Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-3122
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]
Introduced: 2017-06-29
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government studies and investigations

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2018-03-09
text: Became Public Law No: 115-131.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-06-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work with federal agencies, states, and experts to develop and implement federal and state standards that protect individuals who are eligible for increased pension for a non-service-connected disability or death or for service on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices. </p> <p>The Government Accountability Office must: (1) report standards that would be effective in protecting such individuals if the VA fails to submit such standards as required, and (2) complete a study on standards implemented under this bill. </p>

action_date: 2017-11-06
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><strong>Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to include on its Internet website a warning to veterans relating to dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices targeting individuals who are eligible for increased pension on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance.</p> <p> The Government Accountability Office shall: </p> <ul> <li>complete a study on financial exploitation of veterans, which shall include an analysis of the types of financial exploitation facing such veterans and any gaps in efforts to address these issues and an analysis of the types of standards used by federal and state agencies intended to protect vulnerable populations from financial exploitation; and </li> <li>submit a preliminary report and a final report to Congress.</li> </ul>

action_date: 2018-02-15
action_desc: Passed Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on November 6, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to include on its Internet website a warning to veterans relating to dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices targeting individuals who are eligible for increased pension on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance.</p> <p>The Government Accountability Office shall: </p> <ul> <li>complete a study on financial exploitation of veterans, which shall include an analysis of the types of financial exploitation facing such veterans and any gaps in efforts to address these issues and an analysis of the types of standards used by federal and state agencies intended to protect vulnerable populations from financial exploitation; and </li> <li>submit a preliminary report and a final report to Congress.</li> </ul>

action_date: 2018-03-09
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><strong>Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to include on its Internet website a warning to veterans relating to dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices targeting individuals who are eligible for increased pension on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance.</p> <p>The Government Accountability Office shall: </p> <ul> <li>complete a study on financial exploitation of veterans, which shall include an analysis of the types of financial exploitation facing such veterans and any gaps in efforts to address these issues and an analysis of the types of standards used by federal and state agencies intended to protect vulnerable populations from financial exploitation; and </li> <li>submit a preliminary report and a final report to Congress.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3122 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 29, 2017 Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Mr. Cohen , Mr. Deutch , Mr. Moulton , and Mr. Renacci ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To protect individuals who are eligible for increased pension under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the basis of need of regular aid and attendance from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017 . 2. Protection of individuals eligible for increased pension under laws administered by Secretary of Veterans Affairs on basis of need for regular aid and attendance (a) Development and implementation of standards (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall work with the heads of Federal agencies, States, and such experts as the Secretary considers appropriate to develop and implement Federal and State standards that protect individuals from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices relating to increased pension available to such individuals under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance. (2) Submittal to Congress Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives the standards developed under paragraph (1). (b) Conditional recommendation by Comptroller General If the Secretary does not, on or before the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives standards that are developed under subsection (a)(1), the Comptroller General of the United States shall, not later than the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to such committees a report containing standards that the Comptroller General determines are standards that would be effective in protecting individuals as described in such subsection. (c) Study by Comptroller General Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study on standards implemented under this section to protect individuals as described in subsection (a)(1) and submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to such study.

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3122 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017 . 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) 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) 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 General shall submit to Congress a final report on such study.

Passed the House of Representatives November 6, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3122 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 7, 2017 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017 . 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) 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) 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 General shall submit to Congress a final report on such study.

Passed the House of Representatives November 6, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 282 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3122 [Report No. 115–385] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 29, 2017 Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Mr. Cohen , Mr. Deutch , Mr. Moulton , and Mr. Renacci ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs November 6, 2017 Additional sponsors: Ms. Shea-Porter and Miss González-Colón of Puerto Rico November 6, 2017 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 29, 2017 A BILL To protect individuals who are eligible for increased pension under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the basis of need of regular aid and attendance from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017 . 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) 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) 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 General shall submit to Congress a final report on such study.

Amend the title so as to read: A bill 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. .

November 6, 2017 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America At the Second Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and eighteen H. R. 3122 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017 . 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) 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) 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 General shall submit to Congress a final report on such study.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.