proposed

Legislation Proposed Protecting Seniors

Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to combat scams, the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act and the Strengthening Task Forces to Oppose Predatory (STOP) Scams Against Seniors Act.

“Too many Rhode Islanders have been taken for a ride by scammers skimming their pockets and stealing their hard-earned money, leaving many devastated and destitute,” said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). “I’m proud to introduce these bipartisan measures, one of which is also bicameral, to ensure we are addressing the rising scam threat in a coordinated and strategic manner. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate as the national strategy is developed to keep fighting scammers and keep Rhode Islanders money where it belongs, in their pockets.”

Last year alone, Americans lost over $16 billion to scams. That’s a staggering amount of money that’s been stolen from our families, our neighbors, and, disproportionately, our seniors,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate co-lead of the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act. It’s clear that we need a coordinated national strategy to tackle the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting our seniors, and this legislation would bring that to fruition. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this vital bill across the finish line.”

The bipartisan, bicameral National Strategy for Combating Scams Act would establish a federal working group led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to coordinate the efforts of more than a dozen federal agencies in combating scams. The bill is co-led by Congressman Derek Schmidt (R-KS) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ashley Moody (R-FL).

The bipartisan STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, introduced in the House, would authorize the creation of Elder Justice Task Forces to help local, state, and Federal agencies work together to investigate and prosecute illegal scammers. The bill is co-led by Congressman Jeffersen Shreve (R-IN)

Source: The ElderLaw Report, Vol. XXXVII, No. 6, January 2026