119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 1578

Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025

In Second Chamber

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill aims to improve how veterans file benefits claims by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to proactively inform claimants about available assistance from accredited persons and veterans service organizations. Specifically, the VA must notify claimants about the possibility of free representation, provide access to a search tool for accredited persons, and warn about potential fees charged by non-accredited agents or attorneys. The bill also directs the VA to update its website with these warnings and maintain an accessible database of accredited representatives.

Key provisions

The VA must notify claimants about the availability of free representation from veterans service organizations.
The VA must provide a web-based tool to help claimants find accredited persons.
The VA must warn claimants about potential fees charged by non-accredited agents or attorneys.
The VA must update its website with these warnings and links to the search tool.
The VA must maintain a current database of accredited persons.
The VA must review and recommend improvements to its processes for recognizing accredited persons.
The VA must submit a report to Congress detailing its review and recommendations.

Who is affected

Veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Service Organizations
Attorneys
Agents assisting with claims

Notable changes

Requires the VA to proactively inform veterans about available assistance.

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

No arguments in favor have been submitted.

Submit yours

Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

No arguments opposed have been submitted.

Submit yours

Legislative history

2025-02-25House

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

2025-02-25

Introduced in House

2025-02-25

Introduced in House

2025-03-21House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

5/19/2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2133-2134)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
5/19/2025Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2133-2134)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

5/19/2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2133-2134)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
5/19/2025Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2133-2134)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.

Feb 25, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 1578

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

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.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025

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 claimantsThe 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 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)ReportNot 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).

HR 1578

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Positions across the country

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Bill text

Positions across the country

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call