advertisement

SSN on Facebook SSN on Twitter SSN on YouTube RSS Feed

Politics

Florida Delegation Gets Behind Veterans Fraud Bill

September 27, 2016 - 6:15pm
Ted Deutch, Tom Rooney and Marco Rubio
Ted Deutch, Tom Rooney and Marco Rubio

The Florida delegation is firmly behind a bill to safeguard veterans against fraud.

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., brought out the “Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act” back in March. U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., was also a co-sponsor of the bill. The House passed the bill in a 411-0 vote earlier this year. 

The bill proposes increasing penalties on conmen targeting veterans by charging illegal fees for help in appealing a claim with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. If the bill becomes law, violators would face fines and prison sentences up to five years. 

“These criminals have to pay the price for their despicable actions, which include deliberately targeting and stealing from the most vulnerable, and it is our job as legislators to give law enforcement the tools they need to punish them,” Rooney said when he brought out the measure. “I am hopeful this law will help start adequately protecting veterans and their families from these deceitful individuals and entities and bring those who prey on our communities to justice.”

“It is a testament to the pressing and bipartisan nature of this issue that Congress swiftly considered and unanimously passed this legislation into law," Deutch said. "Defrauding vulnerable veterans by going after their well-deserved pensions with false claims of additional benefits is a despicable act, and this law now makes it a punishable offense. The next step is making sure veterans are aware of these scams and know the services available to protect themselves.”

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said on Monday that he would sponsor the bill in the Senate. 

“One of the most sickening things I’ve encountered as my office has worked with veterans seeking assistance is these scammers ripping off the men and women who serve our country and going after their VA benefits. They target veterans in assisted living facilities and those with low incomes, which is disgusting,” said Rubio. “I’ve introduced this legislation to crack down on criminals who prey on our veterans, because we should be doing everything we can to protect them and their benefits from scams.”

Rooney, who sits on the House Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, taught at West Point and served in the Army, said he was glad to have the senator’s support. 

“The state of Florida has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country and it is our responsibility to write laws that penalize individuals who scam veterans out of their well-deserved benefits,” said Rooney. “I’m grateful that Senator Rubio has introduced the Senate version of my bill to help put a stop to these financial predators and I am hopeful that we can see this bill be signed into law.”

Rooney also brought out bills last year which called for increasing penalties on criminals who target veterans with other frauds. 

Comments are now closed.

politics
advertisement
advertisement
Live streaming of WBOB Talk Radio, a Sunshine State News Radio Partner.

advertisement