1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2019”.
Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans, and for other purposes.
2. Additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans
In general— Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“1041. Fraud regarding veterans’ benefits
“(a) In general—It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly engage in any scheme or artifice to defraud—
“(1) an individual of veterans’ benefits; or
“(2) in connection with obtaining veteran’s benefits for an individual.
“(b) Penalties—Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
“(c) Definitions—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 under Federal law for a veteran or a dependent or survivor of a veteran.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections for chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: