Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) in introducing bipartisan legislation to protect veterans from benefits fraud. The Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act creates a new criminal offense for fraudulent schemes targeting veterans, subjecting fraudsters to a fine and/or five years in prison. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

“It takes real heartlessness to prey upon veterans and their families,” said Rep. Scanlon. “But every day across our Commonwealth, scammers are targeting veterans with schemes to defraud them of their hard-earned VA benefits. We owe it to those who have bravely served our country to do everything in our power to hold accountable anyone attempting to rip them off. I'm proud to join Rep. Fitzpatrick in introducing the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act to ensure prosecutors have the tools they need to stop these scams and deliver justice for our veterans.”

“Individuals who defraud our veterans must be held accountable and punished,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “It is critical that the men and women who served our country receive their hard-earned benefits from the VA, and I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to crack-down on fraudsters who take advantage of our veterans.”

The Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act builds on Rep. Scanlon's record of delivering justice for veterans, including passing into law the Honoring our PACT Act to deliver the largest expansion of veterans' benefits in generations and the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act to extend benefits and deliver justice for veterans exposed to Agent Orange. 

Find the full text of the legislation  here. 

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