Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4676) to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4676

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2016''. SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL TOOL TO PREVENT CERTAIN FRAUDS AGAINST VETERANS.

(a) In General.--Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 1041. Fraud regarding veterans' benefits

``(a) Whoever knowingly engages in any scheme or artifice to defraud an individual of veterans' benefits, or in connection with obtaining veteran's benefits for that individual, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

``(b) In this section--

``(1) the term `veteran' has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38; and

``(2) the term `veterans' benefits' means any benefit provided by Federal law for a veteran or a dependent or survivor of a veteran.''.

(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: ``1041. Fraud regarding veterans' benefits.''.

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Mr. GOODLATTE. 4676, as amended, currently under consideration.

H.R. 4676, the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2016, was introduced by Congressman Tom Rooney of Florida, a former member of the Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Ted Deutch of Florida, a current member of the Judiciary Committee.

This legislation fixes a loophole in Federal law and provides Federal prosecutors with an additional tool to go after criminals who seek to defraud veterans.

In recent years, financial predators have increasingly targeted veterans, particularly elderly veterans in low-income housing, in an effort to defraud the veterans out of their Veterans Affairs benefits.

These criminals offer to help veterans with their cases, claim to get their benefits approved in record time, charge fees that are often in the thousands of dollars, and then provide them with little or no assistance.

Under current law, many of these fraudsters would be vulnerable to prosecution under the mail or wire fraud statutes if they engage in this sort of fraudulent scheme by calling a veteran on the phone, sending them an email, mailing them a letter, or otherwise using the instrumentalities of interstate commerce to commit fraud.

However, increasingly these criminals are taking advantage of a loophole in Federal law by conducting in-person seminars or meeting in person at a veteran's home or assisted living facility.

In at least one recent example, a fraudster visited an assisted living facility in Florida and asked the staff to round up all the veterans for a seminar. This sort of conduct--swindling an elderly veteran out of his or her benefits--is truly reprehensible and worthy of Congress' attention.

H.R. 4676, which has the support of the veterans service community, addresses this conduct. This vulnerable population has done its duty to protect us from harm.

It is our duty to help protect them. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, some people wonder all their lives if they have made a difference. Veterans don't have that problem.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and protect our Nation's veterans.

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