The U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee on Jan. 10 unanimously passed bipartisan legislation from Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) calling for the prosecution of those who prey on military veterans by targeting their federal benefits. The bill now advances to the full House for its consideration.
The Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2017, H.R. 506, would impose a fine, a prison sentence of up to five years, or both on anyone engaging “in any scheme or artifice” to defraud a veteran — or a dependent or survivor of a veteran — of benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to the bill’s text.
“Anyone who seeks to financially exploit the men and women who have served our country and cheat them out of their hard-earned VA benefits should have to face a harsh punishment for their criminal actions,” said Rooney, an Army veteran and member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.
Currently, it’s illegal for veterans to be charged a fee by unauthorized parties offering them assistance in getting their benefits, including benefits from the VA. However, there aren’t any legal or financial consequences when violations occur, his office said, so scam artists seek out certain vulnerable veterans and use deceptive practices to charge outrageous fees for services that won’t materialize.
“Frankly it’s appalling that there are individuals out there who are targeting veterans, especially those in low-income housing or who are elderly, with these schemes,” Rooney said.
The lawmaker added that his common sense legislation will aid prosecutors by supplying them with necessary tools for protecting the nation’s veterans against such criminals.
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Rooney in introducing H.R. 506 on Jan. 12, 2017.
“Pension poaching is not only illegal, it’s a despicable and immoral practice,” said Rep. Deutch, adding that scammers are employing increasingly cunning tactics to con veterans.
“Congressman Rooney and I have received overwhelming support from our congressional colleagues to close this loophole, and we look forward to voting on this on the House floor,” Deutch said.
An identical bill in the Senate, S. 150, was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee after it was introduced on Jan. 17, 2017 by Florida Senators Marco Rubio, a Republican, and Bill Nelson, a Democrat.