I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 1732
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate penalties for persons
charging veterans unauthorized fees relating to claims for benefits under
the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY27, 2025
Mr. P
APPAS(for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. VANDREW, Mr. THOMPSON
of Mississippi, Mrs. R
AMIREZ, Mr. GOLDENof Maine, Mr. CONNOLLY,
Mr. B
ACON, Mr. MCGARVEY, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. KELLYof Illinois, Mrs.
S
YKES, Ms. STRICKLAND, Mr. CASAR, Mr. KEATING, Mrs. CHERFILUS-
M
CCORMICK, Mr. PETERS, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Ms.
S
CHAKOWSKY, Ms. HOYLEof Oregon, Ms. TOKUDA, Ms. NORTON, Ms.
M
CCLELLAN, Mr. DAVISof North Carolina, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr.
S
ORENSEN, Mr. MAGAZINER, Ms. SHERRILL, Ms. SALINAS, Mr.
K
USTOFF, Ms. OMAR, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. CARTERof Louisiana, Mr.
M
OULTON, Mr. DELUZIO, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. AMO, Ms. STEVENS, Mr.
Q
UIGLEY, Ms. ROSS, Mr. GARCIAof California, Mr. AUCHINCLOSS, Mrs.
H
AYES, Mr. COHEN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. STANTON, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr.
S
TRONG, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Ms. TITUS, Ms. TENNEY,
and Mr. G
RIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee
on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate penalties
for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees relating
to claims for benefits under the laws administered by
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the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other pur-
poses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Governing 4
Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits 5
Act’’ or the ‘‘GUARD VA Benefits Act’’. 6
SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT OF PENALTIES FOR CHARGING 7
VETERANS UNAUTHORIZED FEES RELATING 8
TO CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS UNDER LAWS AD-9
MINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VET-10
ERANS AFFAIRS. 11
Section 5905 of title 38, United States Code, is 12
amended— 13
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘Pen-14
alty’’ and inserting ‘‘Penalties’’ (and conforming 15
the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 59 16
of such title accordingly); 17
(2) by inserting ‘‘(a) W
ITHHOLDING OFBENE-18
FITS.—’’ before ‘‘Whoever’’; and 19
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-20
section: 21
‘‘(b) C
HARGING OFUNAUTHORIZEDFEES.—Except 22
as provided in sections 5904 or 1984 of this title, whoever 23
solicits, contracts for, charges, or receives, or attempts to 24
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solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, any fee or com-1
pensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or 2
prosecution of any claim for benefits under the laws ad-3
ministered by the Secretary shall be fined as provided in 4
title 18.’’. 5
Æ
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