House passes Tuberville bill to restore benefits to defrauded veterans

September 19, 2024 - WASHINGTON – on Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act. This is U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville's (R) legislation 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 Sen. Tuberville. 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."

Tuberville represents the people of Alabama on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. In that role, Senator Tuberville has introduced multiple pieces of targeted legislation to help veterans and their families, including the Supporting Families of the Fallen Act that was signed into law in 2022. Senator Tuberville originally introduced the Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act with Senator Joe Manchin (I-West Virginia) in 2022, and then reintroduced it again this Congress in February 2023.

Under current law, if a defrauded veteran passes away before their case with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is resolved, the veteran's family cannot seek reimbursement for the defrauded funds. This legislation would change that statute to allow a deceased beneficiary's estate to receive reissued funds.

Specifically, the Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act 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 Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act is endorsed by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, and the American Legion.

Tommy Tuberville was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 after a 50 year career as a teach, coach, and sports broadcaster.