Wounded Warrior Access Act
Bill: H.R.5916 | Sponsor: Rep. Aguilar, Pete (D-CA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Wounded Warrior Access Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and maintain a secure, online tool or website to enable a claimant or their representative to make records requests related to VA claims and benefits. Requests for records must specify in which format the copy is desired. The VA must notify a requester within 10 days that their request has been received and must fulfill the request within 120 days.
The bill also requires the VA to ensure that each time a claimant logs in to a website or online tool of the VA, the website or online tool displays in plain language (1) a warning regarding violations of laws related to agents and attorneys, (2) a link to an online tool to report violations, (3) a link to an online tool to search for a VA-recognized agent or attorney, and (4) a link to a website or online tool providing final decisions on discipline of agents and attorneys for violations.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for the electronic 
          request of certain records, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wounded Warrior Access Act''.

SEC. 2. ELECTRONIC REQUEST OF CERTAIN RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE 
              SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Electronic Record Requests.--Section 5702 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall establish and maintain a secure 
website or online tool for a claimant or a duly recognized agent or 
representative of that claimant to submit an electronic request for 
such records.
    ``(2) The Secretary, upon receipt of a valid request made through 
the website or online tool established under paragraph (1), shall 
provide to the requestor--
            ``(A) not later than 10 days after receipt, confirmation of 
        such receipt; and
            ``(B) not later than 120 days after receipt, such records 
        requested in the form selected by the requestor.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 5702(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``in 
        writing'' and inserting ``in writing, including an electronic 
        request submitted through the website or online tool 
        established under subsection (b),'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) the format in which such copy is desired, including 
        whether in printed form or by downloadable file.''.
    (c) Deadline; Establishment of Website or Online Tool.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the website or online 
tool required under section 5702(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by this Act, and, to the extent practicable, the Secretary 
shall utilize existing online resources of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for the purposes of such establishment.

SEC. 3. WARNINGS TO CLAIMANTS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY 
              OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGARDING UNRECOGNIZED 
              REPRESENTATIVES.

    (a) In General.--Section 5901 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``Except'';
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Warnings About Potential Predatory Practices.--(1) The 
Secretary shall ensure that, each time a claimant under a law 
administered by the Secretary logs in to a website or online tool of 
the Department, such website or online tool issues to the claimant, in 
plain language--
            ``(A) a warning about individuals who seek to act in 
        violation of this chapter;
            ``(B) a link to an online tool of the Department through 
        which the claimant may report such an individual;
            ``(C) a link to an online tool of the Department through 
        which the claimant may search for a recognized agent, attorney, 
        or other entity recognized by the Secretary for the 
        preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim under 
        laws administered by the Secretary; and
            ``(D) a link to a website or an online tool of the 
        Department providing final decisions on discipline of agents, 
        attorneys, and entities, described in subparagraph (C), by the 
        Secretary for violations of this chapter.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall provide all information under paragraph 
(1) in the following languages:
            ``(A) English.
            ``(B) Spanish.
            ``(C) Tagalog.
            ``(D) The seven other languages most commonly spoken in the 
        United States.''.
    (b) Implementation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out subsection (b) of such section, as added by subsection (a) of this 
section--
            (1) after consulting with stakeholders (including veterans 
        service organizations recognized under section 5902 of such 
        title) regarding the wording of the warning under such 
        subsection; and
            (2) not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 14, 2022.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.