Daines Introduces Bill to Prevent Child Predators from Receiving Government Pensions

Statement

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bill to prevent convicted pedophiles from receiving a federal government pension.

Daines discussed the bill, the Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act, in a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, the Principal Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS).

"Despite numerous reported suspicions of Weber's inappropriate behavior, IHS turned a blind eye and enabled Weber to continue his unspeakable actions for years," Daines said. "It's shocking that a government employee can still receive a pension after being convicted of sexually abusing children. That is unacceptable, which is why I will take action and introduce a bill today to fix this flawed system."

Daines' bill comes in response to Stanley Patrick Weber, a former IHS pediatrician who was recently convicted for sexually abusing children on the Blackfeet Reservation. Weber reportedly receives around $100,000 per year for his government pension. Under current law, he will continue receiving his pension for life, including during his time in federal prison.

Background:

Yesterday, IHS responded to Daines' February letter by outlining the steps being taken to demand accountability for Weber.

On March 28, Daines sent a letter to HHS urging Weber be stripped of his federal pension.

In March, a report showed that Weber could receive nearly $2 million while serving in prison.

On February 21, Daines sent a letter to IHS demanding answers on Weber, a former IHS pediatrician recently convicted of sexually molesting children while working on the Blackfeet Reservation.

Source