Comrades,

Last week, the VFW sent a critical Action Alert seeking to stop the House of Representatives from advancing a toxic bill that would allow Claim Sharks to put veterans in debt for simply seeking to access their earned benefits. I want to thank the thousands of VFW members who have already acted, but I also wanted to take a moment to highlight for all our leaders why this Action Alert is so important.  

For years, the VFW has warned about the potential forVETERANS to get caught up in the fraudulent schemes that these Claim Sharks are peddling, encouraging veterans to embellish their claims to get 100% disability – whether they deserve it or not. In hearingsas far back as 2022, the VFW warned that when VA caught on, it would be theVETERANS – not the companies – who pay the price.

Well, the day of reckoning is here. Last week, aFederal Grand Jury indicted 10 people with 49 counts of defrauding the government for unearned VA benefits. Out of the 10 indictments, seven wereVETERANS who paid for help filing fraudulent benefit claims. The Claim Shark, his spouse, and their co-conspirator "on the inside” at VA were also indicted.

The VFW’s Fact Sheet on Claim Sharks warns about this scheme, but we also know that these were just small fish in a much larger industry that is jockeying in Congress and your state legislatures for legitimacy. Think about just how much money they have spent to not only infect Washington, DC, but to also fly to each ofYOUR states, sewing doubt and trying to stall accountability for their scheme. Since this indictment dropped last week, I hope they are sleeping uneasy – especially since we know that VA also referred their companies to both federal and state authorities for further action. We’ve all had to stare them down face-to-face as they peddle their lies. Do not let them buy their way out of what’s coming.

Share the VFW’s Action Alert:https://votervoice.net/VFW/ Campaigns/126981/Respond

Share the DOJ press release on your social media, and tag your Congressional Representatives on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ share/p/1AUDiK1Ap6/ or on X:https://x.com/VFW_OfficeDC/ status/1925940071682736309

When the VFW sends messages to Congress, they listen. But we need more of these messages today than ever before. Share with your Auxiliary, your friends and family, and anyone who cares about our veterans.

Follow me!

Al Lipphardt

Commander in Chief

Veterans of Foreign Wars