Medical Research News
There are no records to display that match the provided criteria.
Sens. Moran, Van Hollen Lead Colleagues in Probing Fed on Efforts to Prevent Real Estate Wire Fraud
Jul 31 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) – both members of the Senate Committee on Banking – today led a bipartisan group of 33 senators in questioning Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on what efforts the Federal Reserve has underway to limit fraud and verify payee matching on wire payments. There is an increasing problem of wire fraud through business e-mail compromise and e-mail account compromise in the United States and this serious issue continues to put Americans – especially homebuyers – at risk of sending large payments to the wrong accounts with no recourse for getting that money back.
“We write to you concerning the increasing problem of wire fraud through business e-mail compromise (BEC) and e-mail account compromise (EAC) in the U.S.,” the senators wrote. “This method of fraud poses great risks to our constituents, specifically homebuyers. Confidence in our payment system’s ability to safely transfer large sums of money is an incredibly important part of the home buying process. We are concerned that the Federal Reserve’s policies on wire fraud lack the urgency of the problem . . . Given the rapidly increasing seriousness of the issue, we are interested in what efforts the Federal Reserve has underway to limit fraud and verify payee matching on wire payments.”
“We applaud Senators Moran and Van Hollen, along with the other senators, for their letter to Chairman Powell asking for information about the work the Federal Reserve is doing to protect consumers and the wire system from fraud,” said American Land Title Association CEO Diane Tomb. “Thieves use sophisticated fraud schemes to steal money when people are buying or selling homes and we must maintain confidence in our electronic payment system, which is the fastest and safest way to transfer money.”
Full text of the letter can be found here and below.
The Honorable Jerome Powell
Chairman
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20551
Dear Chairman Powell:
We write to you concerning the increasing problem of wire fraud through business e-mail compromise (BEC) and e-mail account compromise (EAC) in the U.S. This method of fraud poses great risks to our constituents, specifically homebuyers. Confidence in our payment system’s ability to safely transfer large sums of money is an incredibly important part of the home buying process.
We are concerned that the Federal Reserve’s policies on wire fraud lack the urgency of the problem. The Federal Reserve’s report last fall, “Changes in U.S. Payments Fraud from 2012 to 2016: Evidence from the Federal Reserve Payments Study,” does not even mention the issue of wire fraud. While other countries, like the United Kingdom, have taken proactive roles in preventing wire fraud, especially for real estate transactions, the Fed’s only other substantive effort to date appears to be the Secure Payments Task Force’s announcement to create and publish “recommended fraud definitions.”
Last summer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a public service announcement titled, “Business E-mail Compromise the 12 Billion Dollar Scam.” The FBI reported that from 2015 to 2017 there was an 1100% increase in the number of real estate related e-mail compromise scams reported to the FBI. Of these scams, the amount of funds lost increased nearly 2200%. In fiscal year 2017 alone, the FBI reported that $969 million was “diverted or attempted to be diverted” from real estate purchases to “criminally controlled” accounts, an incredible increase from $19 million in 2016.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have also taken steps to raise awareness of this issue, issuing warnings to consumers on the dangers of wire fraud while urging consumers to “Protect Your Mortgage Closing from Scammers” and “Watch out for Mortgage Closing Scams.”
Given the rapidly increasing seriousness of the issue, we are interested in what efforts the Federal Reserve has underway to limit fraud and verify payee matching on wire payments.?
We would appreciate your response to the following:
- 1. What is the Federal Reserve doing to address criminal exploitation of weaknesses in the U.S. wire system to trick unsuspecting consumers into sending payments to the wrong financial account?
- 2. Is the Federal Reserve coordinating with federal agencies on addressing wire fraud?
- 3. How is the Federal Reserve working with financial institutions to decrease this type of wire fraud?
- 4. Has the Federal Reserve considered payee matching requirements when a wire transfer is initiated?
- 5. Does the Federal Reserve have sufficient authority to institute these protections for the U.S. wire system and the Federal Reserve’s Fed Wire system? If not, what authorities are needed to institute these protections?
- 6. Can the wire system’s current technology accommodate payee verification? If not, is there a reason payee verification was not included in the Federal Reserve's evaluation of the future of the payments system?
Respectfully,
# # #
Sen. Moran Introduces Allergy Testing Access Act of 2019
Legislation would expand access and coverage of allergy testing; improve outcomes for seniors and children in rural populations
Jul 31 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies – introduced the Allergy Testing Access Act of 2019, legislation that would expand access to allergy testing and ensure the proper diagnoses of allergies for patients, including the elderly, young children and individuals in rural communities.
“Too many Americans are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to how we diagnose and treat dangerous allergies,” said Sen. Moran. “Regardless of your age or where you live, folks ought to have equal access to allergy testing to ensure a proper diagnosis and treatment – and to avoid a potentially life-threating situation. This legislation creates fairness in the coverage and accessibility of these tests, and I urge my colleagues to pass this sensible measure.”
“The National Medical Association offers our strong support for this legislation that would remove Medicare and Medicaid coverage barriers that prevent many individuals from having coverage and access to safe and accurate allergy blood testing, and would improve health outcomes for Americans suffering from asthma and other serious and life-threatening allergic diseases,” said Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Subsection of the National Medical Association Chairperson Michael A. Lenoir, MD.
Allergic diseases are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, with more than 50 million Americans living with allergy symptoms, carrying an associated cost of over $18 billion per year.
Inconsistencies remain in Medicare and Medicaid coverage of allergy testing that both reduce access and increase overall costs. Peer-reviewed literature from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established the accuracy of both blood tests (in vitro specific IgE) and skin tests (percutaneous) as confirmatory tests for allergies. Despite this, many local Medicare and Medicaid coverage policies deny equal coverage and access to blood-based allergy tests. Currently, access is limited to areas in which a local coverage determination has been made by the Medicare Administrative Contractor to expand access to blood testing. Areas where equal coverage has been introduced have witnessed a reduction in overall costs per beneficiary without disruption of services, while retaining similar skin to blood test usage ratios.
Inequities in access to allergy tests which are safe and accurate only serve to proliferate negative health outcomes and alienate populations in rural settings that may not have access to a specialist. There is an unnecessary financial burden associated with healthcare disparities resultant from a lack of equal access to allergy testing coverage.
The Allergy Testing Access Act of 2019 addresses these inequalities by expanding access and ensuring proper diagnosis of allergies for patients – including the elderly and young children – in rural communities. This legislation will remove barriers which inhibit patient access to safe and accurate allergy tests, thereby empowering patients with personal healthcare information that can help them live healthy, productive lives.
Items to note:
# # #
Sens. Moran, Blumenthal Introduce Sweeping U.S. Olympic Committee Reform Legislation, Following 18-Month Investigation into Systemic Abuse
“We will get this bill across the finish line . . . for all future athletes, so that they may be able to participate in the sport they love without fear of abuse”
Jul 30 2019
WASHINGTON – Just one year out from the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) – chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the health and safety of U.S. Olympic and amateur athletes – today introduced sweeping legislation to reform the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee in response to findings of systemic abuse within the U.S. Olympic movement.
The bipartisan Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2019 is the culmination of an 18-month investigation conducted jointly by Sens. Moran and Blumenthal, which included four subcommittee hearings, interviews with Olympic athletes and survivors, and the retrieval of over 70,000 pages of documents. Click here to read the senators’ full investigative report, findings and recommendations; here for a one-page summary of the bill; and here for full bill text.
“We are introducing the Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act today to empower and protect Olympic and amateur athletes through three key reforms,” the senators said. “First and foremost, our legislation will implement requirements to promote a culture where athletes and their best interests are put first. Second, it will ensure greater transparency and accountability throughout the amateur sports movement, and, third, it will fortify the independence and capabilities of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the body responsible for investigating allegations of sexual abuse against athletes and coaches.”
“We have been incredibly moved by the courage of the survivors of abuse who have shared their stories with us and the world,” the senators continued. “Neither this legislation nor the ongoing, necessary cultural shift within the Olympic movement could have happened without their guidance and leadership. We draw motivation from their unwavering commitment to work with us to prevent the abuse of any young athlete in the future and we thank them for putting their trust in us. We will get this bill across the finish line – for them, and for all future athletes, so that they may be able to participate in the sport they love without fear of abuse.”
“On behalf of all members of Team USA, I thank Senators Moran and Blumenthal and the members of their subcommittee for listening to the voices of survivors and taking bold action to hold the US Olympic Committee accountable for their failure to protect athletes from physical, emotional and sexual abuse,” said Gymnast and Olympic Gold Medalist Jordyn Wieber. “Stronger oversight by Congress and a truly independent Center for SafeSport is necessary to restore public confidence in our Olympic organizations and protect the health and safety of athletes who strive to represent the highest values of our Nation.”
“Olympic athletes dream of standing on the podium and listening to our national anthem,” said McKayla Maroney, member of the American Women’s Gymnastics team, dubbed the Fierce Five at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she won a gold medal in the team and an individual silver medal in the vault event. “We have the right to expect that our United States Olympic Committee will protect all athletes, especially children. This bill recognizes that USOC failed us and put child athletes at risk. Congress should pass this bill as soon as possible and hold the leadership of USOC accountable for their failures.”
“This bill sends a message from Congress to our athletes: We care about you. You have a voice. Speak up and you will be believed,” said 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist Jamie Dantzscher. “It also sends a message to the leadership of the US Olympic Committee and the national governing bodies: Put the health and safety of athletes above money and medals or you will be held accountable.”
The bipartisan Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2019:
- Empowers athletes by giving them a seat at the decision-making table, and significantly increases athlete representation on governing boards, committees and panels within NGBs and the USOPC to help identify problematic policies and practices faster, while prioritizing athlete-centric solutions;
- Bolsters resources for the U.S. Center for SafeSport while ensuring its independence from the USOPC and the NGBs;
- Requires relevant SafeSport training, so athletes know how to identify abuse, and so adults know how to prevent it;
- Strengthens and codifies reporting mandates for adults with knowledge of any allegation of child abuse of an amateur athlete;
- Protects individuals who report emotional, physical, or sexual abuse of an athlete from retaliation within the Olympic movement;
- Promotes safety by requiring NGBs to enforce SafeSport sanctions and directing SafeSport to maintain a public list of all barred coaches and individuals;
- Bolsters USOC auditing and reporting requirements, so that Congress can better provide regular oversight; and
- Establishes legislative mechanisms by which Congress can dissolve the Board of the U.S. Olympic Committee and decertify NGBs.
The Moran-Blumenthal Investigation & Legislation:
- Click here to read the senators’ full investigative report, findings and recommendations.
- Click here to read full bill text.
- Click here to read a one-page summary of the bill.
- Click here to read a section-by-section summary of the bill.
# # #
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense – today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed General Mark A. Milley as the United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
“I am pleased that the Senate today confirmed General Milley as our nation’s highest-ranking military officer. As the principal military adviser to the president, General Milley will bring fortitude and a vast array of experience and knowledge to decisions made at the highest level. I have hosted General Milley in Kansas to see our military installations and visit our troops and their families a number of times. I am confident he understands the world-class capabilities of these installations and the communities that surround them. I’m honored to call General Milley a friend and I look forward to continuing our partnership to bolster our national security and support those who fight for our freedom.”
# # #
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – today announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority a $1,737,825 grant for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses – including acquisition, construction and leasing of required supporting facilities such as recharging, refueling and maintenance facilities.
“Topeka Metro has worked in close collaboration with the private sector to make the charging and operating of an electric fleet a reality in Northeast Kansas,” said Sen. Moran. “I am pleased to have helped secure this USDOT grant to complement these efforts, which will help Topeka MTA update its fleet with low- and zero-emission transit buses and help advance our capital city’s quality of transportation amenities. Affordability of local transit is vital to Kansas’ economy, and I will continue working with local leaders to build on this progress.”
“Topeka Metro appreciates the federal endorsement of our plans to move effectively in the future,” said Topeka Metro Board Chairman Jim Ogle. “We will immediately begin to explore the possibilities.”
Items to Note:
- Sen. Moran wrote a letter of support for this grant in May.
# # #
Sen. Moran Introduces NTSB Nominee and Wichita Native Michael Graham to Senate Commerce Committee
Moran: “I look forward to his testimony today with real expectations that he will impress my colleagues as much as he impresses me”
Jul 24 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – today introduced Wichita native Michael Graham, nominee to be a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), to the Commerce Committee ahead of his confirmation hearing.
Click Here to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Questioning
Remarks as delivered:
“Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I’m proud to introduce Michael Graham to this committee. As a Kansan, he has been nominated to the National Transportation Safety Board.
“Michael Graham, for the last three decades, has committed his life to service and aviation safety. He was a Naval Aviator and a flight instructor, and now in his capacity as the Director of Flight Operations Safety, Security, and Standardization for Textron Aviation.
“As a Naval Aviator, Mr. Graham advanced from Ensign to Lieutenant Commander, flew more than 1,800 flight hours. He has flown multiple deployments, including piloting the F/A-18 Hornet in operation Desert Storm.
“Mr. Graham also spent time as a Division Leader, leading Combat Air Patrol missions over Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch. After his deployment, he took on a new role as a flight instructor for all phases of student training in flying the F/A-18.
“Following his distinguished military service, Mr. Graham continued his dedication to a career in-flight safety. First at Boeing/McDonnell Douglas as an F/A-18 aircrew instructor and avionics integration engineer, and eventually as Director of Flight Operations Safety, Security, and Standardization for Textron, where he’s now worked for over 20 years. In this capacity, he is responsible for the safe and secure operations of all domestic and international flights conducted in support of the company.
“Finally, Mr. Graham serves in multiple capacities throughout the aviation industry. He’s the head of the National Business Aviation Association’s Safety Committee Single-Pilot Safety Working Group, is a member of the General Aviation Information Analysis Team of the Aviation Safety Information Analysis & Sharing program, and is chair of the Air Charter Safety Foundation.
“He has a long and decorated career in service and safety, and I’m honored that he has been nominated, and I look forward to his testimony today with real expectation that he will impress my colleagues as much as he impresses me.
“Mr. Graham, I thank you for your service to our country and your willingness to continue that effort.”
Click here to watch the full questioning.
# # #
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense – today released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Mark T. Esper as United States Secretary of Defense:
“It is imperative that the United States have a Senate-confirmed Secretary of Defense in place to guide our national defense strategy. I have worked closely with Secretary Esper in his previous role as Secretary of the Army, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I remain committed to making certain that we provide Secretary Esper and our Armed Services the resources and capabilities they need to continue safeguarding our freedoms.”
# # #
