A bipartisan bill promising to increase federal action against senior financial fraud cleared its first hurdle Thursday on a voice vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The legislation would make America a safer place for seniors, said Iowa Republican co-sponsor and Judiciary Committee Chair Senator Chuck Grassley, at 82 a senior himself.
“The bill sends a strong message to would-be fraudsters,” Grassley said.
Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, also a co-sponsor, said the legislation is needed because elder financial and physical abuse is a tragedy all too prevalent in America.
At least $2.9 billion is stolen from seniors annually by fraud, according to the bill's sponsors.
Criminal and civil penalties would be increased for senior fraud by the bill and the e-mail solicitation of potential victims by elder scamsters would be made a federal crime.
The legislation would mandate the Department of Justice to designate an attorney in each federal judicial district to focus on senior abuse.
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission would each have to a have an elder justice coordinator.
Noting the vast majority of cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults in the United States goes unidentified and unreported, the legislation increases federal senior fraud data collection efforts.