February 03, 2023
Manchin, Tuberville Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Restore Benefits for Defrauded Veterans
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Tommy
Tuberville (R-AL), reintroduced 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.
“Our brave Veterans have sacrificed so much to protect our great
nation but unfortunately, thousands of Veterans across America are victims of
fraud and have dealt with a drawn out process to finally receive their earned
payments,” said Senator Manchin. “Our bipartisan legislation would make
a simple fix to help 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.”
“Stealing
money from vulnerable Veterans who are unable to manage their own finances is
almost unthinkable, but it happens far too often,” said Senator Tuberville. “When
Veterans are defrauded by those who are supposed to have their best interest in
mind, the VA should ensure their money is recovered quickly and efficiently.
This legislation takes the necessary action to recoup those benefits and return
them to the Veteran who is rightfully entitled to them.”
The
Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act would:
- Require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reissue misused benefits to a beneficiary’s estate in cases where the beneficiary predeceased reissuance.
- Provide reissued benefits to either the Veteran’s estate, successor, or next inheritor.
The Restoring
Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act is endorsed by the Paralyzed Veterans of
America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, and the American
Legion.
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