Public Law 118 - 21 - Wounded Warrior Access Act

[118th Congress Public Law 21]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 137 STAT. 109]]

Public Law 118-21
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for the electronic 
  request of certain records, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Nov. 13, 
                         2023 -  [H.R. 1226]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Wounded Warrior 
Access Act.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>>  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) <<NOTE: Website.>>  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) <<NOTE: Deadlines.>>  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) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5702 note.>>  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.

[[Page 137 STAT. 110]]

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) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5901 note.>>  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) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  not later than one year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.

[[Page 137 STAT. 111]]

SEC. 4. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

    No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
the requirements of this Act.

    Approved November 13, 2023.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1226:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 169 (2023):
            Mar. 7, considered and passed House.
            Nov. 2, considered and passed Senate.

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