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March 26, 2002
HARMAN HOSTS THIRD SENIOR FORUM ON
HOMELAND SECURITY AND FRAUD
-- Highlights Increase in Fraud Targeting Seniors in
the Wake of Sept. 11th--
TORRANCE - Joined by officials from the F.B.I., Federal Trade
Committee, and the U.S. Postal Service, Congresswoman Harman hosted a
meeting with senior citizens on ways to safeguard against Medicare, identity
theft, and telemarketing fraud. Harman convened a similar meeting at the
Torrance Cultural Arts Center last month.
"Many unscrupulous individuals are taking advantage of the outpouring
of sympathy after September 11th through fraudulent charities, or preying
on people's fears by advertising false preventive measures against bioterrorism,"
said Harman, the Ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Subcommittee
on Terrorism and Homeland Security.
"I am working with numerous organizations and federal agencies -
many of them present today - to educate Americans, particularly senior
citizens, about the dangers of telemarketing and consumer fraud."
Harman also spoke about homeland security and efforts she is making to
identify the necessary resources to protect Southern California residents.
"One of the most important issues I am working on is to make sure
all of our first responders are able to communicate effectively to one
another in the event of a wide-spread emergency."
Harman recently secured $1 million in federal funds to help LA County
develop an "interoperable" radio communications system that
all law enforcement agencies can use during emergencies.
Harman said she has called on the Bush administration and her Congressional
colleagues to develop a new "war time" budget that provides
the money needed to fund the war on terrorism and improvements for our
homeland security without raiding the Social Security and Medicare trust
funds.
"As the year progresses, it is important to avoid going back into
deficit spending. After funding the war against terrorism, everything
else must be on the table - other spending proposals and the scheduled
tax cuts. If we do not work out a new budget, we risk threatening both
the Medicare and Social Security trust funds."
Representatives from the Torrance police department, K.E.E.P-S.A.F.E.
Coalition and the Financial Services Task Force, also joined Harman
at the Salvation Army in Torrance.
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