What does Preamble of SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 do?

This bill, formally titled 'To reinstate criminal 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,' aims to reinstate criminal penalties. The bill addresses unauthorized fees charged to veterans concerning claims for benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 2, 2026.

What does SHORT TITLE. of SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Stopping Abuse, Fraud, and Exploitation by Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding Veterans Act of 2026, also known as the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026.

What does REINSTATEMENT OF PENALTIES FOR CHARGING VETERANS UNAUTHORIZED of SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 do?

This section amends Section 5905 of Title 38, United States Code, to reinstate and modify penalties for charging veterans unauthorized fees related to claims for benefits. It establishes penalties, including fines or imprisonment, for soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving fees for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The section requires recognition by the Secretary as an agent or attorney to assist claimants, except under direct supervision of a recognized agent or attorney. It defines 'preparation, presentation, or prosecution' to include acts associated with filing claims or appeals, but excludes certain medical opinions and expert opinions. The General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs must initiate a rulemaking process within 90 days of the Act's enactment to administer the amended section and define 'preparation, presentation, or prosecution'. The provisions of this section supersede state laws regarding the recognition of agents or attorneys for preparing claims. The Secretary must submit detailed estimates of sums and staffing necessary to administer chapter 59 to Congress.

What does PROMOTION OF ASSISTANCE FROM PERSONS RECOGNIZED BY THE of SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 do?

This section amends title 38 of the United States Code, specifically section 5103A, to address the promotion of assistance from individuals recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary is required to provide notice to claimants who are not represented by an accredited person, including website addresses for an online tool and a reporting website. The Secretary must maintain an online tool allowing claimants to search a list of accredited, suspended, or excluded persons, updated at least quarterly. The bill defines key terms such as 'accredited person,' 'represent,' and 'suspended or excluded' for the purposes of this section. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is directed to include warnings about potential fees charged by agents or attorneys on claim filing website portals. Within 180 days of the Act's enactment, the Secretary must review regulations, processes, and procedures related to recognition under section 5904 and submit a report with recommendations to the relevant Congressional committees.

What does IMPROVE WARNINGS ABOUT POTENTIAL PREDATORY PRACTICES REGARDING of SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 do?

This section amends Section 5901(b) of Title 38, United States Code, related to warnings about potential predatory practices regarding agents and attorneys for veterans claims. The amendment requires each public-facing website and online tool of the Department to issue warnings to claimants. The warnings must include a statement discouraging veterans from sharing their Department account or bank account login credentials with anyone. The Secretary is directed to carry out this subsection through the Chief Veterans Experience Officer. The amendment will take effect 180 days after the enactment of this Act.

What does GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT PERSONS CHARGING FOR ASSISTANCE OR of SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that forms used to accept claims for benefits include a question about whether the claimant was charged for assistance or coaching. The question must allow claimants to name the person who provided such assistance or coaching.

What does DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ACCREDITATION SYSTEM. of SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 do?

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to establish a system for recognizing individuals under chapter 59 of title 38, United States Code. The system must maintain 99.9 percent uptime and be responsive and accessible. The system will allow agents and attorneys to certify they meet recognition requirements. Clients of recognized agents and attorneys can use the system to file complaints and report violations specified in sections 5904(b) and 5905(b) of title 38. The system must be integrated with systems used to administer section 3 of this Act and related amendments.

What does RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF AUTOMATED TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT. of SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 do?

This section amends Section 227(b)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934. The amendment strikes 'or' at the end of subparagraph (C). The amendment strikes the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserts '; or'. A new subparagraph (E) is added, restricting calls to telephone numbers assigned to Federal departments or agencies. The new restriction applies to calls made by equipment with the capacity to make repeated calls and provide/receive information without further human intervention. The restriction also applies if the equipment is operated by an individual or entity unrelated to the information exchanged during the call.

Back to bills

SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026

Last updated: 6/2/2026 · Introduced: 6/2/2026

Author: Chris Pappas (D-NH)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill reinstates and modifies criminal penalties for individuals who charge veterans unauthorized fees related to their benefits claims, requiring recognition by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or supervision by a recognized agent or attorney.
The Department of Veterans Affairs must provide veterans who are not represented by accredited individuals with information about accredited representatives and a tool to search for them, including warnings about potential fees.
The bill mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs issue warnings on its websites discouraging veterans from sharing their account login credentials with others.
Veterans' claims forms will now include a question asking if they were charged for assistance or coaching related to their claim, allowing them to identify the person who provided the service.
The Department of Veterans Affairs must establish a robust, accessible system for recognizing agents and attorneys, allowing clients to file complaints and report violations.

119th Congressin committeeS. 4646(In Committee)Official page

Verified Votes

No verified votes yet.

Community Votes

No community votes yet. Be the first!

Voting as guest · Sign in for verified votes

Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 6 more.

8 sections

Click "Show details" to explore individual sections. Use the community vote above or visit All Sections to vote per section.

Read official text

Want the full experience?

Create a free account to cast verified votes on each section, get a personalized summary, and track your voting history.

Create Free Account