H.R. 1139 · 118th Congress

Restores fines for charging veterans unauthorized fees for help with VA claims

Official title: GUARD VA Benefits Act1

Never got a floor voteVeterans' disability and survivor benefits

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would make anyone who solicits, contracts for, charges or receives a fee for helping prepare or pursue a claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, other than fees permitted under existing law, subject to a criminal fine.2,3,4 Attempting to do so would also be subject to a fine.3,4 The bill's official title describes this as reinstating penalties for charging veterans unauthorized fees.3

§2Status

StatusLatest action, March 29, 2023: Subcommittee Hearings Held.1
IntroducedFebruary 21, 2023
SponsorRep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
Cosponsors221 cosponsors (75 Republican, 146 Democratic)
Official recordH.R. 1139 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, March 29, 2023: Subcommittee Hearings Held.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (150)