Federal

Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 356 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill adds a new federal crime to punish people who commit fraud involving veterans' benefits. It creates a tool to help prevent schemes and tricks designed to steal veterans' benefits or help people fraudulently obtain those benefits.

Who It Affects

Veterans who receive federal benefits. People who attempt to defraud (trick or cheat) veterans out of their benefits. Dependents and survivors of veterans who receive benefits.

Key Provisions

• Anyone who knowingly executes or attempts to execute any scheme or artifice (trick) to defraud an individual of veterans' benefits, or in connection with obtaining veterans' benefits for that individual, can be fined, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both (Sec. 2). • A veteran means any person given that definition in section 101 of title 38 (Sec. 2). • Veterans' benefits means any benefit provided by federal law for a veteran or a dependent or survivor of a veteran (Sec. 2).

What Changes

The bill adds a new section (section 1352) to federal criminal law. This section makes it a federal crime to knowingly commit fraud involving veterans' benefits, with penalties of fines, up to 5 years in prison, or both.

Important Definitions

The bill defines "veteran" by referring to the definition already in section 101 of title 38 (federal law about veterans). The bill defines "veterans' benefits" as any benefit provided by federal law for a veteran or a dependent or survivor of a veteran.

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1179 To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 24, 2023 Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself and Ms. SCANLON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 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 SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL TOOL TO PREVENT CERTAIN FRAUDS 6 AGAINST VETERANS. 7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 63 of title 18, United 8 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol- 9 lowing: 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:40 Mar 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1179.IH H1179 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1179 IH ‘‘§ 1352. Fraud regarding veterans’ benefits 1 ‘‘(a) Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts to exe- 2 cute, any scheme or artifice to defraud an individual of 3 veterans’ benefits, or in connection with obtaining vet- 4 eran’s benefits for that individual, shall be fined under this 5 title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. 6 ‘‘(b) In this section— 7 ‘‘(1) the term ‘veteran’ has the meaning given 8 that term in section 101 of title 38; and 9 ‘‘(2) the term ‘veterans’ benefits’ means any 10 benefit provided by Federal law for a veteran or a 11 dependent or survivor of a veteran.’’. 12 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 13 for chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code, is amended 14 by adding at the end the following: 15 ‘‘1352. Fraud regarding veterans’ benefits.’’. Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:40 Mar 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1179.IH H1179 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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