition and face steep penalties. Each violation could bring a $50,000 fine, a 1‑year bar the first time, and a 10‑year bar after that. The VA would also add new misconduct rules, like poor data security, selling personal data, steering clients to doctors they have business ties with, or using overseas call centers for claim work.

New recognition rules and application fee

If enacted, people seeking VA recognition to help with claims would face new steps. The VA would post an on‑demand knowledge test within 180 days and raise continuing education rules within one year. If VA cannot verify qualifications in 180 days, applicants would get one year of conditional recognition, with 180‑day extensions until verification is done. The VA could charge an application assessment up to $500 to those who plan to charge fees. VA could not deny recognition just for past fee‑charging or for being a nonprofit employee acting in that role.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bergman

MI • R

Cosponsors

  • Bost

    IL • R

    Sponsored 5/1/2025

  • Self

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/1/2025

  • Van Orden

    WI • R

    Sponsored 5/1/2025

  • Harris (NC)

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Alford

    MO • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Van Drew

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Rouzer

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Miller-Meeks

    IA • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Newhouse

    WA • R

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

  • Franklin, Scott

    FL • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

  • Kelly (PA)

    PA • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

  • DesJarlais

    TN • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

  • LaLota

    NY • R

    Sponsored 6/2/2025

  • Moore (NC)

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/12/2025

  • Rose

    TN • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2025

  • Moore (AL)

    AL • R

    Sponsored 7/29/2025

  • Edwards

    NC • R

    Sponsored 8/5/2025

  • Webster (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 8/26/2025

  • Nunn (IA)

    IA • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Kustoff

    TN • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2025

  • James

    MI • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2025

  • Calvert

    CA • R

    Sponsored 9/19/2025

  • Salazar

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/26/2025

  • Lawler

    NY • R

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Evans (CO)

    CO • R

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • McCormick

    GA • R

    Sponsored 10/8/2025

  • Crawford

    AR • R

    Sponsored 10/10/2025

  • Meuser

    PA • R

    Sponsored 10/10/2025

  • Steil

    WI • R

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Smucker

    PA • R

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Burchett

    TN • R

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Miller (OH)

    OH • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Harrigan

    NC • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Huizenga

    MI • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • McDowell

    NC • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Kelly (MS)

    MS • R

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Wagner

    MO • R

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Crenshaw

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/1/2025

  • McCaul

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

  • Stauber

    MN • R

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

  • Hudson

    NC • R

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Ogles

    TN • R

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Dunn (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Bice

    OK • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

  • Wied

    WI • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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