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[115th Congress Public Law 131]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 132 STAT. 334]]

Public Law 115-131
115th Congress

                                 An Act

 
 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the internet 
   website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a warning regarding 
    dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices targeting 
individuals who are eligible for increased pension on the basis of need 
for regular aid and attendance, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Mar. 9, 
                         2018 -  [H.R. 3122]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Veterans 
Care Financial Protection Act of 2017.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Care Financial Protection 
Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NOTICE OF DISHONEST, 
                    PREDATORY, OR OTHERWISE UNLAWFUL PRACTICES 
                    TARGETING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 
                    INCREASED PENSION ON BASIS OF NEED FOR REGULAR 
                    AID AND ATTENDANCE.

    (a) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1501 note.>> Notice Required.--The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall include on the internet website of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs a warning to veterans relating to dishonest, 
predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices targeting individuals who are 
eligible for increased pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United 
States Code, on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance.

    (b) GAO Study.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Study required.--Not later than 18 
        months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study 
        on financial exploitation of veterans. Such study shall 
        include--
                    (A) an analysis of the types of standards used by 
                Federal and State agencies intended to protect 
                vulnerable populations from financial exploitation; and
                    (B) an analysis of the types of financial 
                exploitation facing veterans who are eligible for 
                increased pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United 
                States Code, on the basis of need for regular aid and 
                attendance and any gaps in efforts to address these 
                issues.
            (2) Reports.--
                    (A) Preliminary report.--Not later than one year 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
                Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a 
                preliminary report on the study required under paragraph 
                (1).
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than 18 months after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller

[[Page 132 STAT. 335]]

                General shall submit to Congress a final report on such 
                study.

    Approved March 9, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3122:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-385 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 163 (2017):
                                    Nov. 6, considered and passed House.
                                                        Vol. 164 (2018):
                                    Feb. 15, considered and passed 
                                        Senate.

                                  <all>
```