[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 121, 110th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

121 STAT. 2556

Public Law 110-179
110th Congress

An Act


 
To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to fraud in
connection with major disaster or emergency [NOTE: Jan. 7, 2008 -  [S.
863] funds.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress [NOTE: Emergency and Disaster
Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2007. assembled,
SECTION 1. [NOTE: 18 USC 1 note. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency and Disaster Assistance
Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. FRAUD IN CONNECTION WITH MAJOR DISASTER OR EMERGENCY
BENEFITS.

(a) In General.--Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1040. Fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency
benefits

``(a) Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (b) of this
section, knowingly--
``(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick,
scheme, or device any material fact; or
``(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent
statement or representation, or makes or uses any false writing
or document knowing the same to contain any materially false,
fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation,

in any matter involving any benefit authorized, transported,
transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with a major
disaster declaration under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) or an
emergency declaration under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191), or in
connection with any procurement of property or services related to any
emergency or major disaster declaration as a prime contractor with the
United States or as a subcontractor or supplier on a contract in which
there is a prime contract with the United States, shall be fined under
this title, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
``(b) A circumstance described in this subsection is any instance
where--
``(1) the authorization, transportation, transmission,
transfer, disbursement, or payment of the benefit is in or
affects interstate or foreign commerce;
``(2) the benefit is transported in the mail at any point in
the authorization, transportation, transmission, transfer,
disbursement, or payment of that benefit; or

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121 STAT. 2557

``(3) the benefit is a record, voucher, payment, money, or
thing of value of the United States, or of any department or
agency thereof.

``(c) In this section, the term `benefit' means any record, voucher,
payment, money or thing of value, good, service, right, or privilege
provided by the United States, a State or local government, or other
entity.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 47 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:

``1040. Fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency
benefits.''.

SEC. 3. INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR ENGAGING IN WIRE, RADIO,
AND TELEVISION FRAUD DURING AND RELATION TO A
PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED MAJOR DISASTER OR
EMERGENCY.

Section 1343 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
inserting: ``occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized,
transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection
with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those
terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or'' after ``If
the violation''.
SEC. 4. INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR ENGAGING IN MAIL FRAUD
DURING AND RELATION TO A PRESIDENTIALLY
DECLARED MAJOR DISASTER OR EMERGENCY.

Section 1341 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
inserting: ``occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized,
transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection
with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those
terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or'' after ``If
the violation''.
SEC. 5. [NOTE: Guidelines. 28 USC 994 note. DIRECTIVE TO
SENTENCING COMMISSION.

(a) In General.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of
title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this section, the
United States Sentencing Commission forthwith shall--
(1) promulgate sentencing guidelines or amend existing
sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties for
persons convicted of fraud or theft offenses in connection with
a major disaster declaration under section 401 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170) or an emergency declaration under section 501 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5191); and
(2) submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives an explanation of actions taken by the
Commission pursuant to paragraph (1) and any additional policy
recommendations the Commission may have for combating offenses
described in that paragraph.

(b) Requirements.--In carrying out this section, the Sentencing
Commission shall--
(1) ensure that the sentencing guidelines and policy
statements reflect the serious nature of the offenses described
in

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121 STAT. 2558

subsection (a) and the need for aggressive and appropriate law
enforcement action to prevent such offenses;
(2) assure reasonable consistency with other relevant
directives and with other guidelines;
(3) account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances
that might justify exceptions, including circumstances for which
the sentencing guidelines currently provide sentencing
enhancements;
(4) make any necessary conforming changes to the sentencing
guidelines; and
(5) assure that the guidelines adequately meet the purposes
of sentencing as set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of title 18,
United States Code.

(c) Emergency Authority and Deadline for Commission Action.--The
Commission shall promulgate the guidelines or amendments provided for
under this section as soon as practicable, and in any event not later
than the 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, in accordance
with the procedures set forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Reform
Act of 1987, as though the authority under that Act had not expired.

Approved January 7, 2008.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 863:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 110-69 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 153 (2007):
Dec. 4, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 19, considered and passed House.