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Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020 (Cong. Rec., Nov. 17, 2020)

Summary

Page H5831 of the House section of the Congressional Record for November 17, 2020, from debate on H.R. 2610, the Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020. Mr. Walden yields himself time, calls the subcommittee chair a fierce advocate for consumers and thanks her team for making the bill bipartisan, which is his view, while another speaker wishes Mr. Walden well on his retirement from the House. A speaker urges the Federal Trade Commission to win the fight against scammers. The page also prints bill text requiring a COVID-19 report every 3 months and a section on travel and tourism employment during the pandemic.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Cite this document

“Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020 (Cong. Rec., Nov. 17, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-11-17-crec-2020-11-17-pt1-pgh5831-0a648fc587/, SHA-256 ed7d4fcba1ee70a63abece2a4c6b506737614df47c219f355149e5b48516cc4f.

Full text

                                            November 17, 2020                                 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                                     H5831
                                              Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield                        Mr. Speaker, GREG is a good friend. It               cific resources available to caregivers
                                            myself such time as I may consume.                      has been fun to spar with him. It has                  already working around the clock.
                                              I have said before and I will say it                  been fun to work with him. I look for-                 Let’s help the FTC win this fight
                                            again: I don’t think there is a more                    ward to his public service after he re-                against scammers.
                                            fierce advocate for consumers than the                  tires from the U.S. House of Represent-                  Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of
                                            gentlewoman who chairs the sub-                         atives.                                                H.R. 2610.
                                            committee. She has, once again,                           Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield                       Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank
                                            brought solid legislation to the floor.                 myself such time as I may consume.                     my friend and colleague from Illinois
                                            We appreciate her and her team work-                      Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend                  for her support of this legislation and
                                            ing with us to make this bipartisan.                    from New Mexico. I think it is worth                   her work on it.
                                              Mr. Speaker, I urge passage, and I re-                pointing out that this probably won’t                    Once again, I urge passage of the leg-
                                            serve the balance of my time.                           make a lot of coverage in national                     islation, and I yield back the balance of
                                                              b 1430                                media, but he chaired the Democratic                   my time.
                                                                                                    Congressional Campaign Committee                         Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would
                                               Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield                    when I chaired the National Repub-                     also urge passage of this bill, which, as
                                            21⁄2 minutes to the gentleman from New                  lican Congressional Committee. We are                  we mentioned, includes a lot of other
                                            Mexico (Mr. LUJÁN). Again, I thank                     of different parties and sort of different             bills as well and makes up an impor-
                                            him for all that he has done as our As-                 regions, in a way; we are both west-                   tant package dealing with fraud and
                                            sistant Speaker and all that he has                     erners. But once again, we are working                 scams.
                                            done for our Indian Tribes.                             together for the American people, and                    Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
                                               Mr. LUJÁN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud                  we do a lot of that around here. Espe-                 of my time.
                                            to support the Fraud and Scam Reduc-                    cially on the Committee on Energy and                    The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
                                            tion Act, which includes my bipartisan                  Commerce, we have a fine record of                     question is on the motion offered by
                                            Protecting Indian Tribes from Scams                     working things out. We have 16 of these                the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
                                            Act that I introduced alongside Rep-                    bipartisan things on the floor today,                  PALLONE) that the House suspend the
                                            resentative GIANFORTE, to address the                   and I just wish our constituents saw                   rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2610, as
                                            rise of scams during this deadly pan-                   more of this.                                          amended.
                                            demic.                                                    Mr. Speaker, I wish the gentleman                      The question was taken; and (two-
                                               As our Nation grieves the loss of                    from New Mexico well in his endeavors                  thirds being in the affirmative) the
                                            more than 247,000 Americans to COVID–                   across the Capitol. He will bring a                    rules were suspended and the bill, as
                                            19, and millions of families experience                 breath of fresh air over there, and I                  amended, was passed.
                                            financial hardship, it is nothing short                 know his commitment to his State and                     The title of the bill was amended so
                                            of reprehensible that scammers are                      all who reside in it.                                  as to read: ‘‘A bill to establish an office
                                            preying on the most vulnerable                            I hope our paths do continue to cross                within the Federal Trade Commission
                                            amongst us.                                             in some manner. I have enjoyed serving                 and an outside advisory group to pre-
                                               Fraud reports to the Federal Trade                   with the gentleman from New Mexico.                    vent fraud targeting seniors and to di-
                                            Commission, which had been steady at                      Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of                rect the Commission to study and sub-
                                            770,000 per quarter over the past 4                     my time.                                               mit a report to Congress on scams tar-
                                            years, jumped to 1.1 million this sum-                    Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, may I                      geting seniors and Indian tribes, and
                                            mer, including an increase of 144 per-                  inquire how much time I have remain-                   for other purposes.’’.
                                            cent coinciding with the pandemic.                      ing.                                                     A motion to reconsider was laid on
                                            That demonstrates why we must come                        The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen-                    the table.
                                            together to protect Americans against                   tleman from New Jersey has 8 minutes                                     f
                                            fraud and theft.                                        remaining.
                                               Nationwide, predatory schemes have                     Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2                    COMBATING PANDEMIC SCAMS
                                            already cost Americans over $1.5 bil-                   minutes to the gentlewoman from Illi-                                ACT OF 2020
                                            lion in stolen assets so far in 2020.                   nois (Ms. KELLY), who is a member of                     Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move
                                            Scammers have targeted the $1,200 eco-                  our committee.                                         to suspend the rules and pass the bill
                                            nomic impact payments, peddled false                      Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker,                  (H.R. 6435) to direct the Federal Trade
                                            treatments for COVID–19, and at-                        since the start of the COVID–19 pan-                   Commission to develop and dissemi-
                                            tempted to sell defective personal pro-                 demic, we have seen an increase in                     nate information to the public about
                                            tective equipment at a time when the                    scams targeting older Americans.                       scams related to COVID–19, and for
                                            fears and confusion over COVID–19 re-                   These scammers promise everything                      other purposes, as amended.
                                            main high.                                              from COVID cures and take-home test-                     The Clerk read the title of the bill.
                                               These scams have put elders’, mili-                  ing kits to insurance and stimulus                       The text of the bill is as follows:
                                            tary servicemembers’, and families’                     funds.                                                                     H.R. 6435
                                            health and finances at risk, and it is                    That is why I urge my colleagues to                    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
                                            time for Congress to put an end to the                  support H.R. 2610, the Fraud and Scam                  resentatives of the United States of America in
                                            despicable practice. This bipartisan ef-                Reduction Act. This bill, championed                   Congress assembled,
                                            fort will help Congress take additional                 by my friend, Representative LISA                      SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
                                            measures to tackle this threat and bet-                 BLUNT ROCHESTER, includes my bill and                   This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combating
                                            ter understand the scale of this crisis.                Representative MARSHALL’s bill, the                    Pandemic Scams Act of 2020’’.
                                               As COVID–19 cases and hospitaliza-                   Protecting Seniors from Emergency                      SEC. 2. INFORMATION ABOUT SCAMS RELATED
                                                                                                                                                                      TO COVID–19.
                                            tions rise in New Mexico and across the                 Scams Act. This bipartisan legislation
                                            Nation, I will continue working, on a                   ensures that the FTC makes available                     (a) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—
                                                                                                                                                             (1) IN GENERAL.—As expeditiously as pos-
                                            bipartisan basis, to provide additional                 resources for older Americans about                    sible after the date of the enactment of this
                                            relief and alleviate the financial pres-                the type and number of scams tar-                      Act, the Commission, in consultation with
                                            sures that all New Mexicans are facing.                 geting their region. It also requires an               the Attorney General, the Secretary of
                                               Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to                 FTC report to Congress on that infor-                  Health and Human Services, the Postmaster
                                            support this legislation to protect our                 mation so we can prevent seniors from                  General, the Chief Postal Inspector, and the
                                            communities against scams and fraud.                    falling victim to scams during future                  Internet Crime Complaint Center, shall de-
                                               I thank the chairman for his work. I                 pandemics.                                             velop and disseminate information to the




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                                            thank Chairwoman SCHAKOWSKY for                           While we may be closer to a vaccine,                 public about scams related to the novel
                                                                                                                                                           coronavirus (COVID-19).
                                            her work. And I thank Chairman and                      this will likely only increase the num-
                                                                                                                                                             (2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out para-
                                            current Ranking Member GREG WAL-                        ber of these diabolical scams. Let’s arm               graph (1), the Commission shall—
                                            DEN for his work, his commitment to                     older Americans with the right infor-                    (A) include—
                                            his constituents, his service to the peo-               mation to prevent themselves from                        (i) information regarding mail, tele-
                                            ple of America.                                         falling victim. Let’s make locally spe-                marketing, and internet fraud and illegal




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                                            H5832                                             CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                   November 17, 2020
                                            robocalls related to COVID-19 that identifies           ongoing national emergency for per-                    deceptive scams. The bill directs the
                                            the most common scams; and                              sonal gain. Whether phishing for stim-                 Federal Trade Commission to prioritize
                                               (ii) information regarding where and how             ulus checks or fundraising for fake                    informing the most vulnerable among
                                            to report instances of scams related to
                                                                                                    charities, scammers are exploiting                     us about mail, telemarketing, and
                                            COVID-19, including instructions on how to
                                            file a complaint with the appropriate law en-           Americans already struggling finan-                    internet scams, all related to COVID–
                                            forcement agency;                                       cially and diverting resources away                    19.
                                               (B) disseminate information under such               from where they could provide des-                       Importantly, the bill would provide
                                            paragraph in a manner that prioritizes, and             perately needed help.                                  Americans with the tools they need to
                                            that is easily accessible by and user-friendly            One new scam that has emerged dur-                   educate and protect themselves against
                                            to, senior citizens and people with infir-              ing the COVID–19 pandemic is the con-                  these very scams. This legislation will
                                            mities and disabilities;                                tact tracing scam. This scam, which in-                be even more important as we work to-
                                               (C) disseminate information under such
                                                                                                    volves fraudsters posing as contact                    gether to ensure that the COVID vac-
                                            paragraph on an internet website of the
                                            Commission that serves as a source of infor-            tracers from public health depart-                     cine is delivered in a safe and timely
                                            mation for the public about scams related to            ments, is exacerbating the public                      fashion.
                                            COVID-19; and                                           health crisis by undermining one of the                  Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see H.R.
                                               (D) regularly update the information de-             most effective tools we have to keep                   6435 under consideration today. I urge
                                            veloped and disseminated under such para-               communities safe.                                      all of my colleagues to support this
                                            graph to keep pace with the changing nature               Instead of documenting the spread of                 bill, and I reserve the balance of my
                                            of scams related to COVID-19.                           the virus or alerting those who might                  time.
                                               (b) DATABASE.—As expeditiously as pos-                                                                        Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2
                                                                                                    have been exposed, these scammers are
                                            sible after the date of the enactment of this
                                            Act, the Commission shall, in consultation              only interested in duping Americans                    minutes to the gentlewoman from New
                                            with State law enforcement agencies, the Di-            into turning over sensitive personal in-               Hampshire (Ms. KUSTER), the sponsor
                                            rector of the Bureau of Consumer Financial              formation or downloading malicious                     of the bill.
                                            Protection, the Attorney General, the Sec-              software on their device.                                Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr.
                                            retary of Health and Human Services, and                  H.R. 6435 will establish a comprehen-                Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6435,
                                            other relevant Federal officials, establish a           sive national database of scams related                the Combating Pandemic Scams Act of
                                            comprehensive national database, either                 to COVID–19 so that the public can dif-                2020.
                                            within or separate from the Consumer Sen-               ferentiate the real contact tracers from                 Mr. Speaker, I was proud to help in-
                                            tinel Network, that tracks instances of
                                                                                                    the imposters and learn how to identify                troduce this bipartisan bill with my
                                            scams related to COVID-19.
                                               (c) COMMISSION DEFINED.—In this section,             other scams on their own. It will also                 colleague BUDDY CARTER in April, and I
                                            the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal               require the Federal Trade Commission                   appreciate the support of our col-
                                            Trade Commission.                                       to inform the public about mail, tele-                 leagues on the Republican side of the
                                            SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EF-                  marketing, and internet scams related                  aisle. I would like to take a moment to
                                                      FECTS.                                        to COVID–19, including how to report                   commend BUDDY for his leadership on
                                              The budgetary effects of this Act, for the            such scams to the appropriate agency.                  this important topic.
                                            purpose of complying with the Statutory                   Mr. Speaker, as the pandemic con-                      During these challenging times for
                                            Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be deter-
                                                                                                    tinues, we will continue to see more                   our country, I have constantly been
                                            mined by reference to the latest statement
                                            titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legisla-            scams unfold, unfortunately. But this                  impressed by Americans’ commitment
                                            tion’’ for this Act, submitted for printing in          bill will make sure that the American                  to helping their neighbors pull through
                                            the Congressional Record by the Chairman of             public is regularly updated about                      this crisis. Sadly, where many see an
                                            the House Budget Committee, provided that               scams so they can protect themselves                   opportunity to lend a helping hand,
                                            such statement has been submitted prior to              and their loved ones.                                  others see a chance to make a quick
                                            the vote on passage.                                      Mr. Speaker, this is an important                    buck.
                                              The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-                       bill. It is going to protect consumers                   Scammers have posed as medical re-
                                            ant to the rule, the gentleman from                     during this pandemic, and I call on all                searchers, offering opportunities to
                                            New Jersey (Mr. PALLONE) and the gen-                   of my colleagues to support it.                        participate in clinical trials. They have
                                            tleman from Oregon (Mr. WALDEN) each                      Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of                attempted to sell nonexistent PPE.
                                            will control 20 minutes.                                my time.                                               They have even tried to trick seniors
                                              The Chair recognizes the gentleman                      Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield                     into buying fake COVID–19 test kits.
                                            from New Jersey.                                        myself such time as I may consume.                     These shameful acts must not only be
                                                             GENERAL LEAVE                            Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R.               condemned, but Congress must take ac-
                                              Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask                       6435, the Combating Pandemic Scams                     tion to crack down on these scams and
                                            unanimous consent that all Members                      Act of 2020. I thank Representative                    inform the American people of these
                                            may have 5 legislative days in which to                 BUDDY CARTER from Georgia, along                       devious efforts.
                                            revise and extend their remarks and in-                 with Representatives KUSTER, BLUNT                       Our bipartisan legislation will help
                                            clude extraneous material on H.R. 6435.                 ROCHESTER, and HUDSON, for their work                  stop COVID scams by directing Federal
                                              The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there                     and their leadership on, again, another                agencies and departments to inform
                                            objection to the request of the gen-                    bipartisan piece of legislation.                       Americans      about    these    criminal
                                            tleman from New Jersey?                                   As we all know, we are in the midst                  schemes so they can stay alert and
                                              There was no objection.                               of this horrible pandemic. COVID–19                    keep themselves safe. By aggregating
                                              Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield                     has forced millions of Americans to                    data and providing the public with in-
                                            myself such time as I may consume.                      isolate and rely on the internet to                    formation on mail, telemarketing, and
                                              Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in sup-                  work, learn, receive healthcare, stay                  robocall fraud schemes, Americans can
                                            port of H.R. 6435, the Combating Pan-                   connected to loved ones, and so much                   defend themselves and their families.
                                            demic Scams Act. This bipartisan bill                   more. Unfortunately, bad actors come                     Mr. Speaker, this bill is an important
                                            was introduced by Representatives                       out of the gutters wherever they live to               step forward, and I urge my colleagues
                                            CARTER, KUSTER, HUDSON, and BLUNT                       seek to exploit times of crisis and tar-               to support it.
                                            ROCHESTER. I thank them for intro-                      get our most vulnerable.                                 Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5
                                            ducing this measure to help stem the                      During this pandemic, we have seen                   minutes to the gentleman from Geor-
                                            tide of scams and fraud during the                      scammers attempt to exploit consumer                   gia (Mr. CARTER), the coauthor of the
                                            COVID–19 pandemic.                                      fear and confusion by falsely promising                bill who has been very active on many
                                              In July, the Committee on Energy                      additional stimulus checks, illegit-                   of these pieces of legislation.




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                                            and Commerce Subcommittee on Con-                       imate lifesaving medications, and fake                   Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speak-
                                            sumer Protection and Commerce held a                    avenues to save businesses or pay em-                  er, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
                                            hearing on increased risks during the                   ployees—all scams.                                       Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my
                                            COVID–19 pandemic. During that hear-                      H.R. 6435 aims to protect Americans,                 legislation, H.R. 6435, because of the
                                            ing, we heard about all the ways                        especially senior citizens and people                  positive impact it will have on the
                                            scammers are taking advantage of the                    with disabilities, from malicious and                  American people.



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                                            November 17, 2020                                 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                                       H5833
                                              It has been no surprise that we have                    The FTC will also create a com-                      the duration of the COVID–19 public health
                                            seen a rise in fraud and criminal activ-                prehensive national database that                      emergency, the Consumer Product Safety Com-
                                            ity as the Nation grapples with the                     tracks the COVID–19 scams in con-                      mission shall submit to the Committee on Energy
                                                                                                                                                           and Commerce of the House of Representatives
                                            pandemic response. In these difficult                   sultation with the Attorney General
                                                                                                                                                           and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
                                            times, scammers have sought to take                     and the HHS Secretary. This database                   Transportation of the Senate, and make pub-
                                            advantage of our fellow Americans.                      will protect American consumers from                   licly available, a report on the effect of the
                                            Whether it is elderly individuals being                 malicious scams. Consumers will be                     COVID–19 public health emergency on injuries
                                            preyed upon by financial scammers or                    armed with information about the pan-                  and deaths from consumer products.
                                            people ordering fake health products,                   demic scams and how to avoid those                        (b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report shall
                                            there has been a number of scams fac-                   scams. So we must act now to prevent                   include the following:
                                            ing our constituents.                                   further harm to American consumers.                       (1) Relevant data and statistics from—
                                                                                                                                                              (A) the data sources of the Commission;
                                              That is why I introduced the Com-                       Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank                        (B) other appropriate agencies;
                                            bating Pandemic Scams Act with my                       our colleagues on both sides of the                       (C) media reports;
                                            good friend, Congresswoman KUSTER,                      aisle for their work on this legislation.                 (D) poison control centers, to the extent prac-
                                            to address this issue.                                  I urge its passage, and I yield back the               tical; and
                                              This bill would direct the FTC, along                 balance of my time.                                       (E) any other relevant data sources.
                                            with other Federal partners, to dis-                      Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also                        (2) An identification of trends in injuries and
                                            seminate information about these                        urge support for the bill, and I yield                 deaths from consumer products, comparing data
                                            scams to the public to better protect                   back the balance of my time.                           from representative time periods before and dur-
                                                                                                                                                           ing the COVID–19 public health emergency.
                                            themselves. That information would be                     The SPEAKER pro tempore. The                            (3) An identification of subpopulations that
                                            user-friendly, ensuring vulnerable pop-                 question is on the motion offered by                   have experienced elevated risk of injury or
                                            ulations, such as senior citizens and                   the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.                     death from consumer products during the
                                            those with disabilities, would have the                 PALLONE) that the House suspend the                    COVID–19 public health emergency, such as mi-
                                            same amount of access. Ensuring peo-                    rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6435, as                 norities, infants, people with disabilities, chil-
                                            ple have the most up-to-date informa-                   amended.                                               dren, or the elderly.
                                            tion on how to protect themselves is                      The question was taken; and (two-                       (4) An identification of where most injuries or
                                                                                                    thirds being in the affirmative) the                   deaths from consumer products during the
                                            critical to getting through these trying
                                                                                                                                                           COVID–19 public health emergency are taking
                                            times.                                                  rules were suspended and the bill, as                  place, such as the type of building or outdoor
                                              Federal agencies, such as the FTC,                    amended, was passed.                                   environment.
                                            have been very active in going after                      A motion to reconsider was laid on                      (5) A specification about whether consumer
                                            these offenders who have targeted                       the table.                                             products associated with a substantial number
                                            Americans during this pandemic. This                                      f                                    of injuries or deaths during the COVID–19 pub-
                                            bill will support those Federal efforts                                                                        lic health emergency are—
                                                                                                       PANDEMIC EFFECTS ON HOME                               (A) under recall;
                                            and help prepare Americans to help
                                                                                                        SAFETY AND TOURISM ACT                                (B) subject to a voluntary consumer product
                                            protect themselves from these scams.
                                                                                                      Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move                     safety standard; or
                                              The bottom line is, this is common-                                                                             (C) subject to a mandatory consumer product
                                            sense legislation to go after the people                to suspend the rules and pass the bill                 safety standard.
                                            preying on our neighbors and commu-                     (H.R. 8121) to require the Consumer                       (6) An identification of emerging consumer
                                            nities.                                                 Product Safety Commission to study                     products that are posing new risks to con-
                                              Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues                    the effect of the COVID–19 pandemic on                 sumers.
                                            for their bipartisan support of this leg-               injuries and deaths associated with                       (c) COVID–19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
                                            islation and the committee staff for                    consumer products, and for other pur-                  DEFINED.—The term ‘‘COVID–19 public health
                                                                                                    poses, as amended.                                     emergency’’ means a public health emergency
                                            their work on getting this across the
                                                                                                      The Clerk read the title of the bill.                declared pursuant to section 319 of the Public
                                            finish line.                                                                                                   Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) as a result of
                                              Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to                    The text of the bill is as follows:                  confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus
                                            pass this legislation.                                                      H.R. 8121                          (COVID–19), including any renewal thereof.
                                                              b 1445                                  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-          TITLE II—PROTECTING TOURISM IN THE
                                                                                                    resentatives of the United States of America in                        UNITED STATES
                                              Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3                   Congress assembled,
                                                                                                                                                           SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
                                            minutes to the gentlewoman from Illi-                   SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
                                                                                                                                                            This title may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting
                                            nois (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY), the chair of the                   (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as            Tourism in the United States Act’’.
                                            subcommittee.                                           the ‘‘Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and
                                                                                                                                                           SEC. 202. STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTS OF
                                              Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker,                          Tourism Act’’.                                                     COVID–19 PANDEMIC ON TRAVEL
                                            here we have another great bipartisan                     (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con-                         AND TOURISM INDUSTRY IN UNITED
                                            bill that has come out of the com-                      tents for this Act is as follows:                                  STATES.
                                                                                                    Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.                  (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after
                                            mittee I am so proud to chair, the Con-
                                            sumer Protection and Commerce Sub-                            TITLE I—COVID-19 HOME SAFETY                     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary,
                                                                                                    Sec. 101. Short title.                                 in consultation with the United States Travel
                                            committee of the Energy and Com-                                                                               and Tourism Advisory Board and the head of
                                            merce Committee. I thank the authors                    Sec. 102. Study and report on the effect of the
                                                                                                                   COVID–19 public health emer-            any other Federal agency the Secretary con-
                                            of the legislation: Representatives CAR-                               gency on injuries and deaths from       siders appropriate, shall complete a study on the
                                            TER, HUDSON, KUSTER, and BLUNT ROCH-                                   consumer products.                      effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel
                                            ESTER.                                                                                                         and tourism industry, including various seg-
                                                                                                      TITLE II—PROTECTING TOURISM IN THE
                                              The COVID–19 pandemic has been a                                                                             ments of the travel and tourism industry, such
                                                                                                                    UNITED STATES
                                            time of confusion and fear for many                                                                            as domestic, international, leisure, business,
                                                                                                    Sec. 201. Short title.                                 conventions, meetings, and events.
                                            Americans, and scammers have no-                        Sec. 202. Study and report on effects of COVID–          (b) MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In con-
                                            ticed. Fraudsters have tried to steal                                  19 pandemic on travel and tourism       ducting the study required by subsection (a) and
                                            stimulus checks and trick consumers                                    industry in United States.              the interim study required by subsection (e)(1),
                                            with fake medical treatments and even                         TITLE I—COVID-19 HOME SAFETY                     the Secretary shall consider—
                                            vaccines. Seniors and those with dis-                   SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.                                   (1) changes in employment rates in the travel
                                            abilities are especially vulnerable.                     This title may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19             and tourism industry during the pandemic pe-
                                              This legislation will protect Amer-                   Home Safety Act’’.                                     riod;
                                            ican consumers, especially our most                     SEC. 102. STUDY AND REPORT ON THE EFFECT OF
                                                                                                                                                             (2) changes in revenues of businesses in the




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                                            vulnerable, by increasing public aware-                              THE   COVID–19 PUBLIC  HEALTH             travel and tourism industry during the pan-
                                                                                                                 EMERGENCY ON INJURIES AND                 demic period;
                                            ness of COVID–19 scams. It directs the
                                                                                                                 DEATHS FROM CONSUMER PROD-                  (3) changes in employment and sales in indus-
                                            Federal Trade Commission to develop                                  UCTS.                                     tries related to the travel and tourism industry,
                                            and disseminate information to the                        (a) COVID-19 REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later              and changes in contributions of the travel and
                                            public about scams related to COVID–                    than 3 months after the date of enactment of           tourism industry to such related industries, dur-
                                            19.                                                     this section and every 3 months thereafter for         ing the pandemic period;




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