Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2019

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today makes a small but significant change to the Federal fraud statutes to protect veterans from fraudsters who seek to steal their benefits. It does so by inserting a new provision into the criminal code to complement the mail and wire fraud statutes.

In recent years, there have been reports of criminals entering nursing homes in search of elderly veterans with the intent to defraud them of their Federal benefits. Like many crimes of fraud, Mr. Speaker, the worst part is that people often present themselves as helpful to the veteran. This is a truly heinous crime worthy of Congress' attention.

This legislation has passed this House twice by overwhelming margins, and it also incorporates technical assistance from the Department of Justice, ensuring it will be effective in practice.

This is a bill that is supported by many. My colleague, Mr. Meadows from North Carolina, has spoken eloquently about this, and we will be entering his message under general leave as well.

As a member of the Air Force Reserve and an Iraq veteran, Mr. Speaker, this issue is near and dear to my heart. I have introduced numerous pieces of legislation over the years to protect our veterans and to expedite the benefits process.

Our men and women in uniform have sacrificed much for us. They are entitled to our gratitude, our respect, and our protection.

As President Abraham Lincoln reminded us 156 years ago, it is our duty ``to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.''

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing in my mind more heinous than someone who tries to defraud a veteran of what they have earned. This is something that we can all come around on. This is something we can all support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I think this is something we can all get around. I think, again, when we deal with our veterans, I have made the comments many times before, not specifically in dealing with this fraud and dealing with the issues here that are just heinous--and anybody who would do this definitely would put themselves on the margins of society--but also on a broader picture with our veterans.

I think this scenario where we can all come together--I long for a time in which my constituents services folks back in Georgia, I long for a time when I listen to their report each week, and I want to come to a time when there are no veteran issues.

We should strive in our country to have a time in which no veteran should feel the need to have to go to their Congressman to get help. That is something that we can all shoot for. That is a worthy goal. I would love to have that time to let them help other people and not these men and women who have served us so proudly. Mr. Speaker, I know you would join me in that.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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