A bill that aims to protect veterans from financial abuses of the pension program passed the House on Monday, The Hill reports.
The Veterans Care Act, sponsored by Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., and introduced in 2014, will direct the Department of Veterans and other federal agencies to work with state officials and outside experts to establish standards to end "dishonest, predatory, and otherwise unlawful practices," that target VA aid provided to low-income veterans who need help with costs of assisted living or in-home personal care.
"Unscrupulous actors are increasingly exploiting this assistance program by preying on our older veterans' vulnerability," to waste federal dollars and turn "this well-deserved benefit into a financial nightmare for those who can least afford it," Cartwright told Stars and Stripes in October.
Some veterans were being charged a non-existent application fee to obtain the benefit and consultation fees with "promises to expedite the application process," while veteran service organizations provide assistance at no cost.
The bill has bipartisan support, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., introduced a similar bill in the Senate in May of this year.
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