[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PROTECTING INDIAN TRIBES FROM SCAMS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 2021

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1762, the 
``Protecting Indian Tribes from Scams Act,'' which requires the Federal 
Trade Commission (FTC), after consultation with Indian tribes, to 
report on unfair or deceptive practices that target tribes or tribal 
members.
  The FTC must submit the report to Congress and make it publicly 
available.
  The FTC is directed to update its website to include information for 
consumers and businesses on identifying and avoiding unfair or 
deceptive practices that target tribes or tribal members.
  Scammers are targeting Native people.
  Scammers may say extra money is waiting for a small price upfront or 
that a testing kit or treatment for the coronavirus is available for a 
fee.
  Other scams attempt to benefit from the $1,200 Economic Impact 
Payment coming to most U.S. citizens; and more are expected to target 
stimulus checks authorized under the America Rescue Plan.
  At least one tribal leader has warned tribal citizens of an email 
scam related to the coronavirus.
  In an April 14 Facebook post, Ojibwe Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin 
wrote that an email purporting to be her had tribal citizens to 
purchase gift cards to help a citizen who tested positive for the 
coronavirus.
  Benjamin asks those that may have received the scam email from a 
Gmail account to contact tribal police.
  This bill will help protect our diverse Native American communities 
from scammers by providing valuable information that will help identify 
fraudsters and arm people with tools to protect themselves.
  Our friends in the Native American communities across the nation have 
faced tremendous challenges during COVID-19 and they need our help to 
keep their nation's physically and financial safe during COVID.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

                          ____________________