To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the laws relating to the recognition of agents, attorneys, organizations and their representatives, and other individuals for the purposes of assisting in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · February 29, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide Congress with detailed annual reports about the agents, attorneys, and organizations that help veterans prepare and submit benefits claims. The reports must cover training requirements, how the VA verifies credentials, how often recognized representatives update their information, and how frequently the VA's public accreditation database is checked for accuracy. The bill also directs the VA to create an official certification mark that recognized representatives can use to prove their legitimate status, and makes it illegal to fraudulently display this mark to deceive veterans. Additionally, starting 180 days after the first report, the VA must annually notify all recognized representatives to update their contact information and ensure the public database reflects these updates. The bill authorizes funding for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to implement these requirements and allows the VA to hire four additional full-time employees to manage the accreditation system.
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