Wounded Warrior Access Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1226) to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for the electronic request of certain records, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1226
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wounded Warrior Access Act''. SEC. 2. ELECTRONIC REQUEST OF CERTAIN RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Electronic Record Requests.--Section 5702 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b)(1) The Secretary shall establish and maintain a secure website or online tool for a claimant or a duly recognized agent or representative of that claimant to submit an electronic request for such records.
``(2) The Secretary, upon receipt of a valid request made through the website or online tool established under paragraph (1), shall provide to the requestor--
``(A) not later than 10 days after receipt, confirmation of such receipt; and
``(B) not later than 120 days after receipt, such records requested in the form selected by the requestor.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 5702(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``in writing'' and inserting ``in writing, including an electronic request submitted through the website or online tool established under subsection (b),'';
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) the format in which such copy is desired, including whether in printed form or by downloadable file.''.
(c) Deadline; Establishment of Website or Online Tool.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish the website or online tool required under section 5702(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, as added by this Act, and, to the extent practicable, the Secretary shall utilize existing online resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purposes of such establishment. SEC. 3. WARNINGS TO CLAIMANTS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGARDING UNRECOGNIZED REPRESENTATIVES.
(a) In General.--Section 5901 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``Except'';
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Warnings About Potential Predatory Practices.--(1) The Secretary shall ensure that, each time a claimant under a law administered by the Secretary logs in to a website or online tool of the Department, such website or online tool issues to the claimant, in plain language--
``(A) a warning about individuals who seek to act in violation of this chapter;
``(B) a link to an online tool of the Department through which the claimant may report such an individual;
``(C) a link to an online tool of the Department through which the claimant may search for a recognized agent, attorney, or other entity recognized by the Secretary for the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim under laws administered by the Secretary; and
``(D) a link to a website or an online tool of the Department providing final decisions on discipline of agents, attorneys, and entities, described in subparagraph (C), by the Secretary for violations of this chapter.
``(2) The Secretary shall provide all information under paragraph (1) in the following languages:
``(A) English.
``(B) Spanish.
``(C) Tagalog.
``(D) The seven other languages most commonly spoken in the United States.''.
(b) Implementation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out subsection (b) of such section, as added by subsection (a) of this section--
(1) after consulting with stakeholders (including veterans service organizations recognized under section 5902 of such title) regarding the wording of the warning under such subsection; and
(2) not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the requirements of this Act.
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Mr. BOST. 1226, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1226, as amended.
This bill will require VA to establish a secure online tool which veterans can use to request a copy of their VA claims file or C-file.
Veterans may want to see their records to ensure the VA received all the evidence they submitted. They may also use this information to decide whether to appeal VA's decision.
Currently, veterans must travel to the regional office to view their records, which is inconvenient, or they can request a copy by mail, which can take weeks or even months.
I support this bill because it would make it easier for veterans to get their VA records in a timely manner.
Furthermore, I have heard increasing concerns from veterans about bad actors attempting to con them out of their benefits. This is unacceptable.
H.R. 1226, as amended, would require VA to educate veterans about predatory actors when they log into the VA website. These warnings will prevent veterans from being taken advantage of.
I appreciate Representative Aguilar's leadership on this issue. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of this bill today.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I also encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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