,i  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #iaje  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,june #b1 #bjbf,mr4   
,pappas 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,bacon1 ,ms4   
,bynum1 ,mr4 ,lawl]1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 
,budz9ski1 ,mr4 ,keat+1 ,ms4 ,titus1    
,mr4 ,v9dman1 ,mr4 ,panetta1 & ,ms4     
,craig7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee  
on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce1 = a p]iod to be   
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to re9/ate crim9al 
p5alties = p]sons *>g+ vet]ans          
unau?oriz$ fees relat+ to claims =      
b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r  
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,/opp+ ,abuse1 ,fraud1 &   
,exploitation by ,gov]n+ ,unaccr$it$    
,repres5tatives ,defraud+ ,vet]ans ,act 
( #bjbf or ! ,,safegu>d ,vet]ans ,act ( 
#bjbf4  #b4 ,re9/atem5t ( p5alties =    

*>g+ vet]ans unau?oriz$ fees relat+ to  
claims = b5efits "u laws adm9i/]$ by !  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9   
g5]al ,section #eije ( title #ch1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--  7#a7 9 !     
section head+1 by /rik+ ,p5alty & ins]t+
 ,p5alties2  7#b7 by /rik+ ,:oev] &     
ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7a7 ,)hold+ ( b5efits 
,:oev]  2 &  7#c7 by add+ at ! end !    
foll[+ new subsections3  7b7 ,*>g+ (    
unau?oriz$ fees ,except z provid$ 9     
sections #eijd & #aihd ( ?is title1     
:oev] solicits1 contracts =1 *>ges1 or  
receives1 or attempts to contract =1    
*>ge1 or receive1 any fee or comp5sation
 ) respect to ! prep>ation1 pres5tation1
 or prosecution ( any claim = a b5efit  
"u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y %all    
be-- 7#a7 f9$ z provid$ 9 title #ah1 or 
imprison$ n m ?an "o ye>1 or bo?2 &     
7#b7 b>r$ f recognition "u ?is *apt] by 
! ,secret>y z an ag5t or attorney = !   
prep>ation1 pres5tation1 or prosecution 
( a claim "u laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y-- 7,a7 = a p]iod ( "o ye>     

beg9n+ on ! date ( ! fir/ violation2 &  
7,b7 = a p]iod ( #aj ye>s beg9n+ on !   
date ( ea* subsequ5t violation4  7c7    
,recognition requir$ ,no p]son may assi/
 a claimant 9 ! prep>ation1 pres5tation1
 or prosecution ( a claim "u a law      
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 unless--  7#a7 
recogniz$ by ! ,secret>y "u ?is *apt] z 
an ag5t or attorney = su* purposes2 or  
7#b7 act+ "u direct sup]vision ( an ag5t
 or attorney describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a74  
7d7 ,def9ition ( prep>ation1            
pres5tation1 or prosecution ,9 ?is      
section1 ! t]m prep>ation1 pres5tation1 
or prosecution-- 7#a7 except z provid$ 9
 p>agraph 7#b71 means any act associat$ 
) fil+ a claim or appeal = a b5efit "u a
 law adm9i/rat$ by ! ,secret>y2 &  7#b7 
does n include-- 7,a7 ! provision ( a   
m$ical op9ion or completion ( a         
disability b5efits que/ionnaire by a    
private sector m$ical pr(essional2 or   
7,b7 ! prep>ation ( an exp]t op9ion 9   
support ( a claim or appeal4  4  7b7    
,propos$ rule ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] 

! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,g5]al
 ,c\nsel ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs %all initiate a rulemak+       
process = purposes ( adm9i/]+ section   
#eije ( su* title & def9+ prep>ation1   
pres5tation1 or prosecution1 z am5d$ by 
subsection 7a74  7c7 ,effect on ,/ate   
law ,! provisions ( section #eije1 z    
am5d$ by subsection 7a71 %all sup]s$e   
any provisions ( ! law ( any ,/ate or   
,freely ,associat$ ,/ate relat+ to !    
recognition ( an individual z an ag5t or
 attorney = ! prep>ation1 pres5tation1  
or prosecution ( a claim "u a law       
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs1 includ+ ) respect to          
provisions ( law reg>d+ fee agreem5ts or
 au?ority to *>ge = su* s]vices4  7d7   
,submission to ,congress ,! ,secret>y   
%all include 9 docum5ts submitt$ to     
,congress 9 support ( ! ,presid5t's     
budget submitt$ pursuant to section     
#aaje ( title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
detail$ e/imates ( ! sums & /aff+       
necess>y to adm9i/] *apt] #ei ( title   

#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7e7 ,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  #c4         
,promotion ( assi/ance f p]sons         
recogniz$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs = individuals :o file c]ta9    
claims "u laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y  
7a7 ,notice to claimants ( available    
assi/ance f recogniz$ p]sons ,section   
#eajc;,a ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code1 is am5d$--  7#a7 by r$esignat+   
subsections 7g7 ?r\gh 7i7 z subsections 
7i7 ?r\gh 7k71 respectively2  7#b7 by   
ins]t+ aft] subsection 7f7 ! foll[+ new 
subsections3  7g7 ,notice reg>d+        
availability ( repres5tation ,^u receipt
 ( an initial claim by a claimant n     
repres5t$ by an accr$it$ p]son1 !       
,secret>y %all provide notice to !      
claimant t-- 7#a7 provides ! website    
address ( ! onl9e tool ma9ta9$ "u       
subsection 7h72 &  7#b7 provides !      

website address ( an appropriate &      
publicly accessible website ( !         
,dep>tm5t ?r\gh :i* a claimant may      
report-- 7,a7 a p]son1 :o is n an       
accr$it$ p]son1 :o repres5t$ ! claimant2
 &  7,b7 any fee *>g$ by su* p]son = su*
 repres5tation4  7h7 ,onl9e li/ (       
accr$it$1 susp5d$1 or exclud$ p]sons    
7#a7 ,! ,secret>y %all ma9ta9 an onl9e  
tool t all[s a claimant to se>* a li/ ( 
accr$it$ p]sons & p]sons :o are susp5d$ 
or exclud$4  7#b7 ,! ,secret>y %all     
ensure t ! li/ requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 
is curr5t at lea/ once ea* cal5d> qu>t]4
  7#c7 ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t !     
onl9e tool requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 is  
easily accessible to a claimant4  2 &   
7#c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new      
subsection3  7l7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is     
section3  7#a7 ,! t]m accr$it$ p]son    
means-- 7,a7 a vet]ans s]vice           
organization recogniz$ "u section #eijb 
( ?is title2 or  7,b7 an individual     
recogniz$ "u section #eijd ( ?is title4 
7#b7 ,! t]m repres5t means to prep>e1   

pres5t1 or prosecute a claim "u a law   
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y on behalf ( a   
claimant4  7#c7 ,! t]m susp5d$ or       
exclud$ ) respect to a p]son means !    
,secret>y has susp5d$ or exclud$ ! p]son
 f practice be=e ! ,dep>tm5t "u sections
 #eijd7;b7 & #eije7;b7 ( ?is title4  4  
7b7 ,onl9e in=mation reg>d+ p]sons t    
assi/ claimants  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!       
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
include1 9 ea* website portal ( !       
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ?r\gh :i* 
an individual may file a claim = a      
b5efit adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y1 a w>n+  
reg>d+ fees an ag5t or attorney may *>ge
 su* individual = assi/ance 9 fil+ su*  
claim4  7#b7 ,cont5ts ,a w>n+ "u        
p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! foll[+3    
7,a7 ,a l9k to ! onl9e tool ma9ta9$ "u  
subsection 7h7 ( section #eajc;,a ( su* 
title1 z am5d$ by subsection 7a74  7,b7 
,a l9k to ! website ( ! ,dep>tm5t       
describ$ 9 subsection 7g77#b7 ( su*     
section1 z am5d$ by subsection 7a74  7c7
 ,report ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !   

date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y %all--  7#a7 complete a review
 ( ! regulations1 processes1 & proc$ures
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs t    
p]ta9 to recognition "u section #eijd ( 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2  7#b7   
develop recomm5dations = legislative or 
adm9i/rative action to improve su*      
regulations1 processes1 & proc$ures2 &  
7#c7 submit to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'
 ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives a report conta9+ ! f9d+s
 ( ! ,secret>y ) respect to ! review    
complet$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 & !           
recomm5dations develop$ "u p>agraph     
7#b74  #d4 ,improve w>n+s ab\t pot5tial 
pr$atory practices reg>d+ ag5ts &       
attorneys = vet]ans claims  7a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,section #eija7;b7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--  7#a7 9        
p>agraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 9 ! matt] be=e     
subp>agraph 7,a7 by /rik+ 1 ea* "t a    
claimant "u a law adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y logs 9 to a website or onl9e  

tool ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 su* website or onl9e
 tool issues to ! claimant & ins]t+ ea* 
public-fac+ website & onl9e tool ( !    
,dep>tm5t issues2  7,b7 9 subp>agraph   
7,a71 by ins]t+ 1 includ+ individuals   
lack+ recognition by ! ,secret>y z      
describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 aft] *apt]2   
7,c7 9 subp>agraph 7,c71 by /rik+ 2 & & 
ins]t+ a semicolon2  7,d7 9 subp>agraph 
7,d71 by /rik+ ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+
 2 &2 &  7,e7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ 
new subp>agraph3  7,e7 a message        
disc\rag+ vet]ans f %>+ _! ,dep>tm5t    
acc\nt log-9 cr$5tials or bank acc\nt   
log-9 cr$5tials1 su* z us]names or      
passwords1 ) anyone4  2 &  7#b7 by add+ 
at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#c7 ,!
 ,secret>y %all c>ry out ?is subsection 
by act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief ,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce
 ,(fic]4  4  7b7 ,effective date ,!     
am5dm5t made by subsection 7a7 %all take
 effect on ! date t is #ahj days aft] ! 
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #e4      
,ga!r+ in=mation ab\t p]sons *>g+ =     
assi/ance or coa*+ ) fil+ claims ,!     

,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all take 
su* actions z may be necess>y to ensure 
t on any =m t is us$ by ! ,dep>tm5t (   
,vet]ans ,affairs to accept a claim = a 
b5efit "u a law adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 
includes-- 7#a7 a "q reg>d+ :e!r !      
claimant 0 *>g$ = assi/ance or coa*+ by 
any p]son :5 ga!r+ in=mation or fil+ !  
claim2 &  7#b7 an option to "n ! p]son  
:o provid$ su* assi/ance or coa*+4  #f4 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs           
accr$itation sy/em ,! ,secret>y (       
,vet]ans ,affairs %all e/abli% a sy/em =
 ! purposes ( recognition ( p]sons "u   
*apt] #ei ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 t--  7#a7 has #ii4i p]c5t uptime1
 responsive1 & accessible2  7#b7 enables
 ag5ts & attorneys to c]tify t !y h met 
! requirem5ts = recognition "u su*      
*apt]2  7#c7 enables cli5ts ( ag5ts &   
attorneys recogniz$ "u su* *apt] to file
 compla9ts reg>d+ su* ag5ts & attorneys 
& to report violations describ$ 9       
p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#i7 ( section     
#eijd7;b7 & section #eije7;b7 ( su*     

title2 &  7#d7 is integrat$ ) sy/ems us$
 to adm9i/] section #c ( ?is ,act & !   
am5dm5ts made by t section4  #g4        
,re/rictions on ! use ( automat$        
telephone equipm5t ,section #bbg7;b77#a7
 ( ! ,communications ,act ( #aicd 7#dg  
,u4,s4,c4 #bbg7;b77#a77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 
9 subp>agraph 7,c71 by /rik+ or at !    
end2  7#b7 9 subp>agraph 7,d71 by /rik+ 
! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ 2 or2 &  7#c7 
by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7,e7 to make
 any call to a telephone numb] assign$  
to a ,f$]al dep>tm5t or ag5cy if su*    
call is made by means ( equipm5t t-- 7i7
 has ! capacity1 )\t fur!r human        
int]v5tion aft] initial activation--    
7,i7 to make a s]ies ( repeat$ calls to 
su* numb]2 &  7,,ii7 to provide &       
receive in=mation by means ( su* calls2 
&  7ii7 is op]at$ by any individual or  
entity o!r ?an ! individual or entity to
 :om ! in=mation provid$ or receiv$ dur+
 su* call relates4  4