Press Releases

Rep. Jack Bergman announced today that two of his legislative initiatives—the CHOICE for Veterans Act and the VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act—successfully passed out of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs yesterday.

“These bills reflect months of collaboration and feedback from Veterans, advocates, and oversight bodies,” said Rep. Bergman. “I’m grateful to my colleagues on the committee for recognizing the importance of protecting Veterans and ensuring the VA is operating with transparency and accountability.”

The CHOICE for Veterans Act reinstates penalties for unaccredited individuals who charge Veterans for help with filing disability claims. It also permits accredited agents and attorneys to charge fees for initial claim filings—capped at the lesser of $12,500 or five times the Veteran’s monthly benefit increase—while implementing strong guardrails to prevent abuse.

Key provisions include:

• Informing Veterans of free services available through Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs).
• Requiring clear, upfront fee disclosures and allowing Veterans to pay in installments.
• Enhancing oversight through a public VA website listing accredited representatives and enabling the reporting of unaccredited actors.
• Protecting data and privacy by requiring HIPAA-compliant systems and banning overseas call centers.
• Preventing unethical practices such as double billing or charging recently separated service members.

Additionally, Bergman’s VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act addresses concerns stemming from the VA’s 2024 budget request, in which the department cited a $3 billion shortfall. Despite that request, the VA ultimately carried over $5 billion in unspent funds.

“This legislation is about accountability and ensuring Congress has accurate, timely information to support Veterans effectively. By requiring annual reviews of the VA’s budget practices for the next five years, we’re taking meaningful steps to prevent future confusion and protect taxpayer dollars.”