republic-os/legal/us/code/title-38/chapter-59/section-5902.md

type, title, description, jurisdiction, corpus, kind, title_number, title_name, chapter_number, chapter_name, section, citation, status, release_point, release_date, source, source_url, source_identifier, source_file, source_hash, raw_snapshot_hash, text_hash, retrieved_at, confidence, tags

type	title	description	jurisdiction	corpus	kind	title_number	title_name	chapter_number	chapter_name	section	citation	status	release_point	release_date	source	source_url	source_identifier	source_file	source_hash	raw_snapshot_hash	text_hash	retrieved_at	confidence	tags
LegalText	38 U.S.C. § 5902	Recognition of representatives of organizations	us	united_states_code	code_section	38	VETERANS’ BENEFITS	59	AGENTS AND ATTORNEYS	5902	38 U.S.C. § 5902	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc38@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t38/s5902	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-38/usc38.xml	5187fbe6e3234baf11503d7551831558e84db725a1a8f7aefa60cec8f55497fa	372998691b72ade88787dfa7633dbda4954bd1b037ec7926c5e06e9b1d17fc66	7fb65dcc89ecc0fdc03dbf03ec0e72ec3d2597e5474a12d62c46f7323c1d0cc3	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

38 U.S.C. § 5902 - Recognition of representatives of organizations

Text

(a) (1) The Secretary may recognize representatives of the American National Red Cross, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the United Spanish War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and such other organizations as the Secretary may approve, in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims under laws administered by the Secretary.

(2) The Secretary may, in the discretion of the Secretary, furnish, if available, space and office facilities for the use of paid full-time representatives of national organizations so recognized.

(b) (1) No individual shall be recognized under this section—

(A) unless the individual has certified to the Secretary that no fee or compensation of any nature will be charged any individual for services rendered in connection with any claim; and

(B) unless, with respect to each claim, such individual has filed with the Secretary a power of attorney, executed in such manner and form as the Secretary may prescribe.

(2) An individual recognized under this section shall be subject to the provisions of section 5904(b) of this title on the same basis as an individual recognized under section 5904(a) of this title.

(c) (1) Unless a claimant specifically indicates in a power of attorney filed with the Department a desire to appoint only a recognized representative of an organization listed in or approved under subsection (a), the Secretary may, for any purpose, treat the power of attorney naming such an organization, a specific office of such an organization, or a recognized representative of such an organization as the claimant’s representative as an appointment of the entire organization as the claimant’s representative.

(2) Whenever the Secretary is required or permitted to notify a claimant’s representative, and the claimant has named in a power of attorney an organization listed in or approved under subsection (a), a specific office of such an organization, or a recognized representative of such an organization without specifically indicating a desire to appoint only a recognized representative of the organization, the Secretary shall notify the organization at the address designated by the organization for the purpose of receiving the notification concerned.

(d) Service rendered in connection with any such claim, while not on active duty, by any retired officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of the Armed Forces recognized under this section shall not be a violation of sections 203, 205, 206, or 207 of title 18.

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1238, § 3402; Pub. L. 91–24, § 12(b), June 11, 1969, 83 Stat. 34; Pub. L. 98–160, title VII, § 703(5), Nov. 21, 1983, 97 Stat. 1010; renumbered § 5902, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(1), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403–405; Pub. L. 104–275, title V, § 508(a), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3343; Pub. L. 109–461, title I, § 101(a)(2), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3406.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–461 designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, of par. (1), and added par. (2). 1996—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 104–275 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). 1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3402 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(1), substituted “administered by the Secretary” for “administered by the Veterans’ Administration”. Subsecs. (a)(2), (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing. 1983—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–160, § 703(5)(A), substituted “the Administrator” for “he”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–160, § 703(5)(B), substituted “the discretion of the Administrator” for “his discretion”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 98–160, § 703(5)(C), substituted “the individual” for “he”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–160, § 703(5)(D), substituted “member” for “man”. 1969—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 91–24 substituted “sections 203, 205, 206 or 207 of title 18” for “section 281 or 283 of title 18, or a violation of section 99 of title 5”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 AmendmentPub. L. 104–275, title V, § 508(b), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3344, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] apply to any power of attorney filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs, regardless of the date of its execution.”