PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1] · R–MI
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Apr 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.1656 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.1656 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.1656 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.1656 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.
PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-27 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed PLUS for Veterans Act would allow agents and attorneys to charge for helping people with initial Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims, subject to payment conditions and fee limits. It would require notice that free help is available and provide temporary recognition when VA cannot verify an applicant’s qualifications promptly. It would also protect practitioners from specified VA sanctions based on certain fees charged before enactment.
a fee agreement between a claimant and an agent or attorney for the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of an initial claim for such benefits shall be a fee agreement described in subparagraph (B).
That organizations recognized under section 5902 of this title furnish services with respect to initial claims under laws administered by the Secretary at no cost to claimants.
If the Secretary cannot verify whether the individual satisfies the qualifications and standards prescribed under paragraph (2) before the 90-day period beginning after the date on which the Secretary receives an application under clause (i), the Secretary shall recognize the individual on a conditional and temporary basis for a one-year period.
The Secretary may not suspend, exclude from further practice before the Department, fine pursuant to section 5905 of this title, or refuse to recognize as an agent or attorney under this section any individual on the basis that such individual, before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph— (i) charged a claimant a fee for services rendered in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of an initial claim; or (ii) charged a claimant a fee for such services while such individual was not recognized under this section.
Section 1 would give the bill the short title “Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2025,” or “PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025.”
This Act may be cited as the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2025 or the PLUS for Veterans Act of 2025.
Section 2 would exclude administering a medical examination or completing its report, as described in the referenced statute, from what counts as preparing, presenting, or pursuing a VA claim. The referenced examination rules are not reproduced.
The administration of a medical examination, or the completion of a report with respect to such medical examination, as described in section 5125 of this title, shall not constitute the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a claim under the laws administered by the Secretary.
Section 3 would require people seeking VA recognition as agents or attorneys to submit an application. VA would determine its form, timing, required information, and assurances; applications could be submitted by mail, fax, or electronically.
An individual desiring recognition under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application, including an application submitted by mail, fax, or electronic means, in such form, at such time, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary has determined appropriate to recognize such individual under this section.
If VA could not verify an applicant’s qualifications within the specified 90-day period after receiving the application, it would have to grant conditional, temporary recognition for one year. It would have to renew that recognition in additional one-year periods until it could verify whether the applicant met the standards.
If the Secretary cannot verify whether the individual satisfies the qualifications and standards prescribed under paragraph (2) before the 90-day period beginning after the date on which the Secretary receives an application under clause (i), the Secretary shall recognize the individual on a conditional and temporary basis for a one-year period.
At the end of such one-year period, the Secretary shall recognize the individual on a conditional and temporary basis for such additional one-year periods until the date on which the Secretary can verify whether the individual satisfies such qualifications and standards.
VA could not suspend a practitioner, exclude them from practice before VA, fine them under section 5905, or refuse recognition based on their having charged initial-claim fees before enactment or having charged claim-service fees while unrecognized before enactment. This protection is tied to those specified grounds.
The Secretary may not suspend, exclude from further practice before the Department, fine pursuant to section 5905 of this title, or refuse to recognize as an agent or attorney under this section any individual on the basis that such individual, before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph— (i) charged a claimant a fee for services rendered in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of an initial claim; or (ii) charged a claimant a fee for such services while such individual was not recognized under this section.
VA could charge an assessment of up to $500 to someone seeking recognition to handle initial claims who charges or collects fees from claimants. VA would set the amount by regulation. Collections would go into a Treasury revolving fund—a fund whose receipts would be available to administer the recognition and representation rules.
The Secretary may charge and collect an assessment from an individual who— (i) seeks recognition under this section as an agent or attorney for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of an initial claim under the laws administered by the Secretary; and (ii) charges or collects fees from a claimant for services rendered in such preparation, presentation, and prosecution.
An assessment described in subparagraph (A)— (i) shall be in such amount as the Secretary prescribes in regulations and determines appropriate; and (ii) may not exceed $500.
Amounts collected under this paragraph shall be deposited in a revolving fund in the Treasury of the United States. Such amounts shall be available to the Secretary for the administration of this section.
The bill would add failure to protect claimant data and personally identifying information under applicable Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requirements, including security rules, to the statutory grounds addressing practitioner discipline.
has failed to keep claimant data and personally identifiable information in accordance with applicable provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), including the data security requirements and implementing regulations of such Act.
Within one year after enactment and annually afterward, VA would have to report to both congressional Veterans’ Affairs committees on suspensions and recognition denials. The report would separate the numbers by reason and by whether the person was a recognized organization’s representative, an agent, or an attorney.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2025 and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the number of individuals suspended under this subsection or denied recognition under subsection (a), disaggregated by the reasons for such suspension or denial and whether the individual is— (A) a representative of an organization recognized under section 5902 of this title; (B) an agent; or (C) an attorney.
An initial-claim fee agreement could not require payment before the claimant received notice of the initial decision from the VA office deciding the claim. Payment would depend on a favorable result, defined as granting all or any part of the requested relief.
does not require payment from a claimant to the agent or attorney before the date on which the claimant is provided notice of the agency of original jurisdiction's initial decision under section 5104 of this title with respect to the initial claim
is contingent on whether the initial claim is resolved in a manner favorable to the claimant
an initial claim shall be considered to have been resolved in a manner favorable to the claimant if all or any part of the relief sought pursuant to the claim is granted.
The total initial-claim fee would be capped at the lower of $12,500, subject to adjustment, or five times the monthly benefit increase awarded through the claim.
the total amount payable by the claimant to the agent or attorney with respect to the initial claim— (aa) is contingent on whether the initial claim is resolved in a manner favorable to the claimant; (bb) does not exceed the lesser of— (AA) $12,500 (as adjusted from time to time under subparagraph (C)); or (BB) the amount equal to the product of five and the amount of the monthly increase of benefits awarded to the claimant pursuant to the claim
The dollar cap would increase each October 1, starting in the first fiscal year after enactment, by the increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, a measure of consumer prices. The calculation would use the latest available 12-month period. If that index did not increase, the cap would stay unchanged.
Effective on October 1 of each year (beginning in the first fiscal year after the date of the enactment of the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2025), the Secretary shall increase the dollar amount in effect under clause (i) of subparagraph (B) by a percentage equal to the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (U.S. city average) increased during the 12-month period ending with the last month for which Consumer Price Index data is available. In the event that such Consumer Price Index does not increase during such period, the Secretary shall maintain the dollar amount in effect under such clause during the previous fiscal year.
VA would have to create a standard notice form explaining that recognized organizations offer free initial-claim help and that claimants may choose a private physician for the referenced medical examination. The fee agreement would have to include the claimant’s attestation that the agent or attorney provided the form.
that contains an attestation by the claimant that the agent or attorney provided to the claimant the standard form under clause (iii).
the Secretary shall develop a standard form that includes the following notices: (I) That organizations recognized under section 5902 of this title furnish services with respect to initial claims under laws administered by the Secretary at no cost to claimants. (II) That a claimant may select a private physician for a medical examination described in section 5125 of this title regarding the initial claim.
The standard form would also have to state that the agent or attorney may not refer the claimant to a private physician for the referenced examination if the practitioner has a business relationship with that physician.
That the agent or attorney with whom the claimant is entering such fee agreement may not refer the claimant to a private physician described in such section with whom the agent or attorney has a business relationship.
Section 3 would also change wording and cross-references in existing fee provisions. It would remove a restriction referring to cases under paragraph (1) from paragraph (2), and expand a reference in paragraph (3)(A) to cover paragraph (1) or (2). The surrounding statutory text is not supplied, so the full effect is uncertain.
in paragraph (2)— (i) by striking in a case referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection; and (ii) by inserting in a case after represents a person; (D) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting paragraph (1) or (2).
VA would have to issue regulations implementing section 3 within 180 days after enactment.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out the amendments made by this section.
Section 4 would make unauthorized claim-related fees punishable by a fine under federal criminal law, up to one year in prison, or both. It would cover direct or indirect solicitation, agreements, charging, receipt, and attempts, with exceptions for fees allowed under sections 5904 or 1984.
Except as provided in sections 5904 or 1984 of this title, whoever directly or indirectly solicits, contracts for, charges, or receives, or attempts to solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, any fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
For a conditionally recognized agent or attorney who violated a VA-administered law or regulation under the relevant chapter on or after recognition, VA would have to revoke that recognition after notice. After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the person would face a $50,000 fine and a recognition ban: one year from the first violation and 10 years from each later violation.
If an individual recognized as an agent or attorney on a conditional and temporary basis pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of section 5904(a)(1)(B) of this title violates any law or regulation administered by the Secretary under this chapter on or after the date on which such individual is so recognized— (1) the Secretary shall, after notice, revoke the conditional and temporary recognition of the individual; and (2) such individual, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, shall be— (A) fined $50,000; and (B) barred from recognition under section 5904 of this title— (i) for a period of one year beginning on the date of the first violation; and (ii) for a period of 10 years beginning on the date of each subsequent violation.
Money collected from the new unauthorized-fee penalties and conditional-recognition penalties would go into the same fund used to administer the recognition and representation rules.
Any amount received by the Federal Government from a fine imposed under subsection (b) or (c) shall be deposited in the fund established by section 5904(a)(7)(C) of this title.
Amounts collected under this paragraph shall be deposited in a revolving fund in the Treasury of the United States. Such amounts shall be available to the Secretary for the administration of this section.
Section 4’s amendments would take effect 90 days after VA issued the regulations required by section 3. That timing would depend on when VA actually issued those regulations.
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date on which the Secretary prescribes the regulations required by subsection (b) of section 3.
Section 5 would override state laws inconsistent with the statutory rights the bill established and prevent their implementation. This would cover both existing and future state laws, including written statutes and common law developed through court decisions.
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, supersede any State law that is inconsistent with the statutory rights established by this Act, or such amendments, and preclude the implementation of such a law, whether statutory, common law, or otherwise, and whether adopted before or after the date of enactment of this Act.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated April 10, 2026, records introduction and referral to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on February 27, 2025, followed by referral to its Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs on March 3, 2025. These entries do not establish what happened after the recorded actions.
Source snapshot updated 2026-04-10T16:57:43Z. 2025-03-03: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-27. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated rider was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish the absence of riders in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No earmark was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; the source set does not establish formal earmark status in other versions or accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The supplied introduced text contains a narrow protection from specified enforcement and recognition consequences. Its classification as a targeted benefit is not a judgment about its justification.
People who charged initial-claim fees before enactment, or charged claim-service fees while unrecognized before enactment, would receive protection from specified VA sanctions based on that conduct. This gives a defined group of prior fee-charging practitioners special protection within the bill’s broader system for regulating paid claims assistance.
The Secretary may not suspend, exclude from further practice before the Department, fine pursuant to section 5905 of this title, or refuse to recognize as an agent or attorney under this section any individual on the basis that such individual, before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph— (i) charged a claimant a fee for services rendered in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of an initial claim; or (ii) charged a claimant a fee for such services while such individual was not recognized under this section.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Apr 10, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI