Commissioner Diaz supports veterans

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – The Miami-Dade County Commission on February 21 approved two resolutions sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz to help veterans in crisis and protect them from becoming victims of fraud.

The first resolution urges Congress to pass legislation to address failures by the Veterans Crisis Line. Last year, the Veterans Administration’s Office of Inspector General reported that more than one third of calls and electronic communications to the Crisis Line were not being answered by front-line staffers, if at all, because of poor work habits and other problems.

The second resolution urges Congress to pass pending legislation designed to prevent crimes of fraud against veterans. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Thomas J. Rooney are the main sponsors of the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2017, which would criminalize and penalize any entity knowingly engaged in defrauding or taking advantage of veterans seeking to obtain benefits.

“Our veterans have sacrificed so much to defend our nation and our freedoms, and it is our nation’s duty to give them the services they need while protecting them from fraudsters,” said Commissioner Diaz, a U.S. Marines veteran who serves as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Military Affairs Board.