H.R. 1179House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2023

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:56 AM UTC

The bill adds a new criminal offense to Title 18 that makes it illegal to knowingly carry out or attempt schemes to defraud veterans or their families of federal benefits. Violations can result in fines, up to five years in prison, or both. It applies to anyone who tries to steal or misuse veterans’ benefits, protecting veterans, their dependents, and survivors.

Key Provisions

Creates Section 1352, making fraud involving veterans’ benefits a punishable crime with fines and up to five years imprisonment.
Defines “veteran” as in 38 U.S.C. §101 and “veterans’ benefits” as any federal benefit for a veteran, dependent, or survivor.
Updates the table of sections in Chapter 63 of Title 18 to include the new Section 1352.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 24, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 24, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 24, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 24, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1179

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 24, 2023

Mr. Fitzpatrick (for himself and Ms. Scanlon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2023.

Additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans

(a)

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 for 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.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1352. Fraud regarding veterans’ benefits.