S 740 United States Senate · 118th Congress

GUARD VA Benefits Act of 2023

This bill strengthens penalties for individuals or organizations charging veterans unauthorized fees when assisting with VA benefit claims. It directly affects veterans who might be targeted by unscrupulous representatives and the representatives themselves who attempt to charge such fees. The key provision adds a new subsection (b) to Section 5905, making it illegal to solicit, charge, or receive any fee for preparing or submitting VA claims - except as allowed under specific other sections. Violations can result in fines, up to one year in prison, or both.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 9, 2023 Last action Apr 26, 2023
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Apr 26, 2023
Upper · Passed
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-160.
upper
Mar 9, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
upper
Mar 9, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 55 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of John Boozman
John Boozman
RRepublican
AR
n/a
Co
Photo of Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
MN
n/a
Co
Photo of Angus S. King, Jr.
Angus S. King, Jr.
IIndependent
ME
n/a
Co
Photo of Ben Ray Luján
Ben Ray Luján
DDemocratic
NM
n/a
Co
Photo of Benjamin L. Cardin
Benjamin L. Cardin
DDemocratic
MD
n/a
Co
Photo of Bernard Sanders
Bernard Sanders
IIndependent
VT
n/a
Co
Photo of Catherine Cortez Masto
Catherine Cortez Masto
DDemocratic
NV
n/a
Co
Photo of Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
MD
n/a
Co
Photo of Christopher A. Coons
Christopher A. Coons
DDemocratic
DE
n/a
Co
Photo of Christopher Murphy
Christopher Murphy
DDemocratic
CT
n/a
Co
Photo of Cory A. Booker
Cory A. Booker
DDemocratic
NJ
n/a