[Pages H2133-H2135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

VETERANS CLAIMS EDUCATION ACT OF 2025

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1578) to amend title 38, United States Code, to promote
assistance from persons recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
for individuals who file certain claims under laws administered by the
Secretary, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 1578

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Claims Education
Act of 2025''.

[[Page H2134]]

SEC. 2. PROMOTION OF ASSISTANCE FROM PERSONS RECOGNIZED BY
THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO FILE CERTAIN CLAIMS UNDER LAWS
ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY.

(a) Notice to Claimants of Available Assistance From
Recognized Persons.--Section 5103A of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) through (i) as
subsections (i) through (k), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new
subsections:
``(g) Upon receipt of an initial claim by a claimant not
represented by an accredited person, the Secretary shall
provide notice to the claimant that--
``(1) an accredited person may be able to represent the
claimant;
``(2) a veterans service organization recognized under
section 5902 of this title may represent the claimant at no
charge to the claimant;
``(3) provides the web address of the online tool
maintained under subsection (h); and
``(4) provides the web address of an appropriate and
publicly accessible website of the Department through which a
claimant may report--
``(A) a person, who is not an accredited person, who
represented the claimant; and
``(B) any fee charged by such person for such
representation.
``(h)(1) The Secretary shall maintain an online tool that
allows a claimant to search a list of accredited persons who
represent claimants.
``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that such list is current
at least once each calendar quarter.
``(3) The Secretary shall ensure that such tool is easily
accessible to a claimant.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(l) In this section:
``(1) The term `accredited person' means--
``(A) a veterans service organization recognized under
section 5902 of this title; or
``(B) an attorney, agent, or other person recognized under
section 5904 of this title.
``(2) The term `represent' means to prepare, present, or
prosecute a claim under a law administered by the Secretary
on behalf of a claimant.''.
(b) Online Information Regarding Persons That Assist
Claimants.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include,
in each web portal of the Department of Veterans Affairs,
through which an individual may file a claim for a benefit
administered by the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Under
Secretary for Health, a warning regarding fees an agent or
attorney may charge such individual for assistance in filing
such claim. Such warning shall include the following:
(1) A link to the online tool maintained under subsection
(h) of section 5103A of such title, as amended by subsection
(a).
(2) A link to the website of the Department described in
subparagraph (D) of section 5103A(f)(1) of such title, as
amended by subsection (a).
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) complete a review the regulations, processes, and
procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs that pertain
to recognition under section 5904 of title 38, United States
Code;
(2) develop recommendations for legislative or
administrative action to improve such regulations, processes,
and procedures; and
(3) submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the
findings of the Secretary with respect to the review
completed under paragraph (1) and the recommendations
developed under paragraph (2).

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.

Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting
``March 31, 2032''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.

General Leave

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 1578, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1578, as amended,
introduced by my colleague from California (Mr. Peters).
This bill would ensure veterans know about the availability of
accredited representatives, including those who help with filing
initial VA benefit claims at no cost. It would also give veterans the
information and online resources they need to find an accredited
representative who is right for them and to report any unaccredited bad
actors who wrongfully charge a fee for their services.
This bill would also require the VA to review its accreditation
process and give Congress recommendations for improvement. Veterans and
their families deserve all the information they need to decide who will
provide the best assistance with their claim. This bill ensures just
that.
I thank Representative Peters for his work on this bill, and I urge
all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1578, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1578, the Veterans
Claims Education Act of 2025, as amended.
Obtaining veterans benefits can be confusing. The process can be
cumbersome. Because of the complexity and scope of the VA and its
programs, some veterans take to an internet search to figure out how to
get their claims approved.
It seems certain actors have figured out that in the confusion of the
process, they can make a profit or, with claims specifically, hundreds
of millions of dollars in profits.
Oftentimes, when veterans log on and search how to get their claims
submitted, they are greeted by a clickbait ad for claim sharks. These
are the people who charge exorbitant fees, while assisting veterans in
the preparation of their claims.
Current law mandates that VA has a duty to assist in the initial
claims preparation process. This duty exists to ensure that there are
no financial barriers to veterans in having their claims prepared and
adjudicated and that veterans experience a nonadversarial process.
Moreover, there are thousands of veterans service organizations
around the country who are willing and able to assist veterans for
free. Those service officers have been vetted by VA, both for their
character and competence.
In the spirit of ensuring that veterans are made aware that they are
entitled to this preparation assistance, the Veterans Claims Education
Act mandates that VA websites prominently give veterans notice that
they are entitled to free assistance from an accredited representative
and how to find that assistance.
Not only does it alert the veteran that they are entitled to
assistance in their claims preparation at no cost but it also provides
guidance on reporting bad actors like unaccredited claim sharks.
The VA's accreditation process serves to protect our Nation's
veterans from financial exploitation so that veterans are less likely
to be at risk of incurring outrageous debts, as well as losing out on
months of their benefits.
Mr. Speaker, few people would think there is value in letting someone
take 5 months of our paychecks just for reviewing our resume, right?
Then why would we ever, ever be even remotely comfortable with someone
taking 5 months of earned benefits away from our veterans?
I strongly support this bipartisan bill as it would promote those
actors who are doing claims preparation and processing the right way,
not the ones who pay to be the first result on an internet search.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Peters for introducing this
legislation. This bill allows us to direct veterans to representatives
who have the skills, knowledge, and accreditation to help them, not to
take advantage of them during the initial claims process.
Mr. Speaker, today, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1578 and not
just to stop there. I also urge them to continue to push back against
claim sharks and to support legislation that reinstates the penalties
that were in place to hold accountable bad actors who took advantage of
veterans for years.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Peters), the author of H.R. 1578.
Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R.
1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act.
I wrote this bill after a veteran in my district alerted my office
about a challenge he faced accessing his hard-earned VA benefits. This
veteran contracted with a for-profit company that promised to increase
the veteran's disability benefits in exchange for a cut of the
veteran's disability payment from the VA.

[[Page H2135]]

It is unconscionable that for-profit entities, known as claim sharks,
prey on the trust and good will of our veterans to line their own
pockets.
My bill takes a big step to correct this and will protect veterans in
San Diego and throughout the country from similar scams in the future.
The Veterans Claims Education Act provides educational resources to
steer veterans toward veterans service organizations, qualified
lawyers, and accredited entities who can provide not-for-profit
assistance to veterans.
My bill also provides vets filing a disability claim with an online
search tool to help veterans find accredited entities that can assist
with claims. It creates an online portal to report claim sharks
targeting veterans, which charge a fee for their services.
Republicans and Democrats may have sincere policy disagreements about
how to provide world-class care to our Nation's veterans and their
families, but I know we all agree that no one should be able to profit
from the service and sacrifice of our veterans.
I thank the chairman and the ranking member and the entire House
Veterans' Affairs Committee for advancing this legislation out of the
House. I thank the numerous veterans organizations for their advocacy,
including the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the
VFW, and other great organizations.
I look forward to working with these groups to make this law the law
of the land, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill and our
veterans.

{time} 1745

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025, as
amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1578, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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