Tenth Anniversary 1986 FCA Amendments

Letter from former Attorney General Edwin Meese III

15 August 1996

Taxpayers Against Fraud
The False Claims Act Legal Center
1220 19th Street, NW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20036

Dear Friends:

It is a pleasure for me to join you in marking the tenth anniversary of the enactment of the False Claims Act Amendments of 1986, which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. It was my privilege to have been Attorney General of the United States at that time, and I have continued to appreciate the significance of this important legislation.

Because of this statute, private citizens have provided information and filed lawsuits on behalf of the federal government to recover taxpayer funds from those engaged in fraud and abuse of the people's money. This law has strengthened the incentives and protections for those individuals who have served their country in this manner, and has thus been an excellent example of privatization in the public interest.

Recent reports from the Department of Justice indicate that over a billion dollars has been recovered in civil fraud cases brought under the False Claims Act during the past decade. These substantial returns to the Treasury show the value of this Act.

I commend your organization for its support of integrity in government and protection of the interests of America's taxpayers. Best wishes for continued success.

Sincerely,

Edwin Meese III