Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy On False Claims Act Settlements In 2012
December 5, 2012
[Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) commented Wednesday on news that the Department of Justice has recovered a record $5 billion in settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act cases, particularly in cases involving mortgages and health care. Senator Leahy has authored legislation to combat health care fraud and is the author of the Fraud Enforcement Recovery Act, a law strengthens tools and increase resources available to federal prosecutors to find, prosecute and jail those who commit financial fraud. Last year the Judiciary Committee also overwhelmingly supported the bipartisan Fighting Fraud to Protect Taxpayers Act, a bill coauthored by Senator Leahy and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) that would responsibly reinvest a small portion of money collected from fraud cases back into fraud enforcement at no expense to taxpayers.]
“The Justice Department’s record recovery of nearly $5 billion in False Claims Act settlements is an accomplishment for taxpayers and for justice, and it is a good reminder that Congress should do all possible to support law enforcement agencies in their anti-fraud efforts. While the False Claims Act is a critical tool in this continued effort, more can be done to fight waste, fraud and abuse in the use of tax dollars. That is why I joined with Senator Grassley to introduce the Fighting Fraud to Protect Taxpayers Act, which would give law enforcers additional resources to collect potentially millions of dollars more in fraud cases at no cost to taxpayers. It is my hope that all Senators will join to support this commonsense, good-government legislation.”
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