Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2017”.
Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2017
AN ACT
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans
In general— Chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“1352. Fraud regarding veterans’ benefits
“(a) Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts to execute, any scheme or artifice to defraud an individual of veterans’ benefits, or in connection with obtaining veteran’s benefits for that individual, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
“(b) In this section—
“(1) the term “veteran” has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38; and
“(2) the term “veterans’ benefits” means any benefit provided by Federal law for a veteran or a dependent or survivor of a veteran.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: