SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4646
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-01: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T19:59:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to protect veterans by reinstating criminal penalties for unauthorized fees charged in connection with VA benefit claims and to strengthen oversight of individuals assisting with those claims.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 5905 of Title 38, U.S. Code, to impose fines, up to one year imprisonment, or both on persons who solicit, contract for, charge, or receive unauthorized fees for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting VA claims; violators also face one-year or ten-year bars from recognition as agents or attorneys.
- Requires that only recognized agents or attorneys (or those under their direct supervision) may assist claimants; defines "preparation, presentation, or prosecution" to include most claim-related acts but excludes certain medical opinions.
- Directs the VA General Counsel to begin rulemaking within 90 days to administer the amended section.
- Amends Section 5103A to require the VA to notify unrepresented claimants of available accredited assistance via an online tool and a reporting website; mandates maintenance of a quarterly-updated list of accredited, suspended, or excluded persons.
- Requires warnings on VA claim-filing portals about potential fees and links to the accredited list and reporting tool.
- Mandates inclusion of questions on claim forms about whether assistance was charged and the identity of the provider.
- Directs the VA to build an accreditation system with high uptime that supports certification, complaint filing, and integration with other provisions.
- Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit certain automated calls to VA telephone numbers.
- Requires the VA to submit budget estimates for administering Chapter 59 and to report within 180 days on improvements to recognition processes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Restores and expands criminal penalties under 38 U.S.C. § 5905 that previously applied to fee violations.
- Introduces new federal requirements for notice, online tools, data collection, and an accreditation system.
- Establishes federal preemption over state laws regarding recognition of agents or attorneys and fee agreements for VA claims.
- Adds restrictions on automated telephone equipment targeting VA numbers.
Potential Impacts
- Increases administrative responsibilities for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including system development, rulemaking, and enforcement.
- Provides veterans with greater access to information about accredited assistance and mechanisms to report unauthorized fees.
- Restricts unaccredited individuals from charging for claim-related services and subjects them to federal penalties.
- May affect state regulatory authority over legal services related to VA claims.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans filing claims for benefits.
- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Department of Veterans Affairs staff.
- Accredited agents, attorneys, and veterans service organizations.
- Unaccredited individuals or entities providing claim assistance.
- Congress, through required reports and budget submissions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Creates federal preemption of state laws on agent recognition and fee authority.
- Introduces new criminal penalties enforceable under Title 18.
- Requires integration of new systems with existing VA processes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Cosponsors (12)
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-01: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-06-01: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Stopping Abuse, Fraud, and Exploitation by Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding Veterans Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-01 — PDF (12 pages)