WASHINGTON – A veterans-related bill that would right a wrong, according to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, has been passed by the Senate and now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
The Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act, introduced by Tuberville, is designed to reissue benefits to defrauded veterans.
“We’d like to believe we live in a country where no one would take advantage of our veterans, but sadly it does happen,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn). “What’s worse is if the money that was lost to fraud is never returned. This bill attempts to help right that wrong by ensuring a veteran’s estate can be reimbursed for any funds that were lost to fraud should the veteran pass away before the funds have been reimbursed.
“It’s my priority to find ways to make the government work better for the American people, and this bill is a small step toward doing just that for our veterans.”
Under current law, if a veteran dies before the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General has determined that the veteran was defrauded of his or her benefits, the funds are not distributed to the veteran’s family or estate. This legislation would change that statute to allow a deceased beneficiary’s estate to receive reissued funds.
Specifically, the bill would:
- Require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reissue misused benefits to a beneficiary’s estate in cases where the beneficiary predeceased reissuance.
- Provide reissued benefits to either the veteran’s estate, successor, or next inheritor.
The bill is endorsed by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, and the American Legion.
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