FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: VIRGINIA LEADER RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR FIGHTING WELFARE FRAUD
AWARD HONORS LEADERSHIP ON REFORMS PROTECTING STATE PROGRAMS FOR THE TRULY NEEDY
Virginia Del. Steve Landes was honored with the Foundation for Government Accountability’s 2015 Protecting the Vulnerable Award Monday for his leadership in the state to prevent fraud and protect the state’s welfare programs for the truly needy.
Landes passed HJ 637 in Virginia to give the state access to modern tools to combat fraud and waste in their welfare systems, such as Medicaid. Strong partnerships with the FGA and leaders like Landes have saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, to include welfare benefits that were being paid to lottery winners and the dead.
“It’s critical that we protect our social safety nets for those who truly need them, like vulnerable children, the elderly, and the disabled, and that means rooting out fraudsters whose theft make our programs unsustainable,” said Tarren Bragdon, FGA CEO.
“Del. Landes is committed to fighting fraud by bringing 21st-century tools to Virginia, making it harder than ever for people to take from the truly needy.”
Landes is one of a handful of state leaders being recognized from around the country for their work in 2015, and they are the first group of legislators to be honored with this annual award.
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