I am Ken Wiseman and I am a Past State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars here in Virginia. I also spent three and a half years as a VA accredited claims representative for the VFW. I am here tonight to represent the 40,000 members of the VFW and our Auxiliary. The Virginia VFW unanimously endorsed HB736 and we thank Delegate Sewell for bringing this forward. The VFW is committed to putting predatory Claim Sharks out of business, and our efforts in Virginia compliment VFW efforts in Congress. However, our bill in Congress has stalled as we are at an impasse against companies who bill veterans to secure their earned VA benefits. Today, we seek to at least protect veterans in Virginia with HB736. The VFW knows that companies, like Veterans Guardian, will bill thousands of dollars for their services. Their actions were banned recently in New Jersey. Veterans Guardian lost a case this month in federal court relating to that new law and they are being sued in North Carolina for unscrupulous behavior. Another group, “VA Claims Insider”, is being sued by the Texas Attorney General for defrauding veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has issued fraud alerts because of the actions of companies billing veterans. Sadly, many more companies are out there, and they can be found all over social media seeking veterans and surviving military spouses to make money off of. Claim Sharks have formed a trade association, they are pursuing federal legislation to legitimize their bad behavior, and they are now hiring major lobbying firms from DC to fight against HB736. There are many professionals accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans and they do not bill for their services. There are VA accredited employees working for veteran organizations like the VFW, which has been doing benefit claims for over 100 years free of charge. There are also VA accredited attorneys and Virginia’s own Department of Veterans Services who do good work. Trial lawyers handle lawsuits for issues like contaminated water at Camp Lejune and they operate within federal guidelines. In addition to protecting veterans, we seek to protect the good actors like those I just named, and we are proud to have the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association as our ally and supporter of this bipartisan bill. The VFW asks that you unanimously adopt HB736 so that we can protect veterans and their loved ones. I am happy to take any questions considering my background having handled VA claims, and I again thank Delegate Sewell and our co-patrons for their support of this important legislation.

As an active duty spouse, I’ve seen the impacts of military service firsthand as they’ve affected my spouse and friends. Veterans have struggled through the claims process for years and should have access to more resources, not less. They should be able to choose who helps them, whether it’s a private firm or a VSO

This bill does not accomplish what the members have been led to believe. The members of this committee have been lied to, deceived and bullied into introducing a bill that does nothing to protect veterans. This bill, pushed by the VFW in particular, and backed by the trial bar, does nothing more than further destroy an already overloaded system. A few things not considered by the committee thus far - what specific evidence of fraud or taking advantage of veterans have the VFW or designers of this bill provided? Why have the Veteran Service Organizations not been challenged on their true capacity to assist veterans in VA? Why hasn't this committee asked for a true accounting of the number of unique service officers in VA from each of the VSOs? Why would VA lawmakers want to get into the middle of a clearly federal issue and limit the choices and options for VA veterans? The VFW in particular and other service organizations in general have lost this fight in DC and are now turning to the states and misleading well meaning state law makers. Similar legislation at the federal level has been defeated consistently for a variety of great reasons. States that are attempting to pass similar legislation are finding themselves in a legal battle for the First Amendment over their denial of a veteran's right to choose how they petition the government and freedom of association. This is a bad bill and a bad idea. This committee should not allow itself to be bullied and deceived by the VFW and other service organizations and should understand all sides of the issue before moving this bill forward.

As a former resident of Virginia Beach, and the spouse of a Navy Veteran, I urge you not to pass HB736. Government should not restrict options available to Veterans that are seeking help with their VA claims. While VSO's do offer a valuable service, they can not accommodate the needs of everyone that needs assistance. The system is confusing, and not knowing how to navigate it can delay much needed help. My husband sought the help of VSO's for years, only to be told they could not assist him. A private company was able to achieve the results the VSO's could not. His experience is not unique. Restricting veterans from choosing who they want to assist them is not offering them protection. Veterans need access to more resources, not less.

Dear Members of Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #2, I am writing to you today as a retired Army Officer and a former Virginia resident to express to you my concerns over the severely negative implications of HB736. I have utilized both the free Veteran Service Organization (VSO) and the private industry pathways in my protracted journey to obtain my rightful VA disability benefits. I can tell you that the VSOs can often do a decent job by assisting a Veteran with their initial claim immediately following discharge from the service. I can also tell you that the VSOs are not well positioned to nor interested in assisting a Veteran by following up with the more complicated secondary claims. This is where the private industry closes the gap to help Veterans obtain the benefits that they have earned. If HB736 were to become law in Virginia it would only serve to further restrict the ability of Veterans in Virginia to obtain disability benefits or increase them by cutting off their access to the professional services provided by private industry. Currently, the VA estimates that there are 691,325 Veterans living in Virginia. Of these, the VA is paying disability benefits to 230,843. This equates to only 33% of the Veteran population of Virginia receiving VA disability benefits. (Source: Veterans Benefits Administration: Annual Benefits Report Fiscal Year 2022, Page 60) Why is anyone in the Virginia General Assembly working towards making it more difficult for a veteran to obtain disability benefits? Why is anyone in the Virginia General Assembly working towards passing state laws that are a decidedly federal matter? Why is it that any American has a choice to utilize either free IRS assistance or can pay a private tax preparer to file their income taxes, but an American Veteran be relegated to not be able to seek private professional assistance with their VA disability claim? Respectfully, //signed// Ben Tipton Major (Retired), U.S. Army

My name is Stephanie Dexter and I am writing to express my strong opposition to House Bill 736. As a proud female combat veteran with 10 years of dedicated service in the United States Army, I am deeply concerned about the potential implications of this bill on the ability of veterans to obtain assistance with their VA disability claims. Having served our nation with honor and commitment, I personally understand the challenges that veterans often face when navigating the complexities of the VA disability claims process. My own navigation of the VA disability claims process was a stressful and confusing experience –one that is filled with bureaucratic red tape, confusing terminology for those not in the medical field, and an examination process that, for a parent with young children who have special needs and required constant supervision, was cumbersome and confusing. It is my firm belief that House Bill 736, if enacted, will introduce unnecessary hurdles and restrictions that may adversely affect veterans – especially the female veteran population seeking support in securing the benefits they rightfully deserve. Throughout my military career, I have witnessed firsthand the sacrifices made by my fellow servicemen and servicewomen. Many veterans rely on external assistance to navigate the intricate VA disability claims system, ensuring that they receive fair consideration for the physical and mental toll incurred during their service. House Bill 736, in its current form, appears to undermine the support systems available to veterans, potentially reducing their access to crucial assistance. I respectfully urge you to consider the impact that this bill may have on veterans like myself, who have dedicated their lives to the service of our great nation. It is essential to ensure that any legislation concerning veterans' affairs enhances, rather than hinders, their ability to obtain the assistance they need in securing VA disability benefits. I would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss my concerns further and provide additional insights based on my experiences as a veteran. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I trust that you will carefully consider the potential consequences of House Bill 736 on our deserving veterans.

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Robert M. Dexter LTC, US Army retired, and I am writing to express my strong opposition to House Bill 736. As a proud veteran with over 20 years of dedicated service in the United States Army, I am deeply concerned about the potential implications of this bill on the ability of veterans to obtain assistance with their VA disability claims. Having served our nation with honor and commitment, I understand the challenges that veterans often face when navigating the complexities of the VA disability claims process. It is my firm belief that House Bill 736, if enacted, will introduce unnecessary hurdles and restrictions that may adversely affect veterans seeking support in securing the benefits they rightfully deserve. I found the VA claim process to be extremely challenging and it was a major stress point to navigate during my transition from military to civilian life. Throughout my military career, I have witnessed firsthand the sacrifices made by my fellow servicemen and servicewomen. Many veterans rely on external assistance to navigate the intricate VA disability claims system, ensuring that they receive fair consideration for the physical and mental toll incurred during their service. House Bill 736, in its current form, appears to undermine the support systems available to veterans, potentially reducing their access to crucial assistance. I respectfully urge you to consider the impact that this bill may have on veterans like myself, who have dedicated their lives to the service of our great nation. It is essential to ensure that any legislation concerning veterans' affairs enhances, rather than hinders, their ability to obtain the assistance they need in securing VA disability benefits. I would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss my concerns further and provide additional insights based on my experiences as a veteran. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I trust that you will carefully consider the potential consequences of House Bill 736 on our deserving veterans. Sincerely, Robert M. Dexter LTC, US Army Retired 910-584-3520 RobMDexter@gmail.com

This legislation limits veterans from working with organizations that can help them with their claims . We should give veterans as many options as possible and allow them to make informed decisions about who they want to work with.

This legislation limits veterans from working with organizations that can help them with their claims . We should give veterans as many options as possible and allow them to make informed decisions about who they want to work with.