Millions of seniors across the country, including many in Eastern Washington, have been the target of predatory financial scams that have successfully stolen more than $1 billion in retirement savings from some of the most vulnerable in our community.

The good news is that Congress took action this week to combat this deplorable practice by passing the Empowering States to Protect Seniors from Bad Actors Act. This bill will provide $10 million annually to support state-led investigation and prosecution of scammers and help educate seniors on how they can protect themselves from financial fraud. 

The bottom line is that our seniors should be enjoying their retirement with their family and friends — not worrying about whether someone is preying on their nest egg. My hope is that this legislation will put the necessary protections in place to give seniors the peace of mind they deserve.