SEC. 2. PROMOTION OF ASSISTANCE FROM PERSONS REC-
OGNIZED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO FILE CER-
TAIN CLAIMS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED 
BY THE SECRETARY. 
(a) NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS OF AVAILABLE ASSIST-
ANCE FROM RECOGNIZED PERSONS.—Section 5103A of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) through (i) 
as subsections (i) through (k), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the fol-
lowing new subsections: 
‘‘(g) Upon receipt of an initial claim by a claimant 
not represented by an accredited person, the Secretary 
shall provide notice to the claimant that— 
‘‘(1) an accredited person may be able to rep-
resent the claimant; 
‘‘(2) a veterans service organization recognized 
under section 5902 of this title may represent the 
claimant at no charge to the claimant; 
‘‘(3) provides the web address of the online tool 
maintained under subsection (h); and 
‘‘(4) provides the web address of an appropriate 
and publicly accessible website of the Department 
through which a claimant may report— 
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‘‘(A) a person, who is not an accredited 
person, who represented the claimant; and 
‘‘(B) any fee charged by such person for 
such representation. 
‘‘(h)(1) The Secretary shall maintain an online tool 
that allows a claimant to search a list of accredited per-
sons who represent claimants. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that such list is cur-
rent at least once each calendar quarter. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall ensure that such tool is eas-
ily accessible to a claimant.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(l) In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘accredited person’ means— 
‘‘(A) a veterans service organization recog-
nized under section 5902 of this title; or 
‘‘(B) an attorney, agent, or other person 
recognized under section 5904 of this title. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘represent’ means to prepare, 
present, or prosecute a claim under a law adminis-
tered by the Secretary on behalf of a claimant.’’. 
(b) ONLINE INFORMATION REGARDING PERSONS 
THAT ASSIST CLAIMANTS.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall include, in each web portal of the Department 
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of Veterans Affairs, through which an individual may file 
a claim for a benefit administered by the Under Secretary 
for Benefits or the Under Secretary for Health, a warning 
regarding fees an agent or attorney may charge such indi-
vidual for assistance in filing such claim. Such warning 
shall include the following: 
(1) A link to the online maintained under sub-
section (h) of section 5103A of such title, as amend-
ed by subsection (a). 
(2) A link to the website of the Department de-
scribed in subparagraph (D) of section 5103A(f)(1) 
of such title, as amended by subsection (a). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) complete a review the regulations, processes, 
and procedures of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs that pertain to recognition under section 5904 
of title 38, United States Code; 
(2) develop recommendations for legislative or 
administrative action to improve such regulations, 
processes, and procedures; and 
(3) submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
report containing the findings of the Secretary with 
respect to the review completed under paragraph (1) 
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and the recommendations developed under para-
graph (2). 
Æ 
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