S. 740 · 118th Congress

Sets criminal penalties for charging unauthorized fees to help with VA benefit claims

Official title: GUARD VA Benefits Act of 20231

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 it a crime to directly or indirectly solicit, contract for, charge or receive any unauthorized fee for preparing, presenting or pursuing a claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.2,3 Committing or attempting the offense would be punishable by a fine, up to one year in prison, or both.2,3

§2Status

StatusLatest action, April 26, 2023: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-160.1
IntroducedMarch 9, 2023
SponsorSen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Cosponsors55 cosponsors (39 Democratic, 13 Republican, 3 independent)
Official recordS. 740 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, April 26, 2023: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-160.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (14)