UMVA has learned that Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody has introduced two groundbreaking bills aimed at protecting America's most vulnerable populations – children and seniors – from falling prey to scammers and fraudsters.
Sen. Moody, a seasoned fighter against fraud, has been driven by her experience as a former Attorney General, where she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of scams on innocent lives. Her determination to hold scammers accountable has only intensified as a Senator, and she's now taking bold action to close the gaps between state and federal law enforcement.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Sen. Moody's proposals come at a critical time when Washington is shifting its focus towards combating fraud in federal spending and public assistance programs. Her two bills – the Stop Child Scams Act and the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act – aim to strengthen safeguards against fraud in childcare programs and empower law enforcement to crack down on scammers targeting seniors.
The Stop Child Scams Act is a comprehensive measure that requires states to implement robust program integrity measures, submit corrective action plans if payment error rates exceed 5%, and increase federal monitoring of high-risk states. It also mandates that states detail their internal controls, fraud-investigation and recovery processes, and procedures to verify eligibility. Those convicted of childcare fraud would be permanently barred from participating in certain federal childcare programs.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Sen. Moody's second bill, the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, would help states establish elder justice task forces to coordinate investigations into financial exploitation, scams, and fraud targeting Americans aged 60 and older. This bill incentivizes states to go after fraudsters through federal grant money to establish task forces, which would work closely with state and local police departments, the FBI, and the Department of Justice.
The urgency of these bills is underscored by recent high-profile cases, including Minnesota's massive $250 million "Feeding Our Future" scheme, which has led to a wave of convictions in recent years. Federal agents have been investigating fake facilities allegedly taking federal money, and Sen. Moody's legislation aims to prevent such abuses of power.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Sen. Moody's efforts are part of a broader push to combat large-scale fraud cases and protect vulnerable citizens. Her bills have been crafted to address holes in current law that make it easier for bad actors to exploit programs and prey on the most vulnerable.
