Mark Takano (D-CA)
FRAUD in VA Disability Exams Act
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 766.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the FRAUD in VA Disability Exams Act. It requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify and report fraudulent activity related to disability benefit questionnaire forms. The bill sets up a process for staff to spot and report suspected fraud to the Inspector General, and requires routine audits of these forms. It also allows the Inspector General to use specific financial accounts during undercover investigations to catch crimes against the United States. Finally, the bill requires regular reports to Congress detailing these fraud reduction efforts and undercover investigations.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill increases transparency by requiring the Secretary to inform individuals of suspected fraud and submit annual reports to Congress.
- Scored +3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill aims to reduce improper payments by identifying and reporting fraudulent disability benefit questionnaire forms.
- Scored +2
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill seeks to protect the legitimacy of the disability benefits system through increased oversight and auditing.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
How the text last changed
Reported in House (11/5/2026), compared with Introduced in House. Each change is on the Text tab.
The newer version of the bill updates the formal short title and changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs identifies and reports fraud regarding disability benefit questionnaire forms and claims. It removes provisions that established specific recurring audits and rules allowing the Inspector General to use outside authorities or permitting final benefit decisions to be reopened upon a conviction. Instead, the updated text directs the Veterans Benefits Administration to routinely audit these forms and requires claimants to be informed if their form or claim lacks sufficient information for a rating or determination. Finally, it adds new provisions allowing the Inspector General and the Secretary to deposit funds into specific accounts and financial institutions for undercover investigations, requires quarterly financial audits of closed undercover investigations, and mandates an annual report to specific congressional committees by November 30.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Better Communication for Claimants: Section 2 requires the Secretary to inform claimants if the information contained in their disability benefit questionnaire form or claim is insufficient to assign a rating or make a determination. This ensures individuals are kept in the loop when their paperwork is lacking.
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Combating Fraud: Section 2 mandates that the Secretary implement a process to identify fraudulent activity and routinely audit disability benefit questionnaire forms. This protects the integrity of the system for honest people.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases transparency by requiring the Secretary to inform individuals of suspected fraud and submit annual reports to Congress.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill aims to reduce improper payments by identifying and reporting fraudulent disability benefit questionnaire forms.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill seeks to protect the legitimacy of the disability benefits system through increased oversight and auditing.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill protects the integrity of the benefits system through audits and fraud reporting, though it may risk reopening decisions for those convicted of fraud.
A committee approved it and sent it to the floor
What changed from Introduced in House
The newer version of the bill updates the formal short title and changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs identifies and reports fraud regarding disability benefit questionnaire forms and claims. It removes provisions that established specific recurring audits and rules allowing the Inspector General to use outside authorities or permitting final benefit decisions to be reopened upon a conviction. Instead, the updated text directs the Veterans Benefits Administration to routinely audit these forms and requires claimants to be informed if their form or claim lacks sufficient information for a rating or determination. Finally, it adds new provisions allowing the Inspector General and the Secretary to deposit funds into specific accounts and financial institutions for undercover investigations, requires quarterly financial audits of closed undercover investigations, and mandates an annual report to specific congressional committees by November 30.
Each change
- Section 1: Expanded the short title to include "Uncovering Deception in VA Disability Exams Act" alongside the abbreviation (FRAUD) in VA Disability Exams Act.
- Section 2: Broadened Section 5322(a) to apply actions regarding fraudulent activity to disability benefit questionnaire forms "and claims."
- Section 2: Modified the process for handling fraudulent forms so that an individual responsible for processing claims "may" identify fraudulent activity and "shall report" suspected fraud to the Inspector General, replacing previous language where processing individuals might have submitted reports to multiple investigatory bodies.
- Section 2: Removed a requirement for a recurring audit of disability benefit questionnaire forms regardless of their source.
- Section 2: Removed a requirement to inform individuals who submitted a form or claim of suspected fraudulent activity.
- Section 2: Removed provisions detailing specific investigative authorities for the Inspector General and limitations on reopening final benefit decisions following a conviction.
- Section 2: Added a requirement directing the appropriate entity within the Veterans Benefits Administration to routinely audit disability benefit questionnaire forms.
- Section 2: Added a requirement to inform claimants if information in a disability benefit questionnaire form or claim is insufficient to assign a rating or make a determination.
- Section 2: Renumbered the annual reporting requirement from subsection (d) to subsection (b).
- Section 3: Added new authorities allowing the Inspector General and the Secretary to deposit appropriated sums and undercover investigation proceeds into special accounts or financial institutions, with proceeds being deposited into the United States Treasury as miscellaneous receipts when no longer needed.
- Section 3: Added a requirement for the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations to conduct detailed financial audits of closed undercover investigations at the end of each calendar quarter.
- Section 3: Added an annual reporting requirement for the Inspector General, due by November 30 of each calendar year, detailing the number of commenced, closed, pending, and prosecuted undercover investigations, along with audit results for investigations where gross receipts exceeded $50,000.
- Section 3: Added a limitation stating the Inspector General generally may not establish a new account for undercover investigations after three years from the date of the Act's enactment, with exceptions for ongoing investigations and notice requirements.
- Section 3: Added an implementation timeline stating that the undercover investigation provisions take effect 90 days after the enactment of the Act.
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
- 11/5/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-869.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 766.
- 5/14/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 3/26/2026
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 2/3/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 1/30/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- 10/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House