New legislation threatens California veterans' support systems
By Adriana Castaneda
Read it in The Sacrimento Bee
SB 694 could harm California veterans by limiting access to trusted support for VA claims, argues Adriana Castañeda, an Army veteran from San Diego. Xavier Mascareñas Sacramento Bee file
When I served in the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division during Operation Enduring Freedom and later in the Air Force working in logistics, I learned firsthand the importance of getting complex processes right. One slip — one mistake in documentation — can delay a mission or keep help from those who need it.
The same goes for veterans seeking benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The process is so demanding that just one incorrect word or missing form can stall a claim for months. That’s why so many of us turn to trusted, knowledgeable experts for help. But if California Senate Bill 694, co-authored by Sen. Bob Archuleta, D-Norwalk, and Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, becomes law, veterans like me may soon lose access to the very support that keeps our claims moving forward.
SB 694 is positioned as a crackdown on “bad actors” who exploit veterans trying to secure benefits. It would make it a misdemeanor for anyone who is not accredited by the VA to help veterans prepare or file their claims, even if that person is a fellow veteran with years of experience guiding others. More troubling, the bill could void an entire claim if it’s later discovered that a veteran received help from a non-accredited individual.
While I understand the good intention of stopping scams that prey on vulnerable people, SB 694 also criminalizes vital support networks veterans rely on. In effect, the bill treats all non-accredited consultants as if they’re con artists, regardless of their track record, reputation or years of training. It also ignores that many private consultants are former service members themselves and are widely trusted by their communities to guide others through this bureaucratic maze.
What is the PACT Act?
To grasp why so many veterans need claim support right now, it’s important to understand the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022. Otherwise known as the PACT Act, this landmark federal law greatly expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their service. Since its passage, more than 1.7 million new claims have flooded the VA’s already strained system, pushing the number of pending claims to over 694,000, with nearly 167,000 officially backlogged (meaning they’ve been pending a decision for 125 days or longer).
California is the state with the most veterans in the nation, meaning this crisis is especially severe in our state. Many vets live in rural or underserved counties where local Veterans Service Organizations are thinly stretched or don’t exist at all. Veterans Service Organizations, like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, have seen a dramatic decline in membership and volunteer capacity over recent decades.
The role of private consultants
When veterans have nowhere else to turn, private consultants often step in. These are not shady agents. In most cases, they are retired or separated service members who guide others through daunting paperwork, make house calls to those with mobility challenges and serve regions the VA and Veterans Service Organizations cannot adequately reach. Unlike overworked volunteers, these professionals often work on contingency, charging fees only if the veteran’s benefit increases.
SB 694, however, would put these consultants out of business, penalizing veterans who seek their help. The bill’s broad brush does not distinguish between unscrupulous actors and dedicated, credible advisers.
A better solution would be to refrain from stripping away options and, instead, expand accreditation, establish better oversight and raise standards so more legitimate providers can help. Lawmakers should create pathways for experienced consultants — especially those who are veterans themselves — to become accredited, rather than criminalizing their willingness to help.
As someone who has dedicated my career to solving logistical problems in the military, I believe SB 694 represents a dangerous overcorrection. We should protect veterans from fraud, but we must also trust them to choose the help they need and ensure the system works for those it was meant to serve.
Adriana Castañeda is an Army veteran and active Democratic activist based in San Diego. She served in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011 to 2015, specializing in air defense.
