Following Senator Collins' Advocacy, Provision to Combat IRS Scams Passes Senate

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, authored a provision in the fiscal year (FY) 2019 Appropriations Minibus commending the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s (TIGTA) work to combat IRS scams and urging TIGTA to continue to prioritize this work to pursue fraudsters. 

“As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, one of my top priorities is preventing fraud and scams targeting older Americans, who lose nearly $3 billion a year to financial exploitation,” said Senator Collins.  “My provision recognizes the extraordinary work TIGTA has done to combat fraud and abuse schemes that are plaguing Americans, and it encourages the inspector general to continue its efforts to raise awareness and put a stop to these criminals.”

Senator Collins has championed efforts in Congress to crack down on fraudsters who target Americans, particularly seniors.  She has chaired numerous hearings on the most prevalent scams, and her Committee maintains a Fraud Hotline (1-855-303-9470) that is staffed by experienced investigators.

Earlier this year, the Senior $afe Act, a bipartisan bill Senator Collins authored with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), was  signed into law.  The legislation will provide support to regulators, financial institutions, and legal organizations to educate their employees about how to identify and prevent financial exploitation.

The FY19 Appropriations Minibus recently passed the Senate by an overwhelming majority of 85 to 15 and will now be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.