Wounded Warrior Access Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2803
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2023-09-14
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2023-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4528)

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-09-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Wounded Warrior Access Act</b> <b>of 2023</b></p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2803 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 14, 2023 Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Braun ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for the electronic request of certain records, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wounded Warrior Access Act of 2023 . 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), in the first sentence, 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 one year 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. 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. 4. No additional funds authorized No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the requirements of this Act.