Empowering Veterans Through Choice and Representation
At Veterans Guardian, we uphold the principle that every veteran deserves the freedom to choose their representation when navigating the VA disability claims process. This right is rooted in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, affirming the ability of all Americans to petition the government for redress of grievances and exercise their protected freedom of speech.
OUR COMMITMENT TO VETERANS’ RIGHTS
We are dedicated to improving veterans’ lives by working to modernize and fix broken systems, ensuring veterans have more access to assistance and support in all aspects of life.
Our federal advocacy efforts focus on:
- Increasing Options: Whether it is relating to more options for medical/PTSD treatments or more options for navigating the VA processes, veteran’s need more and their freedom to choose the best options that work for them and their families should be protected.
- Promoting Smart Regulation: While veterans need more options and their freedom of choice protected, those options can and should be smartly regulated with the interest of the veteran in mind.
- Ensuring Accountability: Advocating for measures that hold all who work in the veteran community to high ethical standards.
Veterans Guardian is a proud member of National Association for Veteran Rights (NAVR) , a non-profit trade association that advocates for the rights of Veterans and the rights of private companies that help them.
LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT
State Legislation: SAVE ACT
We proudly support the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act—a vital piece of legislation that installs commonsense, state-level protections for veterans seeking expert help with their VA disability claims.
- Supported by veteran organizations and nonprofits that implements consumer protections for veterans seeking private help with VA disability claims while federal reform is pending.
- It prohibits unethical practices such as upfront fees, misleading guarantees, direct solicitation, and use of overseas call centers, and requires disclosure of free service options to veterans. Claims that these companies are acting illegally are false—they help prepare claims but don’t act as legal agents or attorneys.
- Veteran choice is preserved: Veterans can still choose paid expert help (often veteran-owned companies) rather than being forced into overburdened free systems or lengthy legal appeals.
- The SAVE Act is now law in six states (AL, FL, LA, OK, SD, TN) and is advancing in at least eight others (AZ, GA, IL, IN, KY, MO, ND, VA).
Federal Legislation: HR 3132 (CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025)
- Passed House Veterans Affairs Committee and seeks broader federal accreditation reform.
- Ensures fees are reasonable, success-based, and time-limited, with civil and criminal penalties for violations.
GUARD ACT
- Opposing bills like the GUARD Act seek to criminalize private help on initial claims, limit veteran options, and benefit attorneys who collect large portions of backpay on appeals—these have largely failed at both state and federal levels.
- GUARD Act-style bills have been DEFEATED, TABLED, OR PURPOSEFULLY HELD IN COMMITTEE in:
o Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Missouri, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia
Our government affairs team actively monitors and engages with legislation affecting veterans’ benefits. We collaborate with bipartisan lawmakers and policymakers to advocate for reforms that prioritize veterans’ interests.
Veterans Guardian strongly supports the CHOICE for Veterans Act (H.R. 3132), which protects and restores the right of veterans to select their own claims assistance providers. This bill is a major step forward in preserving veterans’ autonomy and fighting against restrictive policies like the GUARD Act.
Key Points:
- The CHOICE Act upholds constitutional rights by empowering veterans to choose their representation.
- It aligns with recent state reforms, including the SAVE Acts in Florida and Tennessee, that reflect a growing national movement to respect veterans’ voices.
- The legislation is backed by influential leaders such as Rep. Jack Bergman, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, Rep. Keith Self, and House Veterans Affairs Chair Mike Bost, who recognize the importance of eliminating unnecessary barriers in the claims process.
We continue to work with bipartisan lawmakers to advocate for legislation like H.R. 3132 that puts veterans first.
JOIN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS
We invite you to stand with us in advocating for veterans’ rights. Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or a supporter, your voice matters.
- Contact Your Representatives: Express your support for policies that protect veterans’ rights.
- Share Your Story: Personal experiences can be powerful tools for change.
For advocacy or government affairs inquiries, please contact Brian Johnson at Brian.Johnson@vetsguardian.com.
