S. 4901Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 7, 2026 at 4:54 AM UTC

The Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2026 adds a new federal crime that targets people who knowingly try to cheat veterans or their families out of government benefits. It makes such fraud punishable by a fine, up to five years in prison, or both, and clarifies the terms “veteran” and “veterans’ benefits” for this purpose. The law applies to anyone who attempts or carries out these fraudulent schemes.

Key Provisions

Creates a new criminal offense (Section 1353) that makes it illegal to knowingly carry out or try to carry out any scheme to defraud a veteran or a dependent/survivor of a veteran of federal benefits.
Sets the penalty for a violation to a fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
Specifically defines “veteran” as the term used in 38 U.S.C. § 101 and defines “veterans’ benefits” as any benefit provided by federal law to a veteran or their dependent or survivor.
Updates the official table of sections in Chapter 63 of Title 18 to include the new Section 1353.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 24, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 24, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 24, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 24, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4901

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 24, 2026

Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 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 2026.

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:

1353.

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:

1353. Fraud regarding veterans’ benefits.