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PROTECTING SENIORS FROM EMERGENCY SCAMS ACT
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 446) to require the Federal Trade Commission to submit a report to Congress on scams targeting seniors, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 446
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act''.
SEC. 2. FTC REPORT ON SCAMS TARGETING SENIORS DURING
EMERGENCIES.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'') shall submit a report to Congress including--
(1) a description of the number and types of scams identified by the Commission as being targeted at senior citizens; and
(2) policy recommendations to prevent such scams, especially as such scams relate to future national emergencies.
SEC. 3. INCREASING AWARENESS OF SCAMS TARGETING SENIORS.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall update its web portal to include the latest information, searchable by region and type of scam, on scams targeting seniors, including contacts for relevant law enforcement and adult protective service agencies.
(b) Coordination With Media Outlets and Law Enforcement.--The Commission shall work with media outlets and law enforcement to distribute the information included in the web portal of the Commission pursuant to subsection (a) to senior citizens and their families and caregivers.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 446.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 446, the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act. Representatives Kelly and Balderson introduced this bipartisan legislation to further efforts by the FTC to stop fraud targeting seniors.
This bill streamlines efforts to protect seniors from falling prey to scams during national emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by establishing a searchable database of scams targeting seniors.
In the Committee on Energy and Commerce, we have held multiple hearings exploring the rise in fraud and scams that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, scammers often take advantage of the fear and uncertainty that results from emergency situations. And since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, consumers have reported losing more than $300 million in just pandemic-related fraud.
After Hurricane Sandy ravaged the East Coast, including my own district in New Jersey, scammers preyed on people who lost their homes and livelihoods. We saw contracting scammers promising to rebuild people's homes but who took the money and ran. One man was in prison for using fake titles to sell Sandy-damaged cars.
Unfortunately, older Americans are targeted disproportionately and affected by this fraud. Older Americans reported significantly bigger monetary losses from fraud than younger adults.
According to a recent FTC report, phone scams result in the highest reported losses by older adults, particularly adults over 80. Phone-
based scams can be especially problematic in emergency situations like the pandemic when people are spending more time at home and seniors may be more isolated.
Representatives Kelly and Balderson's bill will help address these scams. It directs the FTC to issue a report on fraud targeting seniors during the pandemic and how to improve efforts against senior scams during future emergencies.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 446, the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act. I would like to thank Representative Robin Kelly of the Energy and Commerce Committee for her bipartisan work with Representative Troy Balderson to protect our constituents.
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the lives of millions of Americans upside down, unfortunately. We were all forced to isolate, sometimes even away from our families and friends, to stay safe. Unfortunately, it is during these times when bad actors aim to exploit the most vulnerable. Promising fake lifesaving medication and stimulus checks, scammers will stop at nothing to take advantage of others.
H.R. 446 would protect Americans, especially seniors, from malicious and deceptive scams by augmenting the tools included in other recently enacted legislation. As they have worked on legislation to fight scammers, I have supported my colleagues' efforts to incorporate provisions that encourage cooperation with law enforcement. I am pleased to see such efforts continue in this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, of course, I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly), the lead sponsor of the bill who has worked so hard, particularly during the pandemic, to address disparities in healthcare.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the past year has been tough for many of us but especially difficult for seniors. Many have lost friends and loved ones from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Increased isolation and dependence on digital resources have put extra burdens on millions of Americans.
From frantic calls of, ``Grandma, I am in the hospital sick with COVID. Please wire money right away,'' to calls from supposed Good Samaritans offering to run errands and then pocketing the money, scammers are using the pandemic to take advantage of vulnerable populations. They are preying on fear and uncertainty to steal money and personal information or sell fraudulent services or products.
One of the best ways to prevent seniors from falling victim to scams is to supply them with the information they need. That is why H.R. 446 requires the FTC to report on the number and type of scams that target older adults. It also will have the Commission's web portal updated with current information about such scams and coordination with media outlets and law enforcement to disseminate scam information. Seniors need to know what scams are happening in their areas so they can protect themselves.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Balderson for joining me in leading this legislation and Chairman Pallone for his support in advancing legislation to protect our seniors.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson), the cosponsor of the legislation.
Mr. BALDERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 446, legislation aimed that at protecting older Americans from falling victim to scammers.
Throughout the pandemic, uncertainty has led to many Americans falling victim to scam callers, especially vulnerable populations like seniors. We have a responsibility to stop bad actors like these scam artists in their tracks. That starts with empowering the American people with information to better protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim.
H.R. 446 would direct the Federal Trade Commission to identify scammers and make such information publicly available. This legislation also equips the FTC to more proactively alert the public about known scams, specifically in their region.
Mr. Speaker, our seniors have suffered enough. It is time to better supply them and their loved ones with the information needed to protect themselves against scammers who shamelessly prey on the most vulnerable. That is why I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 446, the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote for it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also urge support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 446.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 64
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