[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 193 (Wednesday, December 4, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9227-H9228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MAKING COMMUNITIES RESILIENT AGAINST SCAMMERS IS CRITICAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Steil) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, in 2018 an estimated 47 billion spam 
robocalls were placed in the United States. Americans lost $1.5 billion 
to fraud last year. Weekly, sometimes daily, our phones are flooded 
with spam calls. Not only are these calls annoying, but these criminals 
trick people into giving away personal information such as their Social 
Security number or bank information.
  Robocalls affect everyone from Janesville to Kenosha to Racine and 
everywhere in between.
  Last month I held an identity theft fraud prevention workshop in 
southeast Wisconsin. More than 200 residents attended and received 
useful tips from Federal and State agencies on how to protect 
themselves from fraud. Making

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communities resilient from scammers is critical.
  Robocalls are becoming more sophisticated every day. It is becoming 
easier for Americans to fall victim to scamming. That is why Congress 
must act.
  Today the House is voting on a bill I cosponsored, the Telephone 
Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or the TRACED 
Act.
  The TRACED Act strengthens penalties for criminals who conduct spam 
robocalls. This bill also requires telecommunications companies to 
develop new ways to certify all calls are from legitimate people. 
Working together with phone companies, consumer groups, and the Federal 
Government will protect our community--and go after the bad guys.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, 
nonpartisan bill.


        We Must Recommit to Ending the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic

  Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, this week we recommit ourselves to ending the 
HIV/AIDS epidemic. We have made progress to prevent infections and 
enhance treatment, but more work must be done.
  Supporting the Global Fund and fully funding its programs is an 
important piece of the puzzle. The Global Fund is a partnership 
organization that works with governments and private sectors to end the 
AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria epidemics. By developing low-cost, 
high-impact treatments and technologies, we can save lives.
  Since the creation of the Global Fund in 2002, deaths caused by these 
diseases have been reduced by one-third each year in countries where 
the Global Fund invests. I was proud to cosponsor the bill and see the 
House support the Global Fund.
  This is an important issue to many across southeast Wisconsin. 
Earlier this year, I met with Pastor Bob Griffith and Pastor Lawrence 
Kirby to discuss the United States' commitment to battling these health 
epidemics, whether that be at home in southeast Wisconsin or throughout 
the world.
  Pastor Griffith's and Pastor Kirby's work in the Racine and Kenosha 
communities is admirable. They advocate for those in poverty and for 
our global community dealing with these diseases.
  We thank Pastor Griffith and Pastor Kirby for their dedication to 
this cause, for bringing awareness to the fight.
  We must continue working together and ensure education, treatment, 
and assistance is available to those who need it.

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