Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, here we have another great bipartisan bill that has come out of the committee I am so proud to chair, the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I thank the authors of the legislation: Representatives Carter, Hudson, Kuster, and Blunt Rochester.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of confusion and fear for many Americans, and scammers have noticed. Fraudsters have tried to steal stimulus checks and trick consumers with fake medical treatments and even vaccines. Seniors and those with disabilities are especially vulnerable.

This legislation will protect American consumers, especially our most vulnerable, by increasing public awareness of COVID-19 scams. It directs the Federal Trade Commission to develop and disseminate information to the public about scams related to COVID-19.

The FTC will also create a comprehensive national database that tracks the COVID-19 scams in consultation with the Attorney General and the HHS Secretary. This database will protect American consumers from malicious scams. Consumers will be armed with information about the pandemic scams and how to avoid those scams. So we must act now to prevent further harm to American consumers.

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