1. Improvements relating to recognition by Secretary of Veterans Affairs of agents and attorneys to represent veterans (a) Penalties for representing without recognition by Secretary of Veterans Affairs (1) In general Section 5905 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 5905. Penalty for certain acts Whoever commits any of the following acts shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both: (1) Acts or tries to act as an agent or attorney for the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a claim under a law administered by the Secretary— (A) without recognition by the Secretary as an agent or attorney under section 5904 of this title; or (B) while suspended or excluded under subsection (b) of such section. (2) The act of unlawfully withholding from any claimant or beneficiary any part of a benefit or claim under the laws administered by the Secretary that is allowed and due to the claimant or beneficiary. . (2) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to acts committed after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Renewal of recognition Subsection (a) of section 5904 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) (A) Recognition under this section shall be for such period as the Secretary considers appropriate, but not for any period greater than five years. (B) The Secretary may, as the Secretary considers appropriate, renew a recognition of an individual under this section for a term specified pursuant to subparagraph (A) upon submittal to the Secretary by the individual of an application therefor. (C) Upon after receiving an application of an individual for renewal under subparagraph (B) and before renewing such recognition under such subparagraph, the Secretary shall review— (i) the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims by the individual covered by this section