[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 14, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1760-H1761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              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.

[[Page H1761]]

  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.

                              {time}  1345

  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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