House Approves Enhanced Penalties for Perpetrators of Disaster Relief Fraud Schemes
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Majority Whip and Chair of the Democratic Caucus Taskforce on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, James E. Clyburn, today released the following statement regarding passage of the Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2007, a bill that makes it a crime to fraudulently obtain emergency disaster relief funds.
“Today, this New Direction Congress reconfirmed its commitment to safeguarding those Americans who have had their lives shattered by natural disasters with the passage of legislation that imposes harsher penalties against con artists deceitfully attempting to acquire federal disaster relief funds.
“The Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act provides for increased penalties for persons convicted of fraud or theft offenses in connection with a major natural disaster.
“Any individual attempting to profit off of the hardships endured by others will be pursued, prosecuted, and punished up to the fullest extent of the law.”
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