The SAVE Act aims to improve the accuracy and accessibility of information regarding individuals recognized to assist veterans with benefit claims, including establishing a certification mark and penalties for fraudulent representation.
Greg Stanton
Representative
AZ-4
The SAVE Act aims to improve the accuracy and accessibility of information regarding individuals recognized to assist veterans with benefit claims. It mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include detailed information in an annual report to Congress, create a certification mark for recognized individuals, and conduct biannual updates to the VA Accreditation Search Database. The Act also establishes penalties for fraudulent use of the certification mark and allocates funds for enforcement.
SAVE Act: VA to Crack Down on Fake Veteran Reps, Boost Database Accuracy Starting 2025
The "Standardizing Accreditation information for Veteran Ease Act," or SAVE Act, is all about cleaning up the system veterans use to find accredited help with their benefits claims. Basically, it's making sure the people claiming to help vets are actually legit and that the VA's database of those helpers is accurate and up-to-date.
Keeping it Real with Reps
The core of the SAVE Act is transparency and accountability. The VA has to give Congress a detailed annual report on everyone recognized to help veterans with claims – agents, attorneys, organizations, and their representatives. This report will cover training requirements, how the VA checks their info, and even how many people are working on keeping the database accurate (Section 2). This means we get a clearer picture of who's qualified and how the VA is managing the whole process.
Spotting the Fakes
To help veterans easily identify legitimate representatives, the SAVE Act directs the VA to create a certification mark – think of it like a verified badge – for accredited individuals (Section 2). This mark will be registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, making it official. And if someone tries to use a fake badge? They're looking at serious penalties, including fines and even jail time (Section 2). The money collected from these penalties goes right back to the VA to help enforce these rules, creating a self-sustaining system of accountability. For instance, a veteran in Texas needing help with their disability claim can look for this mark, knowing it signifies someone the VA has vetted, rather than relying on potentially shady operators.
Database Housekeeping
Starting 180 days after the first detailed report to Congress, and every year after, the VA is required to contact everyone listed in the VA Accreditation Search Database to update their information (Section 3). They also have to make it easy for those individuals to update their details, with clear instructions for everyone (Section 3). This means that when a veteran in California searches for a local representative, they're more likely to find someone who's actually available and at the listed contact information. No more dead ends or outdated numbers. This is especially key for veterans, cutting down on frustrating time lost on bad leads. It is important to keep information up to date in order to maintain accuracy of the database.