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HR-2978House2026-06-24Crime and Law Enforcement

GUARD Act

YourVoice.Now Summary

Criminal Justice & Due ProcessTransparency & Accountability

Police could use grants they already get to chase elder scams — and trace stolen crypto.

Criminal Justice & Due Process

Local police work on scam cases — existing grants, no new money

Five Justice Department grant programs could pay for these cases. That covers elder fraud, “pig butchering,” and other money scams. The bill adds no new funds, so these uses would compete with what the grants pay for now.

Federal help tracing crypto payments — for police, fusion centers

Federal agencies could show local and Tribal police how to use blockchain tracing tools. Fusion centers — state hubs where local, state, and federal police share tips — could get the same help.

Transparency & Accountability

Yearly reporting on anti-fraud grant spending — sent to Congress

A department that spends this money would report back within a year. It would list the amount, the purpose, and local fraud numbers. The agency that gave the grant sends that to two committees each year.

First national estimate of scam losses — due within two years

Treasury and its financial crimes unit would estimate how many people lose money to scams. They would also report how much was lost. The report lists what nine agencies spent fighting scams, from the FBI to Social Security.

Public comment on the scam study — consumers and companies invited

Before writing that report, Treasury would have to ask consumers what they have seen. Social media firms, email providers, phone companies, and banks would be asked too.

More about this bill

Local police could put federal grant money they already get toward chasing scams that target older people. That includes “pig butchering” — a slow con that ends with the victim's crypto gone. Departments could hire analysts, buy tracing software, and train officers to help victims. The bill adds no new money, so those dollars would come out of existing grants. Federal agents could also help local police trace crypto payments. That help would reach fusion centers, where state and federal police share tips. Within two years, the Treasury Department would owe Congress a first national report on scam losses. It would count victims, dollars lost, and what nine federal agencies spent fighting scams. Anyone could send in comments before that report is written.

Congressional Summary

Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act of 2026 or the GUARD Act of 2026This bill allows state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and grantees that receive funds from certain law enforcement grant programs to use the funds to investigate general financial fraud, elder financial fraud, and pig butchering. Pig butchering refers to a confidence and investment fraud in which a victim is gradually lured into transferring increasing amounts of money, generally in the form of cryptocurrency, into a fake virtual investment. The bill allows federal law enforcement agencies to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and fusion centers in the use of tracing tools for blockchain and related technology tools.Finally, the bill requires the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to report on efforts to combat general financial fraud, elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and scams, including an evaluation of any legislative recommendations to improve the efforts. The bill also requires FinCEN to report on the state of general financial fraud, elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and scams in the United States, including trends in the crimes.

Legislative Subjects

Advanced technology and technological innovationsCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEmployee hiringEmployment and training programsFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsLaw enforcement administration and funding

Details

Congress
119th
Chamber
House
Status
summarized
Action
Reported to House
Action Date
2026-06-24
Date Added
2026-07-22
Source
Congress.gov →

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