,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #afef  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #bg1         
#bjbe,mr4 ,b]gman 7= himself1 ,mr4      
,correa1 ,mrs4 ,mill]-,meeks1 ,mr4      
,r\z]1 ,mr4 ,web/] ( ,florida1 ,mr4     
,mc,dowell1 ,mr4 ,h>rigan1 & ,mr4 ,al=d7
 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs   
,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code1 to p]mit c]ta9 fee        
agreem5ts betwe5 claimants & ag5ts or   
attorneys = ! prep>ations1 pres5tation1 
or prosecution ( initial claims =       
b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r  
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,pres]v+ ,lawful           
,utilization ( ,s]vices = ,vet]ans ,act 
( #bjbe or ! ,,plus = ,vet]ans ,act (   
#bjbe4  #b4 ,cl>ification ( prep>ation1 
pres5tation1 or prosecution ( a claim "u
 a law adm9i/]$ by ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans 
,affairs ,section #eija ( title #ch1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at

 ! end ! foll[+ new subsection3  7c7    
,exclusion ,! adm9i/ration ( a m$ical   
exam9ation1 or ! completion ( a report )
 respect to su* m$ical exam9ation1 z    
describ$ 9 section #eabe ( ?is title1   
%all n con/itute ! prep>ation1          
pres5tation1 or prosecution ( a claim "u
 ! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4  4  #c4
 ,ag5ts & attorneys 9 c]ta9 claims "u   
laws adm9i/]$ by ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs3 applications = recognition2   
fees all[able = repres5tation2 gr\nds = 
susp5sion2 b>s f recognition  7a7 ,9    
g5]al ,section #eijd ( title #ch1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--  7#a7 9       
subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a7-- 
7i7 by ins]t+ 7,a7 be=e ,except2 &  7ii7
 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new          
subp>agraphs3  7,b7  7i7 ,an individual 
desir+ recognition "u ?is section %all  
submit to ! ,secret>y an application1   
includ+ an application submitt$ by mail1
 fax1 or electronic means1 9 su* =m1 at 
su* "t1 & conta9+ su* in=mation &       
assurances z ! ,secret>y has det]m9$    

appropriate to recognize su* individual 
"u ?is section4  7ii7 ,if ! ,secret>y _c
 v]ify :e!r ! individual satisfies !    
qualifications & /&>ds prescrib$ "u     
p>agraph 7#b7 be=e ! #ij-;day p]iod     
beg9n+ aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y   
receives an application "u clause 7i71 !
 ,secret>y %all recognize ! individual  
on a conditional & tempor>y basis = a   
"o-ye> p]iod4  7iii7 ,at ! end ( su*    
"o-ye> p]iod1 ! ,secret>y %all recognize
 ! individual on a conditional &        
tempor>y basis = su* additional "o-ye>  
p]iods until ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y c
 v]ify :e!r ! individual satisfies su*  
qualifications & /&>ds4  7,c7 ,!        
,secret>y may n susp5d1 exclude f fur!r 
practice be=e ! ,dep>tm5t1 f9e pursuant 
to section #eije ( ?is title1 or refuse 
to recognize z an ag5t or attorney "u   
?is section any individual on ! basis t 
su* individual1 be=e ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is subp>agraph--  7i7 *>g$ a        
claimant a fee = s]vices r5d]$ 9 !      
prep>ation1 pres5tation1 or prosecution 

( an initial claim2 or  7ii7 *>g$ a     
claimant a fee = su* s]vices :ile su*   
individual 0 n recogniz$ "u ?is section4
  2 &  7,b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+   
new p>agraph3  7#g7 7,a7 ,! ,secret>y   
may *>ge & collect an assessm5t f an    
individual :o--  7i7 seeks recognition  
"u ?is section z an ag5t or attorney = !
 prep>ation1 pres5tation1 & prosecution 
( an initial claim "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by
 ! ,secret>y2 &  7ii7 *>ges or collects 
fees f a claimant = s]vices r5d]$ 9 su* 
prep>ation1 pres5tation1 & prosecution4 
7,b7 ,an assessm5t describ$ 9           
subp>agraph 7,a7-- 7i7 %all be 9 su*    
am\nt z ! ,secret>y prescribes 9        
regulations & det]m9es appropriate2 &   
7ii7 may n exce$ #ejj4  7,c7 ,am\nts    
collect$ "u ?is p>agraph %all be        
deposit$ 9 a revolv+ fund 9 ! ,treasury 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 ,su* am\nts %all be  
available to ! ,secret>y = !            
adm9i/ration ( ?is section4  2  7#b7 9  
subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 by r$esignat+     
p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#i7 z subp>agraphs

 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,i71 respectively2  7,b7 9 
! matt] prec$+ subp>agraph 7,a71 z s    
r$esignat$1 by ins]t+ 7#a7 be=e ,!      
,secret>y2 &  7,c7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 z   
designat$ by p>agraph 7#b7--  7i7 9     
subp>agraph 7,h71 z s r$esignat$1 by    
/rik+ 9 accordance ) subsection         
7c77#c77;,a7 2 or & ins]t+ subsection   
7c77#b77;,a72  7ii7 9 subp>agraph 7,i71 
z s r$esignat$1 by /rik+ ! p]iod at !   
end & ins]t+ 2 or2 &  7iii7 by add+ at !
 end ! foll[+ new subp>agraph3  7,j7 has
 fail$ to keep claimant data & p]sonally
 id5tifiable in=mation 9 accordance )   
applicable provisions ( ! ,heal?        
,insurance ,portability & ,acc\ntability
 ,act ( #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-aia2   
#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acja et seq471 includ+ ! 
data security requirem5ts & implem5t+   
regulations ( su* ,act4  2 &  7,d7 by   
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3    
7#b7 ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! 
enactm5t ( ! ,pres]v+ ,lawful           
,utilization ( ,s]vices = ,vet]ans ,act 
( #bjbe & annually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y 

%all submit to ! ,committees on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ,h\se ( 
,repres5tatives a report reg>d+ ! numb] 
( individuals susp5d$ "u ?is subsection 
or d5i$ recognition "u subsection 7a71  
disaggregat$ by ! reasons = su*         
susp5sion or d5ial & :e!r ! individual  
is--  7,a7 a repres5tative ( an         
organization recogniz$ "u section #eijb 
( ?is title2  7,b7 an ag5t2 or  7,c7 an 
attorney4  2 &  7#c7 9 subsection 7c7-- 
7,a7 by ins]t+ ,flat fee agreem5ts4--   
aft] 7c72  7,b7 by /rik+ p>agraph 7#a7 &
 ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#a7  7,a7 ,9        
connection ) a proce$+ be=e ! ,dep>tm5t 
) respect to b5efits "u laws adm9i/]$ by
 ! ,secret>y1 a fee agreem5t betwe5 a   
claimant & an ag5t or attorney = !      
prep>ation1 pres5tation1 or prosecution 
( an initial claim = su* b5efits %all be
 a fee agreem5t describ$ 9 subp>agraph  
7,b74  7,b7 7i7 ,a fee agreem5t describ$
 9 ?is subp>agraph is a fee agreem5t--  
7,i7 t does n require paym5t f a        
claimant to ! ag5t or attorney be=e !   

date on :i* ! claimant is provid$ notice
 ( ! ag5cy ( orig9al jurisdiction's     
initial decision "u section #eajd ( ?is 
title ) respect to ! initial claim2     
7,,ii7 "u :i* ! total am\nt payable by !
 claimant to ! ag5t or attorney )       
respect to ! initial claim--  7aa7 is   
cont+5t on :e!r ! initial claim is      
resolv$ 9 a mann] favorable to !        
claimant2  7bb7 does n exce$ ! less] (--
 7,,aa7 #ab1ejj 7z adju/$ f "t to "t "u 
subp>agraph 7,c772 or 7,,bb7 ! am\nt    
equal to ! product ( five & ! am\nt ( ! 
mon?ly increase ( b5efits aw>d$ to !    
claimant pursuant to ! claim2 &  7,,iii7
 t conta9s an atte/ation by ! claimant t
 ! ag5t or attorney provid$ to !        
claimant ! /&>d =m "u clause 7iii74     
7ii7 ,= purposes ( ?is subp>agraph1 an  
initial claim %all be consid]$ to h be5 
resolv$ 9 a mann] favorable to !        
claimant if all or any "p ( ! relief    
s\ght pursuant to ! claim is grant$4    
7iii7 ,= use 9 fee agreem5ts describ$ 9 
?is subp>agraph1 ! ,secret>y %all       

develop a /&>d =m t includes ! foll[+   
notices3 7,i7 ,t organizations recogniz$
 "u section #eijb ( ?is title furni%    
s]vices ) respect to initial claims "u  
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y at no co/  
to claimants4  7,,ii7 ,t a claimant may 
select a private physician = a m$ical   
exam9ation describ$ 9 section #eabe (   
?is title reg>d+ ! initial claim4       
7,,iii7 ,t ! ag5t or attorney ) :om !   
claimant is ent]+ su* fee agreem5t may n
 ref] ! claimant to a private physician 
describ$ 9 su* section ) :om ! ag5t or  
attorney has a bus9ess relation%ip4     
7,c7 ,effective on ,octob] #a ( ea* ye> 
7beg9n+ 9 ! fir/ fiscal ye> aft] ! date 
( ! enactm5t ( ! ,pres]v+ ,lawful       
,utilization ( ,s]vices = ,vet]ans ,act 
( #bjbe71 ! ,secret>y %all increase !   
doll> am\nt 9 effect "u clause 7i7 (    
subp>agraph 7,b7 by a p]c5tage equal to 
! p]c5tage by :i* ! ,consum] ,price     
,index = all urban consum]s 7,u4,s4 city
 av]age7 increas$ dur+ ! #ab-mon? p]iod 
end+ ) ! la/ mon? = :i* ,consum] ,price 

,index data is available4 ,9 ! ev5t t   
su* ,consum] ,price ,index does n       
increase dur+ su* p]iod1 ! ,secret>y    
%all ma9ta9 ! doll> am\nt 9 effect "u   
su* clause dur+ ! previ\s fiscal ye>4  2
 &  7,c7 9 p>agraph 7#b7--  7i7 by /rik+
 9 a case ref]r$ to 9 p>agraph 7#a7 (   
?is subsection2 &  7ii7 by ins]t+ 9 a   
case aft] repres5ts a p]son2  7,d7 9    
p>agraph 7#c77;,a71 by /rik+ p>agraph   
7#b7 & ins]t+ p>agraph 7#a7 or 7#b74    
7b7 ,regulations ,n lat] ?an #ahj days  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,secret>y %all prescribe regulations to 
c>ry out ! am5dm5ts made by ?is section4
  #d4 ,re9/atem5t ( p5alties = *>g+     
vet]ans unau?oriz$ fees relat+ to claims
 "u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section
 #eije ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1
 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 ! head+1 by /rik+    
,p5alty & ins]t+ ,p5alties2  7#b7 by    
ins]t+ 7a7 ,)hold+ ( b5efits4-- be=e    
,:oev]2 &  7#c7 by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new subsection3  7b7 ,*>g+ (     

unau?oriz$ fees ,except z provid$ 9     
sections #eijd or #aihd ( ?is title1    
:oev] directly or indirectly solicits1  
contracts =1 *>ges1 or receives1 or     
attempts to solicit1 contract =1 *>ge1  
or receive1 any fee or comp5sation )    
respect to ! prep>ation1 pres5tation1 or
 prosecution ( any claim = b5efits "u ! 
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y %all be f9$
 z provid$ 9 title #ah1 or imprison$ n m
 ?an "o ye>1 or bo?4  7c7 ,violations   
dur+ conditional & tempor>y recognition 
,if an individual recogniz$ z an ag5t or
 attorney on a conditional & tempor>y   
basis pursuant to clause 7ii7 or 7iii7 (
 section #eijd7;a77#a77;,b7 ( ?is title 
violates any law or regulation adm9i/]$ 
by ! ,secret>y "u ?is *apt] on or aft] !
 date on :i* su* individual is s        
recogniz$--  7#a7 ! ,secret>y %all1 aft]
 notice1 revoke ! conditional & tempor>y
 recognition ( ! individual2 &  7#b7 su*
 individual1 aft] notice & opportunity =
 a he>+1 %all be--  7,a7 f9$ #ej1jjj2 & 
7,b7 b>r$ f recognition "u section #eijd

 ( ?is title--  7i7 = a p]iod ( "o ye>  
beg9n+ on ! date ( ! fir/ violation2 &  
7ii7 = a p]iod ( #aj ye>s beg9n+ on !   
date ( ea* subsequ5t violation4  7d7    
,deposit ( f9es ,any am\nt receiv$ by ! 
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t f a f9e impos$ "u      
subsection 7b7 or 7c7 %all be deposit$ 9
 ! fund e/abli%$ by section             
#eijd7;a77#g77;,c7 ( ?is title4  4  7b7 
,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at 
! beg9n+ ( *apt] #ei ( su* title is     
am5d$ by /rik+ ! item relat+ to section 
#eije & ins]t+ ! foll[+ new item3       
#eije4 ,p5alties = c]ta9 acts4  4  7c7  
,effective date ,! am5dm5ts made by ?is 
section %all take effect on ! date t is 
#ij days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y 
prescribes ! regulations requir$ by     
subsection 7b7 ( section #c4  #e4 ,f$]al
 preemption ,?is ,act1 & ! am5dm5ts made
 by ?is ,act1 sup]s$e any ,/ate law t is
 inconsi/5t ) ! /atutory rights e/abli%$
 by ?is ,act1 or su* am5dm5ts1 &        
preclude ! implem5tation ( su* a law1   
:e!r /atutory1 common law1 or o!rwise1 &

 :e!r adopt$ be=e or aft] ! date (      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4