[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 169 (Thursday, October 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6818-S6820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mrs. McCaskill, and Ms. Klobuchar):
  S. 3594. A bill to provide for the issuance of a Stamp Out Elder 
Abuse Semipostal Stamp; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President. Along with my colleague and friend, 
Senator Claire McCaskill, I am introducing the Stamp Out Elder Abuse 
Act of 2018, a bill that seeks to help combat the abuse and financial 
exploitation of our nation's seniors. Our bill would create a 
semipostal, or fundraising, stamp that would allow Postal Service 
customers to make a voluntary contribution to help raise awareness and 
combat elder abuse with a stamp purchase. The proceeds from this stamp 
would go to the Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) 
Administration on Community Living (ACL) and the Department of Justice 
(DOJ). This additional funding for the ACL would be used to further 
support the development and advancement of emerging practices to 
prevent and respond to the abuse of older adults. Funding for the DOJ 
would go toward improving prosecution, data collection, litigation 
support, and prevention of elder abuse initiatives. Notably, this bill 
would help to provide needed additional revenue to tackle elder abuse 
without costing the federal government a single penny.
  Abuse can happen to anyone--no matter the person's age, gender, race, 
religion, or ethnic or cultural background. Each year, hundreds of 
thousands of adults over the age of 60 are abused, neglected, or 
financially exploited. Abuse can happen in many places, including a 
person's home, a family member's house, an assisted living facility, or 
a nursing home. Just as abuse can occur in various settings, there are 
many types of elder abuse, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, 
sexual abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation. 
Although there are different types of

[[Page S6819]]

abuse, it is common for a victim to experience more than one type of 
mistreatment.
  According to the National Council on Aging, approximately one in ten 
Americans aged 60 years old or older have experienced some form of 
elder abuse, and according to the GAO, financial fraud targeting older 
Americans is a growing epidemic that costs seniors an estimated $2.9 
billion annually. We know, however, that the true number is probably 
much higher since many of these cases are never reported because the 
victim is too often ashamed to report abuse, particularly when it 
involves a family member. As a consequence, the true incidence of abuse 
is not known. In fact, the National Center on Elder Abuse reports that 
only one in 14 cases are reported to the authorities.
  In my home State of Maine--the State with the oldest population by 
median age--an estimated 33,000 seniors each year are the victims of 
some kind of abuse or financial fraud. Moreover, in as many as 90 
percent of financial cases, the senior is victimized by someone he or 
she knows well. In a 2017 report of financial exploitation of Maine's 
older adults, in most cases financial exploitation is perpetrated by a 
family members and for those perpetrators who were family members, the 
majority were the victim's child.
  In a recent case in Maine, police charged a pastor in York County, 
Maine, with exploiting an incapacitated elderly woman. They say the man 
befriended the woman while he was volunteering at the assisted-living 
community where she lived. According to police, the State determined 
the woman to be incapacitated and assigned her a guardian and 
conservator. The pastor allegedly took the woman to her bank, withdrew 
money to have the locks changed on her former home, which had been on 
the market, and he took down the ``for sale'' sign.
  Police say the pastor told the woman he would help her return to her 
house, even though it was not equipped for the wheelchair access she 
required. He suggested his daughter could live with the woman to care 
for her. Police say his goal was to ingratiate himself and have access 
to this woman's financial accounts and property. Fortunately, in this 
case, the conservator, who was legally responsible for protecting the 
woman's assets, identified and reported the suspected criminal activity 
to the police.
  Combatting elder abuse of seniors is primarily the responsibility of 
state and local agencies, particularly Adult Protective Services 
agencies. Prevention and response to cases of abuse require coordinated 
efforts, including state and local agencies, law enforcement, the 
social work and medical community, and financial institutions.
  The Federal government also plays an important role in providing 
leadership to combat this problem. The Elder Justice Coordinating 
Council, which is led by HHS and DOJ, has brought other federal 
agencies to the table to coordinate efforts to protect older 
individuals from abuse. In January, the DOJ took another step forward 
by directing all 94 U.S. Attorneys' offices to each designate an elder 
justice coordinator, who will develop strategies to protect seniors in 
their districts. This will promote greater cooperation between the DOJ 
and its law enforcement partners. While the best way to intervene in 
the problem of elder abuse is to prevent it from happening in the first 
place, when abuse does occur, it is crucial that the perpetrators of 
the crimes not go unpunished.
  I worked closely on the Stamp Out Elder Abuse Act of 2018 with Philip 
C. Marshall, founder of Beyond Brooke, a cause-based campaign named to 
honor Philip's late grandmother, Brooke Astor, who was a well-known 
philanthropist, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a 
victim of elder abuse and elder financial exploitation. In 2015, Mr. 
Marshall testified before the Senate Aging Committee about how his 
father mistreated his grandmother and mismanaged her assets while she 
suffered from Alzheimer's disease. In addition, I am pleased that the 
nonpartisan Elder Justice Coalition, which represents more than 3,000 
members, along with the National Center for Victims of Crime, the 
National Sheriff's Association, and the National Association on Area 
Agencies on Aging support the bill.
  Preventing and combating elder abuse require law enforcement and 
social service agencies at all levels of government to work 
collaboratively with the private sector. The Stamp Out Elder Abuse Act 
would assist the Federal government's role to help make that happen. I 
urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. President--I ask that letters from these organizations appear in 
the Record immediately following my remarks.
  There being no objection so ordered.
                                  ____



                               National Sheriffs' Association,

                                 Alexandria, VA, October 10, 2018.
     Hon. Susan Collins,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Collins: On behalf of the National Sheriffs' 
     Association (NSA) and the more than 3,000 elected sheriffs 
     nationwide, I write to endorse the Stamp Out Elder Abuse Act 
     of 2018 proposed by yourself and cosponsored by Senator 
     Claire McCaskill. This Act initiates a semi postal stamp that 
     not only raises elder abuse awareness, but also dedicates the 
     proceeds to elder justice programs within DOJ and HHS.
       As you may know, the NSA was one of the founding groups in 
     the National Association of Triads, Inc. National Triads 
     serves as a clearinghouse of information, best practices and 
     early alert system for local Triads. Triad is a national 
     community policing concept that partners law enforcement 
     agencies with older adult volunteer groups and older adult 
     related community services to educate older adults on crime 
     and fraud, to reduce crime against the elderly, and eliminate 
     the unwarranted fear of crime.
       After twenty-two years in existence, there are Triads in 
     more than 680 counties in 36 states. Triad serves 16 million 
     seniors nationwide--nearly half of America's senior 
     population. The National Sheriffs' Association and local 
     sheriffs have long recognized the need to ensure the safety 
     and quality of life for the growing number of senior citizens 
     by supporting the formation of community partnerships under 
     the auspice of Triad. Triad has a clear vision and a simple 
     mission--to keep seniors safe from crime.
       The Stamp Out Elder Abuse Act of 2018 makes a clear effort 
     to increase awareness and support for the elderly community. 
     We applaud your efforts to support prevention and education, 
     investigation and prosecution, and victims' services in an 
     effort in combat elder abuse.
           Sincerely,
                                             Jonathan F. Thompson,
     Executive Director and CEO.
                                  ____

         The Elder Justice Coalition, A National Advocacy Voice 
           for Elder Justice in America,
                               Washington, DC, September 25, 2018.
     Hon. Susan Collins,
     Chairman, Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Collins: As the National Coordinator of the 
     nonpartisan Elder Justice Coalition which represents more 
     than 3,000 members, I write to congratulate you on the 
     introduction of the Stamp Out Elder Abuse Act of 2018, which 
     will create a semi-postal stamp to provide additional funding 
     to the federal government for programs to address elder 
     abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The EJC is proud to have 
     worked closely on this legislation with you and Philip C. 
     Marshall, founder of Beyond Brooke, a cause-based campaign 
     named to honor Philip's late grandmother, Brooke Astor, who 
     was a well-known philanthropist, recipient of the 
     Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a victim of elder abuse 
     and elder financial exploitation.
       We are pleased that the bill will direct the United States 
     Postal Service to develop the semi-postal stamp and use the 
     proceeds from its sales to provide funding to augment the 
     elder justice initiatives at both the Administration on Aging 
     in the Department of Health and Human Services and at the 
     Department of Justice. These programs include prevention, 
     education, data collection, services to protect and support 
     victims, and demonstration projects, in addition to 
     initiatives to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of 
     elder abuse and financial exploitation. Further, the 
     departments will be able to use their resources to support 
     dissemination of the stamp.
       Thank you again for your leadership on this and other elder 
     justice issues. Please let us know if we can be of assistance 
     in securing passage of the Stamp Out Elder Abuse Act of 2018.
           Sincerely,
                                               Robert B. Blancato,
     National Coordinator.
                                  ____

                                           The National Center for


                                             Victims of Crime,

                                  Washington, DC, October 2, 2018.
     Hon. Susan Collins,
     Chairman, Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Collins: As the Executive Director of the 
     National Center for Victims of Crime which advocates for 
     stronger rights, protections, and services for all crime 
     victims and the advocates who serve them, I write to 
     congratulate you on the introduction of the Stamp Out Elder 
     Abuse Act of 2018, which will create a semi-postal stamp to 
     provide additional funding to the federal government for 
     programs to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

[[Page S6820]]

       We are pleased that the bill will direct the United States 
     Postal Service to develop the semi-postal stamp and use the 
     proceeds from its sales to provide funding to augment the 
     elder justice initiatives at both the Administration on Aging 
     in the Department of Health and Human Services and at the 
     Department of Justice. These programs include prevention, 
     education, data collection, services to protect and support 
     victims, and demonstration projects, in addition to 
     initiatives to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of 
     elder abuse and financial exploitation. Further, the 
     departments will be able to use their resources to support 
     dissemination of the stamp.
       Thank you again for your leadership on this and other elder 
     justice issues. Please let us know if we can be of assistance 
     in securing passage of the Stamp Out Elder Abuse Act of 2018.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Mai Fernandez,
                                               Executive Director.
                                 ______