Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
ID: S001229
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.
December 2, 2025
Introduced
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the geniuses in Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act (HR 5490) claims to target transnational criminal syndicates perpetuating online scams against Americans, specifically the "pig butchering" scams that have allegedly robbed thousands of their life savings. How noble. The real purpose, of course, is to create a new bureaucracy, expand government powers, and provide a platform for politicians to grandstand about fighting cybercrime.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill establishes an interagency Task Force, led by the Secretary of State, to "dismantle and shut down" these scam syndicates. Because, you know, creating another task force is always the solution to complex problems. The Task Force will develop a comprehensive strategy, coordinate with various agencies, and share information. Wow, how original. The bill also authorizes the intelligence community to provide support, because who doesn't love a good surveillance state?
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: the Department of State, Justice, Homeland Security, Treasury, and various regulatory agencies. Oh, and let's not forget the "stakeholder organizations" that will be consulted quarterly, because their expertise in combatting online scams is undoubtedly invaluable. Meanwhile, the real stakeholders – the American people – will continue to be scammed, because this bill does nothing to address the root causes of these scams or provide meaningful protections.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** The impact will be negligible, except for the expansion of government powers and the creation of new bureaucratic positions. The bill's proponents claim it will "disrupt and dismantle" transnational criminal entities, but we all know how well that's worked in the past (see: War on Drugs, War on Terror). In reality, this bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, designed to appease voters and provide a talking point for politicians. The scammers will adapt, the victims will continue to be victimized, and the government will continue to pretend it's doing something about it.
In conclusion, HR 5490 is a textbook example of legislative placebo effect: it looks good on paper, sounds good in press releases, but ultimately accomplishes nothing meaningful. It's a cynical attempt to exploit public concern about online scams for political gain, while ignoring the underlying issues and perpetuating the same failed policies that have allowed these scams to thrive. Bravo, Congress. You've done it again.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No organization contributions found
No committee contributions found
Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
ID: M001194
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
ID: R000619
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]
ID: H001058
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
ID: S001201
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]
ID: Y000067
Top Contributors
10
Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]
ID: M001240
Top Contributors
10
Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
ID: M001219
Top Contributors
0
No contribution data available
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
ID: G000583
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
ID: V000138
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
ID: R000622
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 37 nodes and 35 connections
Total contributions: $129,887
Top Donors - Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount