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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

“Wildfires do not care if lands are federal, state, or local. They don’t respect man-made boundaries or political jurisdictions.”

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse successfully passed the Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act through the House. The bipartisan bill seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of wildfire mitigation work across land ownership boundaries by encouraging federal, state, local, private, and tribal entities to adopt an all-hands-on-deck approach to reducing wildfire risks

The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act is also championed by Representatives Young Kim (R-CA) and Josh Harder (D-CA), as well as Senator Ruben Gallego. It has already advanced through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, placing the legislation now just one step away from advancing to the president’s desk. 

During consideration of the bill on the House floor Tuesday afternoon, Neguse emphasized the pressing importance of closing gaps in wildfire mitigation authorities. 

“Colorado is no stranger to wildfires, but in the last several years, we have had some of the most devastating in the history of our state. The Cameron Peak wildfire, the East Troublesome wildfire—these wildfires that raged across hundreds of thousands of acres of land, federal land, state land, local land, and what we’ve learned during the course of those fires, and in the wake of that devastation, is the critical need for partnership and for wildfire mitigation that ultimately stretches across these political boundaries,” Congressman Neguse said on the Floor. “The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act is simple. It is straightforward. It will help us identify and resolve the challenges that may exist with respect to gaps in wildfire mitigation across land ownership types.” 

Watch or download his complete remarks HERE. 

Neguse and Gallego first teamed up last year to introduce the Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act as part of a larger policy package aimed at improving national wildfire mitigation, research, and management. This legislative package was derived from a 2024 report issued by the nonpartisan Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, which was created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and tasked with outlining a holistic approach to addressing the rising threat of wildfires. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Leader Jeffries on priorities for House Democrats: “We have made clear from the very beginning as House Democrats that we needed to do two things at the same period of time. One, push back against the extremism, which very early on in the Trump administration, it was clear, Republicans and the administration were gonna try to unleash on the American people with their shock and awe strategy and flood the zone in ways that we believe would be harmful. But at the same period of time, try to get things done whenever and wherever possible when it makes sense for the American people in a bipartisan way, given the current construct. And then articulate a vision of making life better for the America people focused on driving down the high cost of living, because it’s clear to anyone who’s paying attention, anyone who’s on the ground in communities all across the country, in the neighborhoods that I’m privileged to represent in Brooklyn, but as I travel the country as well, that the affordability crisis is real. It’s not a hoax. It’s very real, and it’s impacting hardworking American taxpayers in ways that have to be addressed decisively. And particularly, the closer and closer that we get to that first Tuesday in November, I think, leaning into what that affirmative agenda will be to drive down costs in housing, in healthcare, as it relates to childcare, as it relates to gas, groceries and goods, utilities, is going to be critically important to us.”

Leader Jeffries on the Trump administration: “Our view, certainly, is that the Trump presidency has been completely and totally out of control in a wide variety of areas in ways that have not enured to the benefit of the American people. From an affordability standpoint, the economy is a disaster, and the American people know it. And the President and his administration have completely and totally lost confidence as it relates to how hard-working American taxpayers view the improvement in their quality of life when they were promised that costs were going to go down. Costs haven’t gone down. They’ve gone up. Part of the concern is that if you’re spending a lot of time trying to enrich your family, your friends and your biggest donors in ways that I think are demonstrating some extraordinarily breathtaking corruption in real time in many instances, most recently exhibited by the $1.8 billion insurrectionist support slush fund, then at the end of the day, you’re not focused on actually solving problems for the American people.”

Leader Jeffries on AI regulation: “I think what has to happen is whatever is done has to be bipartisan and thoughtful and as comprehensive as possible. Certainly, we were on a bipartisan trajectory with the task force that Kevin McCarthy and I first put together, and he was a leader in that regard in wanting to be bipartisan and thoughtful. It continued initially when Johnson became the Speaker, but I believe that Republicans in the House were ordered to kill it this time around because Donald Trump wanted to dominate the issue. Why? Because he looked at the issue through a political lens and thought this could be the new crypto for him. But of course, what has happened is that the American people have dramatically turned against AI because of concerns around data centers, concerns around the job implications, concerns that it’s moving so fast and they’re unsure of the consequences. And so now, of course, what you see is there was a political decision not to do something thoughtful. They ended the bipartisan process that was underway, which will work hard to pick up in the next Congress. But now Donald Trump is issuing executive orders without even inviting cameras because he knows he’s got a big problem as it relates to how the American people now view artificial intelligence. And even with the executive order that was issued today, it’s incomplete, it’s voluntary, it will have no credibility with the American people and this is going to be a congressional thing that will need to take hold.”

Leader Jeffries on AI and election security: “I think we should use every tool that is available to us to be able to reach voters authentically and where they are. I do think the one thing that is clear is that since January of 2025, Democrats have won every single meaningful election in this country now for more than 16 months. And no one can argue that. So something’s working, and obviously, there’s a rejection of the extremism that’s taking place coming out of the White House and with the administration and a far too compliant Congress that is just allowing this climate of mass uncertainty, which is not good for business, it’s not good for consumers, it’s good for the economy, it’s not good for commerce, right, it’s not good for anyone. And Republicans are allowing this to exist by basically being a reckless rubber stamp, in our view, to Donald Trump’s extreme agenda. And we’re leaning into the issue of affordability. So my point is, we’re winning all across the board, right, up and down the ballot across the country, blue states, red states, purple states, like Virginia. At the same period of time, we should embrace all of the technology, including AI, available to us so that we can reach as many voters as authentically as possible in advance of the November election.”

Leader Jeffries on corruption: “I think the House should [ban Members of Congress and staff from betting on prediction markets]. The House should prohibit Members of Congress from being able to trade stocks, and we’ve clearly expressed that as part of an anti-corruption agenda. We’ve got to make sure that we clean up our own institutions, while at the same time, doing what’s necessary to deal with the Supreme Court, which has no ethical code of conduct, and you’ve got justices who are completely and totally out of control and have lost the confidence of the American people. And the same with the administration. And look, we’re committed to, as I said during the start of this Congress, find[ing] bipartisan common ground whenever and wherever possible in order to get things done for the American people.”

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

LEADER JEFFRIES: House Democrats remain focused on making life more affordable for the American people. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs haven’t gone down in the United States of America. Costs have gone up. The affordability crisis is real. It is not a hoax. And far too many people across this country, millions of hard-working American taxpayers, are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. Can’t thrive and can barely survive because of toxic Republican policies that have made life more expensive for the American people.

House Democrats are committed to driving down the high cost of living.Housing costs are too high, grocery bills are too high, healthcare costs are too high, gas prices are too high and utility bills are too high. America is far too expensive, and Republican policies have made a bad situation even worse. They’ve been a disaster as it relates to the economy, and everyday Americans know it.

Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice has cost everyday Americans hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more in increased cost, particularly as it relates to gas prices. This war, this reckless and costly war of choice, needs to end today. House Democrats are going to advance a War Powers Resolution on the Floor this week. And all we need are hands full of Republicans to join us, and we can end this reckless and costly war of choice, a war that has cost the American taxpayer over a hundred billion dollars. That’s extraordinary and left our country in a weaker position relative to Iran than when this reckless and costly war of choice began.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today spoke from the House floor in favor of the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act he cosponsored and later voted for the measure which passed by voice vote.

In his remarks, Congressman Cohen noted that the 288-mile scenic hiking trail connects Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina and crosses the Appalachian Trail six times. One 93-mile stretch is in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The study called for in the bill would assess whether trail meets the standards of other national scenic trails. If it does, it would be the first so designated by Congress since 2009.

See the congressman’s floor speech here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), along with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that they led a public comment letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) highlighting significant environmental and safety concerns at FCI Dublin in Dublin, California and voicing strong opposition to the reopening of FCI Dublin to detain noncitizens. This public comment comes after BOP released its Environmental Assessment (EA) of FCI Dublin as part of efforts to permanently deactivate and close the facility. 

In the letter, the members wrote, “We support the decision to permanently close FCI Dublin and recognize the EA’s findings that the property is unsafe, environmentally compromised, and would require substantial public investment to restore it to habitable condition. At the same time, although the EA evaluates the impacts of BOP ceasing operations at the facility, identifying numerous significant environmental hazards and unresolved contamination concerns, it does not sufficiently assess what is reasonably foreseeable to occur after closure, including continued vacancy, transfer, redevelopment, demolition, or repurposing of the site. Nor does it adequately address the environmental and public health implications associated with those potential outcomes. 

Given the substantial evidence of contamination, environmental degradation, and unresolved data gaps identified throughout the EA, it would be irresponsible and scientifically unsound for BOP to proceed to a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) without additional environmental review and mitigation planning. Instead, due to previously stated reasons, as well as the long history of staff sexual misconduct at the facility, we support demolishing FCI Dublin. We also strongly oppose any efforts to transfer ownership of the facility to an entity that will utilize it for immigration detention.”

In addition to requesting that the BOP address deficiencies in the report, the Members urged that, “[t]o ensure that the proposed action complies with NEPA and adequately protects public health and environmental safety, we respectfully urge BOP to:

• Pause the current timeline for issuance of any Finding of No Significant Impact pending additional environmental review; 
• Conduct further environmental investigation regarding unresolved contamination concerns, including unexploded ordnance, radiological hazards, underground storage tanks, and sewer system contamination; 
• Prepare a comprehensive Mitigation Action Plan addressing demolition, remediation, containment, and long-term environmental monitoring; 
• Fully analyze reasonably foreseeable post-closure outcomes, including prolonged vacancy, transfer, redevelopment, demolition, or repurposing of the facility; 
• Evaluate the potential environmental and community impacts associated with future reuse of the site, including potential conversion to another detention facility or immigration detention center; and 
• Evaluate demolition of the facility and full remediation of the property as a reasonable alternative under NEPA.”

The full text of the letter can be found here. The letter was also signed by Representatives Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-At Large), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Brad Sherman (CA-30), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12). 

FCI Dublin is located in the district that Congressman DeSaulnier represents. Congressman DeSaulnier has also previously acted on behalf of those who have experienced and witnessed abuse at the facility by sending a letter to the BOP demanding answers and accountability, meeting with attorneys representing inmates at the facility and hearing from whistleblowers, visiting the facility to see the conditions firsthand, and sending a letter urging FCI Dublin to immediately fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide meaningful access to legal counsel and provide essential healthcare services to inmates who suffered from serious sexual abuse. Congressman DeSaulnier also sent a letter to then-Attorney General Garland regarding the closure of FCI Dublin and Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) implementation at the facility, and urged the House Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability Committees to investigate and hold hearings on the recent closure and transfer of inmates from FCI Dublin, the facility’s past pervasive culture of abuse, and the treatment of inmates at BOP facilities more broadly as such action is essential to answer outstanding questions and provide much-needed oversight of BOP.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Rep. Pappas was joined by Reps. Bacon, Bynum, and Lawler to introduce the bipartisan bill in the House

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Resolution honors wounded warrior Dez Del Barba, a survivor of rare and deadly infection

Early recognition and treatment can mean the difference between life and death

STOCKTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) introduced a resolution to recognize May as Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month and raise awareness of a rare, fast-moving infection that can quickly become a life-threatening emergency. Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious bacterial infection that spreads quickly, can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages, and often requires immediate hospital care, antibiotics, and surgery. 

“When a patient says something is wrong, they deserve to be heard,” said Rep. Harder. “Necrotizing fasciitis moves fast, and delayed care can change a life forever. I’m proud to help raise awareness so more families know the warning signs and more patients get the urgent care they need.”

Harder’s resolution will:

• Designate May as Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month.

• Raise public awareness about the warning signs, risks, and urgency of early treatment while honoring survivors, families, caregivers, and medical professionals impacted by necrotizing fasciitis.

• Highlight the need for continued public education so patients and providers can respond quickly.

“I didn’t even know how to pronounce necrotizing fasciitis until it nearly took my son’s life,” said Kamni Del Barba, mother of Dez Del Barba – a retired U.S. Army combat veteran. “What began as untreated Strep A became a fast-moving infection that tore through Dez’s body while warning signs were missed and precious time was lost. Necrotizing fasciitis does not wait. Awareness matters, accountability matters, and compassionate, timely medical care matters. Our family is grateful to Rep. Harder for helping bring attention to this devastating disease and for standing with families who know how urgent this issue is. No family should have to learn these lessons through suffering, permanent injury, or loss.”

“This resolution will help bring needed attention to necrotizing fasciitis where early detection and immediate treatment can save lives,” said Dez Del Barba. “My hope is that this work helps more patients recognize the warning signs and reminds medical providers to listen closely when someone says something is wrong. I’m thankful to Rep. Harder for helping raise awareness of this disease and for working to prevent other families from facing the same devastating consequences.”

Harder introduced the resolution as part of his ongoing work to support veterans and patients who have experienced the devastating consequences of delayed recognition and treatment. The resolution aims to strengthen public awareness, encourage early action, and help ensure that more families understand the warning signs before it is too late. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus, today issued the following statement on President Trump’s executive order asking artificial intelligence companies to provide the federal government with early access to models on a voluntary basis:

“The risks posed by frontier AI models and their advanced cyber capabilities are real and demand serious attention, but this executive order falls short of providing a credible framework to manage those risks. As it is written, this order continues to allow companies to release powerful models to the public without undergoing meaningful evaluation or review. This largely voluntary and classified approach is simply not sufficient.

“Equally concerning is absence of clear guidance on how identified threats would be addressed. While this order creates channels to surface potential risks, it fails to define procedures for responding to them once identified. It also opens the door to redirecting existing federal grant funding toward AI vulnerability efforts without clear safeguards or accountability.

“This is underwhelming policy that mirrors the Trump Administration’s broader pattern of creating a wild west environment for AI development, rather than ensuring safe and responsible governance to protect the American public.”

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) serves as co-Chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus. He was one of a handful of members selected to serve on the bipartisan Task Force On Artificial Intelligence, convened by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Mike Johnson. He is the author of the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act and a lead cosponsor of the CREATE AI Act, the Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act, and the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act.

Beyer previously served for eight years on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and is currently attending George Mason University as a part time student pursuing a master’s degree in machine learning, in part to help inform his work on AI in Congress.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Pappas, Blumenthal Introduce New Comprehensive Legislation to Crack Down on Claim Sharks Scamming Veterans 

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (CT) announced their new comprehensive legislation to hold claims sharks and other predatory actors accountable for exploiting veterans and survivors’ earned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.

The lawmakers’ Stopping Abuse, Fraud, and Exploitation by Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (SAFEGUARD) Veterans Act would make explicit that only VA-accredited individuals can assist veterans with VA benefit claims and reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited agents who charge veterans extortionate fees for assistance with VA disability claims—a service provided for free by VA and accredited nonprofits. While current law prohibits this activity, predatory actors have used loopholes to avoid prosecution and federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce the law without criminal penalties.

“In recent years, numerous complaints have been raised about benefit‑assistance companies that target veterans with aggressive marketing practices, charge unauthorized or excessive fees, and provide misleading information about VA benefits. No veteran should be taken advantage of while trying to access the benefits they earned serving our country,” said Congressman Bacon. “These concerns underscore the urgent need for stronger protections and real accountability for bad actors. Predatory claim sharks undermine trust in the VA process and can leave veterans paying unauthorized fees for help they should be able to receive from accredited representatives. I’m grateful to work with Rep. Pappas on the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act to strengthen consumer protections, restore real consequences for bad actors, and make sure veterans know where to turn for trusted help.”

“Veterans seeking to access their benefits should not face another battle to do so. Unaccredited, for-profit companies are scamming veterans of their earned benefits under the guise of helping them and they must be stopped,” said Congressman Pappas. “This legislation is about transparency for veterans so they know the resources and help available to them when they apply for benefits, and accountability for for-profit claim sharks that are breaking the law and exploiting legal loopholes to defraud them. I’m glad to be working with Senator Blumenthal, veterans, veterans’ service organizations, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this issue. I won’t stop fighting to reinstate criminal penalties on these illegal business practices and safeguard the benefits veterans have earned.”

“Veterans need protection against claims sharks and other predatory scammers who are stealing millions in hard-earned benefits,” said Senator Blumenthal.  “Our legislation will close loopholes and impose strict criminal penalties— deterring as well as punishing bad actors. There should be zero tolerance for exploitive tactics robbing veterans of funds they well deserve and need to live. I hope this measure will have bipartisan backing.”

The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act would:

• Reestablish criminal penalties for unaccredited claims representatives scamming veterans;

• Prohibit VA accreditation of any person found guilty of unauthorized solicitation, charging, or receiving compensation for assisting with VA benefit claims;

• Close loopholes exploited by unaccredited actors to skirt federal prohibitions on unaccredited agents assisting veterans with VA benefit claims;

• Prohibit the use of robocall technology to obtain VA claims information—targeting claim sharks who spam VA call centers to gain unauthorized access to veterans’ claims information;

• Require VA to establish a system to track accredited agents and where veterans can report scammers; and

• Increase warnings to veterans about claim sharks and other predatory practices of unaccredited agents.

“Our veterans sacrificed so much to defend us and our freedoms – the least we can do is protect the benefits they earned and deserve,” said Congresswoman Bynum. “I am proud to introduce the bipartisan SAFEGUARD Veterans Act to crack down on claim sharks preying on veterans and taking their benefits. Let’s pass this bill and ensure our heroes in need of assistance can access it without the risk of being scammed.”

“We must reinstate strong criminal penalties for bad actors who illegally charge veterans for VA claims, while requiring accredited or supervised representation, strengthening enforcement, and expanding outreach so veterans can access free, trusted assistance. Veterans who served our country should never be charged unauthorized fees or misled by companies seeking to profit off the benefits they earned,” said Congressman Lawler.

The lawmakers’ legislation builds on bipartisan efforts to hold unaccredited entities accountable and a NPR investigation that revealed private companies continue to make millions by extorting veterans, despite knowing their actions are likely illegal. It also comes on the heels of a U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina summary judgement ruling that unaccredited companies are considered agents and are subject to the federal ban on charging veterans for assistance with preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for VA benefits. Some states have passed legislation authorizing the practice of charging for assistance with VA claims. The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act includes state laws preemption regarding recognition, fee agreements, or authority to charge for assistance with the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of VA benefit claims.

In the House, Bacon was joined by Reps. Chris Pappas (NH-01), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Bill Keating (MA-08), Dina Titus (NV-03), Vindman (VA-08), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19). In the Senate, the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

The legislation is also supported by National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and The American Legion.

“NACVSO supports the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 and its efforts to restore integrity within the VA claims process,” said NACVSO President Andrew Tangen. “VA-accredited representatives operate under federal oversight, training requirements, and ethical standards designed to protect veterans, while unaccredited claims agents have increasingly exploited enforcement gaps while profiting from veteran injuries and illnesses. This legislation takes bad profit incentives away from unscrupulous claims agents by restoring criminal penalties for unauthorized assistance, improving transparency, modernizing accreditation oversight, and increasing awareness of predatory practices. No veteran should ever have to pay for initial claim services and those who have illegally profited must be held accountable.”

“For too long, unaccredited claims consultants have exploited veterans and survivors by charging excessive, unlawful fees for assistance they are not authorized to provide. The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act restores accountability, strengthens protections for veterans navigating the VA claims process, and reinforces the critical role of accredited veterans service organizations, attorneys, and claims agents who are held to rigorous standards,” said MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret). “MOAA applauds lawmakers for introducing this important legislation to preserve the integrity of the VA benefits system and ensure veterans are not targeted by predatory actors seeking to profit off of service-earned benefits.”

“DAV strongly supports the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act to help combat a serious and ongoing threat: unethical individuals who prey on veterans navigating the complex VA claims process and charge fees for help that should be free and accredited. By reinstating criminal penalties for unaccredited claims assistance, streamlining the accreditation process, and making public those who have been barred from VA accreditation, this bill puts teeth back into protections that veterans need, deserve, and have earned. Passage of this legislation would demonstrate our nation’s unwavering commitment to honor and protect all who have served because every veteran deserves strong, honest advocacy when seeking earned benefits—not opportunists seeking to profit,” said DAV National Service Director Scott Hope.

Background

Unaccredited claims representatives, or claim sharks, are not subject to VA standards. They strategically advertise their services to avoid regulatory oversight and as a result, may engage in predatory and unethical practices that target veterans and rob them of their VA benefits. Federal laws and regulations prohibit anyone from assisting a veteran in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a VA benefit claim, or charging a fee for this assistance, without accreditation from VA. However, VA and other federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce existing law because explicit criminal penalties were stripped from statute nearly two decades ago. This has contributed to the proliferation of unaccredited claims representatives in recent years.

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