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The House Passes Garcia’s and Spartz’s Elder Abuse Protection Act of 2021 With Bipartisan Support

June 23, 2021

Washington D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the bipartisan H.R.2922, The Elder Abuse Protection Act of 2021, introduced by Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (IN-05). The bill will ensure protections for elder Americans against abuse, fraud, and neglect.

The bipartisan bill contains provisions to make permanent the National Elder Fraud Hotline and require the Elder Justice Coordinator to consult with the Office of Tribal Justice and legal aid designees. The EAPA also directs the Attorney General to establish the Elder Justice Initiative to coordinate criminal enforcement and public engagement efforts to combat elder abuse.

"Protecting our seniors is critical. This was even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. I proudly sponsored this legislation because when I was a geriatric social worker, I saw firsthand the abuse our seniors face as consumers," saidCongresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29). "This bill will ensure that seniors of all backgrounds, including Latinos, are not targets of fraudulent crimes. I would like to especially thank the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for endorsing this bill. Their support has been instrumental in getting these critical protections through for millions of elderly Latinos who will benefit from this effort."

"I am very happy to see that the House can come together on an issue important to our seniors and pass bipartisan legislation. I am proud to co-lead this important initiative," said Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (IN-05).

The bill also directs the Department of Justice to publish its elder abuse resources online in both English and Spanish, reflecting the needs of the United States' rapidly growing elderly Latino population.

H.R. 2922 – The Elder Abuse Protection Act of 2021 will:

  • Make the Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) a permanent office within the Department of Justice by granting the Attorney General the discretion to place the EJI in whatever component in the Department the Attorney General sees fit.
  • Require the Elder Justice Coordinators to evaluate training models and best practices to create publicly available materials for local law enforcement and public officials tasked with investigating, interacting with victims of elder abuse, or addressing elder abuse.
  • Mandate that the Elder Justice Initiative maintain and publish information aimed at protecting elders from fraudulent schemes and include resources aimed at preventing elder abuse.
  • Require the Attorney General launch a national elder fraud telephone hotline, require the Elder Justice Coordinator make permanent consultations with the Office of Tribal Justice, as well as require the Elder Justice Coordinator consult on legal aid issues with whomever the Attorney General designates.
  • Require the Attorney General's Office to translate any online resources that the Elder Justice Initiative publishes into Spanish, and to post Spanish-language links that facilitate reporting of elder fraud and abuse to State and local law enforcement and help educate the public to prevent the financial exploitation of elders.

The bill has been endorsed by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, of which Congresswoman Garcia (TX-29) is a member, and was co-sponsored by Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Rep. David Cicilline (RI-01), Rep. David McKinley (WV-01), Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Del. Michael F.Q. San Nicolas (GU-At-Large), Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05), and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18).

The bill is also supported by the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Social Security Works, the Elder Justice Coalition, the National Council on Aging, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.