Manchin, Tuberville Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Restore Benefits For Defrauded Veterans

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), introduced the Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act to reissue benefits for defrauded Veterans. Under current law, if a defrauded Veteran passes away before their case with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is resolved, the Veteran’s family cannot seek reimbursement for the defrauded funds. On November 15, 2021, U.S. Representatives David Trone (D-MD) and Tom Emmer (R-MN) introduced the House companion legislation.

 

“Our Veterans have sacrificed so much to protect our great nation and the values we hold dear. Unfortunately, thousands of Veterans have been victims of fraud and have dealt with a long, drawn out process to ensure they and their families receive their earned payments,” said Senator Manchin. “Our bipartisan Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act would make a simple fix to help these defrauded Veterans and their families receive the support they need and deserve. I thank Senator Tuberville for working with me on this important issue and I encourage my bipartisan colleagues to join our commonsense legislation.

“We’d like to believe we live in a country where no one would take advantage of our veterans, but sadly it does happen.  What’s worse is if the money that was lost to fraud is never returned. This bill attempts to help right that wrong by ensuring a veteran’s estate can be reimbursed for any funds that were lost to fraud should the veteran pass away before the funds have been reimbursed. It’s my priority to find ways to make the government work better for the American people, and this bill is a small step toward doing just that for our veterans,” said Senator Tuberville.

The Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act would: