[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 40 (Monday, March 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PREVENTING CRIMES AGAINST VETERANS ACT

  (Mr. ROONEY of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf 
of our Nation's veterans, who have been targeted by criminals seeking 
to defraud them.
  Last year, veterans in my district brought to my attention that these 
individuals are advertising themselves to the veterans community, 
claiming that, for a fee, they can speed up their claims with the VA.
  Now, everybody knows that the claims process at the VA is far too 
slow, but these people are deliberately seeking out veterans, 
purporting to speed up this process with their VA claims, which they 
cannot do, then illegally charging them exorbitant fees and then 
disappearing.
  I introduced a bill with my fellow Floridian and neighbor, Democrat 
Ted Deutch, titled the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act, to 
penalize these fraudsters who are blatantly engaging in a scheme to 
defraud our veterans.
  Yes, that is true, these people prey on American veterans. So it is 
our duty to ensure that our heroes are protected under every aspect of 
the law. I am confident that this bill can pass the House with 
bipartisan support.

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