Two members of the Florida congressional delegation scored a win on Tuesday as their bill to safeguard veterans against fraud passed the U.S. House without opposition.
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 411-0 on Tuesday.
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. “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.”
Currently, the bill does not have any companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. Back in March, the bill was sent to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee which cleared it.
Rooney, who sits on the House Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, taught at West Point and served in the Army, brought out bills last year which called for increasing penalties on criminals who target veterans with other frauds.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
