Federal

Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 367 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill creates a new federal crime to punish people who try to trick veterans out of their benefits. The bill changes federal law to give law enforcement an additional legal tool to prosecute fraud against veterans and their families.

Who It Affects

Veterans (people who served in the military), their dependents (family members who rely on them) and survivors (family members after a veteran's death) are directly protected by this bill.

Key Provisions

• Anyone who intentionally carries out a scheme or trick to defraud a veteran of benefits, or to illegally obtain benefits for a veteran, can be fined and imprisoned for up to 5 years or both. (Sec. 2(a))

What Changes

If this bill becomes law, federal prosecutors will have a specific crime they can charge someone with if that person defrauds a veteran of benefits. The new crime becomes Section 1352 in the federal criminal code.

Important Definitions

• Veteran: The bill says this means what Section 101 of title 38 defines it as. Not specified in bill text what that specific definition is. • Veterans' benefits: Any benefit provided by federal law for a veteran, a dependent of a veteran, or a survivor of a veteran. (Sec. 2(a))

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 296 To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 7, 2023 Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, and Mr. SCOTT of Florida) in- troduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Com- mittee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an addi- tional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Preventing Crimes 4 Against Veterans Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:51 Feb 17, 2023 Jkt 047007 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S296.IS S296 pbinns on DSKBC47HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 296 IS SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL TOOL TO PREVENT CERTAIN FRAUDS 1 AGAINST VETERANS. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 63 of title 18, United 3 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol- 4 lowing: 5 ‘‘§ 1352. Fraud regarding veterans’ benefits 6 ‘‘(a) Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts to exe- 7 cute, any scheme or artifice to defraud an individual of 8 veterans’ benefits, or in connection with obtaining vet- 9 eran’s benefits for that individual, shall be fined under this 10 title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. 11 ‘‘(b) In this section— 12 ‘‘(1) the term ‘veteran’ has the meaning given 13 that term in section 101 of title 38; and 14 ‘‘(2) the term ‘veterans’ benefits’ means any 15 benefit provided by Federal law for a veteran or a 16 dependent or survivor of a veteran.’’. 17 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 18 for chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code, is amended 19 by adding at the end the following: 20 ‘‘1352. Fraud regarding veterans’ benefits.’’. Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:51 Feb 17, 2023 Jkt 047007 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S296.IS S296 pbinns on DSKBC47HB2PROD with BILLS

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