Before being elected to the state Assembly, I was an advocate for nurses for many years. In many of our fights to provide health care, we went up against huge corporations with millions of dollars on the other side. I know how disheartening it is to see the influence of money in politics.
As chair of the Assembly Military and Veterans Committee, it’s been refreshing to work on issues that have typically not been controversial and have broad bipartisan support. But last year, that changed with Senate Bill 694 when big corporate monied interests attempted to derail this important legislation.
As a daughter and sister of veterans, my support for SB 694 — the Protecting Veterans from Predatory Practices Act — is deeply personal. This bill is not just about policy. It is about protecting the people who have risked their lives to serve our country and ensuring they can rely on the Veterans Affairs system without being taken advantage of by predatory actors.
My family knows firsthand how critical the VA and those benefits can be. My father served our country in Vietnam and, like so many veterans of that era, was exposed to Agent Orange. Over the course of his life, he battled cancer three times as a result of that exposure.
Throughout those years, the VA was a lifeline — providing care, support and stability for him and for our family. And as he got sicker and sicker, those VA benefits were critical support for my parents. Last year, we lost my dad to that long and difficult battle. His experience shaped who I am and why I fight so hard to protect veterans today.
That is why I find the rise of these claim sharks so disturbing. These unaccredited consultants prey on veterans by charging exorbitant and illegal fees for help filing VA initial disability claims.
These services are not only available for free through accredited Veteran Service Organizations, but they are also legally required to be, based on federal law. When veterans are coping with injuries, illness, trauma and the lasting impacts of their service, the last thing they should face is exploitation by people looking to profit from their sacrifice.
SB 694 directly confronts this problem. It matches state law to federal law, and allows the attorney general to stop these illegal practices. While this is already illegal based on federal law, and the Department of Veterans Affairs has sent numerous cease and desist letters to businesses, the penalty was unintentionally taken out of the law, allowing bad actors to flourish.
This bill closes that gap and makes clear that California will not tolerate predatory practices against disabled veterans. Accountability is at the heart of this legislation. SB 694 gives the attorney general clear authority to take action against violators and establishes misdemeanor penalties for those who break the law.
These consequences matter. They send a message that exploiting veterans is not just unethical — it is illegal and will be enforced as such.
The bill also strengthens protections around veterans’ personal information by stopping any requirement by claims sharks to share private login credentials for Department of Defense, VA, or Department of Homeland Security systems. Veterans should never have to hand over sensitive access information to untrusted third parties simply to get help they deserve.
I have made it a priority to ensure veterans are empowered, informed, respected and protected. Accredited Veteran Service Organizations, including County Veteran Service Officers, exist to provide free, trusted assistance with VA benefits and also important other benefits the state has invested in, like college tuition waivers and housing assistance. SB 694 reinforces that veterans can and should rely on these trusted resources without fear or financial risk. And our office is always here if you need help connecting to your CVSO.
Sadly, what should’ve been a straightforward issue to protect disabled veterans from these predatory practices, keeping more money in their pockets and ensuring they get the benefits they earned, is now one of the biggest fights in the Legislature. Why? Because of the $73-billion-a-year industry on the other side — allowing them to hire teams of lobbyists and paid advocates.
This has been one of the slimiest and shocking opposition campaigns I have ever seen. Someone attempted to pay off a friend of the governor’s to gain influence. Someone tried to buy off a Medal of Honor recipient they wanted to switch sides. A lobbyist harassed a veteran leader when he encountered him near the capitol. It’s this type of corrupt political practices that led one veteran advocate to say, after decades of advocacy, that they have never seen an issue where it’s harder for veterans to be heard.
So who is on our side? Veterans. Every single veteran organization in California. Additionally, every federally chartered veteran organization has put this issue as their top priority nationally. On top of that, unions, counties, chambers of commerce, consumer protection agencies, and more support this legislation.
Despite going up against these big money interests, I was proud that SB 694 passed the Assembly. My Assembly colleagues saw through the noise and the corporate dollars. That vote reflected a shared understanding that protecting veterans is not partisan — it is a moral obligation. As the bill moves toward a Senate vote this month, the mission remained clear: stop exploitation, strengthen enforcement, and honor our veterans with the protection, support and respect they have earned. I deeply hope I can count on my Senate colleagues for their support of SB 694, and of veterans.
For me, this fight is personal. My father relied on the VA and those benefits so he could live with dignity. Every veteran deserves the same — without predators standing in the way taking money out of their pockets.
Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, represents the 40th Assembly District, which includes most of the Santa Clarita Valley in addition to the northwest San Fernando Valley. “Democratic Voices” appears Tuesdays and rotates among local Democrats.
