I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1732 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate penalties for persons 
charging veterans unauthorized fees relating to claims for benefits under 
the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2025 
Mr. PAPPAS (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. THOMPSON 
of Mississippi, Mrs. RAMIREZ, Mr. GOLDEN of Maine, Mr. CONNOLLY, 
Mr. BACON, Mr. MCGARVEY, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mrs. 
SYKES, Ms. STRICKLAND, Mr. CASAR, Mr. KEATING, Mrs. CHERFILUS- 
MCCORMICK, Mr. PETERS, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Ms. 
SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. HOYLE of Oregon, Ms. TOKUDA, Ms. NORTON, Ms. 
MCCLELLAN, Mr. DAVIS
of North Carolina, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. 
SORENSEN, Mr. MAGAZINER, Ms. SHERRILL, Ms. SALINAS, Mr. 
KUSTOFF, Ms. OMAR, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mr. 
MOULTON, Mr. DELUZIO, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. AMO, Ms. STEVENS, Mr. 
QUIGLEY, Ms. ROSS, Mr. GARCIA of California, Mr. AUCHINCLOSS, Mrs. 
HAYES, Mr. COHEN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. STANTON, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. 
STRONG, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Ms. TITUS, Ms. TENNEY, 
and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee 
on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate penalties 
for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees relating 
to claims for benefits under the laws administered by 
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the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Governing 
Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits 
Act’’ or the ‘‘GUARD VA Benefits Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT OF PENALTIES FOR CHARGING 
VETERANS UNAUTHORIZED FEES RELATING 
TO CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS UNDER LAWS AD-
MINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
Section 5905 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘Pen-
alty’’ and inserting ‘‘Penalties’’ (and conforming 
the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 59 
of such title accordingly); 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(a) WITHHOLDING OF BENE-
FITS.—’’ before ‘‘Whoever’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) CHARGING OF UNAUTHORIZED FEES.—Except 
as provided in sections 5904 or 1984 of this title, whoever 
solicits, contracts for, charges, or receives, or attempts to 
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solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, any fee or com-
pensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or 
prosecution of any claim for benefits under the laws ad-
ministered by the Secretary shall be fined as provided in 
title 18.’’. 
Æ 
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