WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, this week introduced the Accountability to Safeguard Veterans from Violent Crimes Act of 2016 (S. 3330). The legislation would cut pensions earned by certain U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) providers who are convicted of a crime of violence against a veteran. S. 3330 holds accountable those who exploit their position in patient care to abuse veterans.

“Those who violate the trust of our veterans must be held accountable,” Sen. Moran said. “The notion that taxpayers would fund the benefits of individuals who have threatened or harmed our nation’s heroes is unacceptable. The VA has made excuses time and time again without firing those who have mistreated our veterans, and this legislation would make certain these individuals aren’t able to walk away with the same benefits as those who honorably served our veterans.”

A “crime of violence,” such as sexual assault, under Title 18 covers “an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense,” such as sexual assault.

Background

Following multiple allegations of sexual abuse in the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System against former Physician Assistant Mark Wisner, Sen. Moran has been pressing the VA for answers about their background checks and hiring practices. Mr. Wisner has been charged with aggravated sexual battery, aggravated criminal sodomy and misdemeanor sexual battery and faces numerous federal lawsuits stemming from his actions while as an employee of the VA. 

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