Sep 20, 2026 · 41 min · 14 segments
00:00 Show open/ Dr. Antoinette Farmer -Thompson, President of Strayer University, on how higher ed must serve today's new norm of students using AI. 9:16 Steven R. Casstevens, Former President of…
Jay FoxHostSteven R. CasstevensGuest
Jennifer CarlsonGuestAntoinette Farmer-ThompsonGuest
Doug PetcashSean Patrick BrennanGuest
Kate BurdettHost
But a couple state representatives say unscrupulous actors often target and take advantage of veterans seeking benefits through the Veterans Administration.
So they've introduced a bill to stop this practice and protect our vets.
Democratic state representatives Sean Brennan and Daniel Troy introduced the bill.
They say unaccredited third parties often charge veterans excessive fees to help them navigate the VA system for benefits.
They make unrealistic or misleading promises about benefit eligibility and sometimes abandon veterans at critical stages of the claims process.
And right now, there are no penalties for doing business without accreditation.
The long title of the bill is the Veterans Empowerment Through Ethical Representation and Navigation, or Veteran Benefits Protection Act.
The bill would crack down on those unaccredited third parties, establish penalties within Ohio law if they fail to get accreditation through the VA, and make sure these firms or individuals are held to federal standards.
I talked with Representative Sean Brennan about what the bill would do and the need for it.
It simply says that if you want to assist veterans in their claims process because they are disabled in some way because of their military service, that you have to be accredited.
And that if you are not accredited, that if you try to assist our veterans in any way, then you'll be subject to penalties.
Well, you know, Doug, this bill was brought to me by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW.
And, you know, throughout the last several months, they have educated me on how many of our veterans here in Ohio and really around the country are being taken advantage of by claim sharks.
These are companies that promise our veterans promises that they can't possibly keep.
For instance, they promise them that they can expedite the claim process.
Everybody that files a claim has to file it through the VA, the Veterans Administration, and they're put in line.
You don't get to jump the line because you're one of these companies that charges exorbitant fees.
And I want to make that very clear to every veteran watching right now that, you know, if you feel that you are disabled and entitled to more benefits from the VA, don't pay someone to do it for you.
But a couple state representatives say unscrupulous actors often target and take advantage of veterans seeking benefits through the Veterans Administration.
So they've introduced a bill to stop this practice and protect our vets.
Democratic state representatives Sean Brennan and Daniel Troy introduced the bill.
They say unaccredited third parties often charge veterans excessive fees to help them navigate the VA system for benefits.
They make unrealistic or misleading promises about benefit eligibility and sometimes abandon veterans at critical stages of the claims process.
And right now, there are no penalties for doing business without accreditation.
The long title of the bill is the Veterans Empowerment Through Ethical Representation and Navigation, or Veteran Benefits Protection Act.
The bill would crack down on those unaccredited third parties, establish penalties within Ohio law if they fail to get accreditation through the VA, and make sure these firms or individuals are held to federal standards.
I talked with Representative Sean Brennan about what the bill would do and the need for it.
It simply says that if you want to assist veterans in their claims process because they are disabled in some way because of their military service, that you have to be accredited.
And that if you are not accredited, that if you try to assist our veterans in any way, then you'll be subject to penalties.
Well, you know, Doug, this bill was brought to me by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW.
And, you know, throughout the last several months, they have educated me on how many of our veterans here in Ohio and really around the country are being taken advantage of by claim sharks.
These are companies that promise our veterans promises that they can't possibly keep.
For instance, they promise them that they can expedite the claim process.
Everybody that files a claim has to file it through the VA, the Veterans Administration, and they're put in line.
You don't get to jump the line because you're one of these companies that charges exorbitant fees.
And I want to make that very clear to every veteran watching right now that, you know, if you feel that you are disabled and entitled to more benefits from the VA, don't pay someone to do it for you.
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