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H.R. 8736: GUARD VA Benefits Act

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H.R. 8736: GUARD VA Benefits Act

117th Congress · introduced 2022-08-19 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2022-08-19 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

GUARD VA Benefits Act

Plain summary

Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes criminal penalties and/or fines on individuals for directly or indirectly soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine or imprisonment.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

GUARD VA Benefits Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] · 118 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), William R. Keating (D-MA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Troy A. Carter (D-LA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Angie Craig (D-MN) and 58 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] reported raising $23.7 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr8736 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117