Bass’ Anti-Fraud Bill Passes House
By Daniel Remin
WASHINGTON — A bill introduced by Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., to prevent fraud, scams and deceptions against Americans during declared national disasters and emergencies passed the House late Wednesday.
The American Spirit Fraud Prevention Act would double civil penalties for crimes relating to deception of the public during emergencies and disasters that have been declared by the President.
Under Bass’ bill, an “emergency period” would start the day the President declares a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act.
“I think it is very important that we don’t allow con artists and scam people to feel that it’s business as usual in times of national emergency,” Bass said yesterday.
The bill, which passed, 422-1, also would instruct courts to fine those who violate the act.
“I think it’s very effective,” Bass said. “All there needs to be is one incident and the country will know that double damages or double fines can be very significant.”
Bass’ legislation would amend the Federal Trade Commission Act, which deals with unfair competition and antitrust enforcement, by giving the FTC authority to increase civil punishments for those who exploit the public during national emergencies.
The FTC Act would be amended to state that any person, partnership or corporation found guilty under the bill’s provisions could be fined up to $22,000.
Bass first introduced the legislation in the last Congress, where it passed the House but saw no action in the Senate.
The bill was introduced after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
(Daniel Remin is an intern with the Boston University Washington News Service.)
Published in The Manchester Union Leader, in New Hampshire.
