SAVE Act

The "Standardizing Accreditation information for Veteran Ease Act," or SAVE Act, aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the process by which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes agents, attorneys, and organizations assisting veterans with benefit claims. It mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include comprehensive information in an annual report to Congress. This report must detail various aspects of the recognition process, such as the type and frequency of required training, the information collected from applicants, and the methods used for gathering and verifying personal and qualifying data. The annual report must also cover the frequency of updates and accuracy checks for the VA Accreditation Search database , including the removal of individuals no longer recognized. Furthermore, the bill requires the Secretary to establish and maintain a certification mark , registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, to identify properly recognized individuals. Fraudulent use of this certification mark to mislead veterans about a person's recognized status will incur civil penalties, including fines or imprisonment. To ensure ongoing accuracy, the SAVE Act stipulates that, biannually, the Secretary must notify all recognized individuals to update their contact information. The VA must also provide clear instructions for these updates and ensure the VA Accreditation Search Database is promptly updated with the new information. These provisions collectively aim to improve the reliability of information available to veterans seeking assistance with their claims.