H.R. 5708 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5708 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 14, 2014 Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Mr. Cook, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Conyers, and Mr. Farenthold) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To protect individuals who are eligible for increased pension under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the basis of need of regular aid and attendance from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2014. 2. Protection of individuals eligible for increased pension under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on basis of need for regular aid and attendance (a) Development and implementation of standards (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall work with the heads of Federal agencies, States, and such experts as the Secretary considers appropriate to develop and implement Federal and State standards that protect individuals from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices relating to increased pension available to such individuals under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance. (2) Submittal to Congress Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives the standards developed under paragraph (1). (b) Conditional recommendation by Comptroller General If the Secretary does not, on or before the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives standards that are developed under subsection (a)(1), the Comptroller General of the United States shall, not later than the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to such committees a report containing standards that the Comptroller General determines are standards that would be effective in protecting individuals as described in such subsection. (c) Study by Comptroller General Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study on standards implemented under this section to protect individuals as described in subsection (a)(1) and submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to such study.