Leahy Introduces Major Anti-Crime Bill Targeting Fraud Against Seniors

U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

CONTACT: Office of Senator Leahy, 202-224-4242

VERMONT

Leahy Introduces Major Anti-Crime Bill
Targeting Fraud Against Seniors

WASHINGTON (Wed., April 24) – Sen. Patrick Leahy has introduced a comprehensive bill to protect older Americans from crime. The Seniors Safety Act of 2002 would boost penalties for crimes against seniors, help prevent telemarketing fraud, safeguard retirement and health benefit plans, combat health care fraud and protect nursing home residents from willful neglect.

Leahy noted that older Americans are the nation’s most rapidly growing population group. In Vermont seniors comprise about 12 percent of the population, a number that will rise to 20 percent by 2025, according to the Vermont Department of Aging and Disabilities.

"Scam artists are taking cold, calculating aim at older Americans. They are out to violate their victims’ trust and snag as much of their limited incomes as they can," said Leahy, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will handle the bill. "We need to take cold, calculating aim at the criminals who are targeting seniors. This bill is a comprehensive attack on the crimes that affect seniors most."

Leahy’s Seniors Safety Act:

Authorizes the U.S. Attorney General to block or terminate telephone service to phone facilities used to conduct fraudulent activities;

Establishes a "Better Business Bureau"-style clearinghouse at the Federal Trade Commission to provide seniors, their families, and others with information about prior fraud convictions and/or complaints against individual telemarketers;

Creates new criminal and civil penalties for defrauding pension plans or obtaining money or property from such plans by means of false or fraudulent pretenses;

Enhances penalties for bribery and corruption in connection with employee benefit plans;

Allows the attorney general to bring injunctive actions to stop false claims and illegal kickback schemes involving federal health care programs;

Gives federal law enforcement agencies the authority to investigate and prosecute operators of nursing homes for willfully engaging in patterns of health and safety violations in the care of nursing home residents;

Protects whistle-blowers from retaliation for reporting violations;

Increases statutory penalties both for fraud resulting in serious injury or death and for bribery and corruption in connection with employee benefit plans, and increases criminal and civil penalties for defrauding pension plans.

Leahy’s bill is cosponsored by Sens. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.).

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