Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 strengthens protections for veterans seeking VA benefits by making it a federal crime for anyone to charge unauthorized fees for helping veterans file benefit claims, with penalties including fines, imprisonment up to one year, and bans from representing veterans for one to ten years depending on repeat violations. The bill requires the VA to maintain an online searchable database of accredited representatives and those who are suspended or excluded, and mandates that the VA provide veterans with notices and warnings about legitimate representatives and the risks of predatory practices when they file claims. The legislation also requires the VA to create a new accreditation system with high uptime standards that allows agents to certify their qualifications and enables veterans to file complaints about violations. Additionally, the bill amends communications law to restrict the use of automated calling equipment to contact federal agencies, and requires the VA to ask claimants whether they were charged for assistance in filing claims. The VA General Counsel must initiate rulemaking within 90 days, and the department must submit a report to Congress within 180 days on how to improve its recognition procedures for agents and attorneys.
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