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RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO PASS THE VETERANS CARE FINANCIAL PROTECTION ACT OF 2014, S. 1993, OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT ELDERLY VETERANS FROM FINANCIAL SCAMS AND PREDATORY FINANCIAL ADVISERS

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WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers an Aid and Attendance benefit to help pay for assisted living or in-home personal care for veterans who qualify for a VA pension and who are housebound or require the aid and attendance of another person; and
WHEREAS, scam artists and predatory financial advisers have targeted veterans who qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefit, charging them fees for obtaining the benefit even though the application process is free; and
WHEREAS, these scam artists often take control of the veteran's assets and move them into an irrevocable trust or an annuity, which the elderly veteran often cannot access again for many years, creating significant financial strain; and
WHEREAS, moving assets this way may also disqualify the veteran from other assistance, like Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, a bill entitled the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2014, S. 1993, has been filed for consideration during the 113th Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D � Massachusetts) and Marco Rubio (R � Florida); and
WHEREAS, the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2014 would direct the VA to work with other federal agencies and states to develop and implement standards that protect elderly veterans from financial scams and predatory practices related to the Aid and Attendance benefit; and
WHEREAS, the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2014 would help put an end to these financial scams that waste federal funds and undermine the financial security of our elderly veterans; and
WHEREAS, this Board honors the courageous sacrifices veterans and their families have made for this country, and would like to express its support for the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2014, S. 1993, or similar legislation that would protect elderly veterans from financial scams and predatory financial advisers,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges Congress to pass the Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2014, S. 1993, or similar legislation that would protect elderly veterans from financial scams and predatory financial advisers.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Marco Rubio, the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, and the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Section 3. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2014 Federal Legislative Package.