SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026

This bill would make it a federal crime, punishable by a fine, up to one year in prison, or both, to charge or receive unauthorized fees for helping prepare or file a veterans benefits claim. People who violate this rule would be barred from VA recognition as an agent or attorney for one year after a first violation and 10 years after each later violation. Only people recognized by the VA, or those working under their direct supervision, could help claimants with claims, and this rule would override state laws on the subject. The VA would have to notify unrepresented claimants about accredited helpers, keep an online searchable list of accredited and suspended persons, add fee warnings to its websites, and ask on claim forms whether the claimant paid anyone for help. The bill also would bar certain automated repeated calls to federal agency phone numbers by parties other than the person the information relates to.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Richard Blumenthal Democrat sponsor
• 12 cosponsors