VSAFE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2501
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:30:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 2501: Veterans Scam And Fraud Evasion Act of 2025
Purpose
This legislation aims to improve fraud and scam prevention for veterans by creating a dedicated position within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and extending a deadline related to pension payment limits.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer: Creates this role in the VA to handle fraud and scam prevention, reporting, and response plans. The officer serves as a central contact for directing veterans to prevention and mitigation resources.
- Officer Responsibilities:
- Issues communications to VA employees and veterans (including families, caregivers, and survivors) during fraud incidents.
- Provides guidance on identifying, reporting, and avoiding fraud attempts.
- Promotes the VA's VSAFE Fraud Hotline and VSAFE.gov website, along with identity theft resources.
- Monitors fraud metrics for reporting, data analysis, and trend identification.
- Develops training for VA employees handling fraud inquiries.
- Coordinates with other federal agencies (such as the Inspector General, Department of Justice, and Social Security Administration) for better prevention and reporting.
- Consults with veterans service organizations and state, local, and tribal governments on fraud risks.
- Limits on Staffing and Authority: Prohibits any increase in full-time VA employees and preserves the Inspector General's existing authority.
- Pension Payment Extension: Amends existing law to extend certain limits on pension payments from November 30, 2031, to January 30, 2032.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section (Sec. 325) to Chapter 3 of Title 38, United States Code, establishing the new officer position and its duties.
- Modifies Section 5503(d)(7) of Title 38, United States Code, by extending the pension payment deadline.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Requires coordination across multiple federal entities, potentially improving interagency fraud prevention efforts without adding staff.
- On citizens: Provides veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors with better tools and resources to avoid scams, including hotlines and training.
- On international relations: No direct effects noted.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Veterans Affairs and its employees.
- Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
- Federal agencies including the Inspector General, Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, and others.
- Veterans service organizations and state, local, and tribal governments.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill includes a rule of construction to ensure it does not interfere with the Inspector General's independent oversight role.
- It explicitly avoids authorizing new full-time positions, which may limit implementation scope.
- The pension extension represents a minor technical adjustment to existing payment rules.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Veterans Scam And Fraud Evasion Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (5 pages)