WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 5490 · 119th Congress

Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act

IntroducedInternational Affairs
IntroducedSep 18, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, Dec 3, 2025: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0. It would change 0 sections of existing law and would add 9 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 5490 doesn't change any existing section of law. It would create 9 new provisions of its own. Read from the bill text as introduced in the House (Sep 18, 2025).

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 2 Findings
  • Sec. 3 Statement of policy
  • Sec. 4 Task Force
  • Sec. 5 Elements of comprehensive strategy
  • Sec. 6 Annual report to Congress
  • Sec. 7 Imposition of sanctions
  • Sec. 8 Programs to support victims of forced criminality
  • Sec. 9 Authorization of appropriations
  • Sec. 10 Definitions
What the words would change: every change, in place (0)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

    From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

    What it does

    Sourced

    Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act

    This bill requires the President to (1) impose applicable sanctions on foreign persons (individuals or entities) responsible for online financial scams against U.S. nationals, and (2) establish an interagency task force to shut down the criminal syndicates perpetuating such scams.

    Under the bill, the President must determine whether 43 specified foreign persons, and any other foreign persons the President determines are responsible for or complicit in online financial scams against U.S. nationals, are subject to sanctions under specified laws and Executive Order 13581. Upon such determination, the President must impose applicable sanctions (for example, blocking the sanctioned person's property transactions within the United States).

    The President must also establish an interagency task force to shut down transnational criminal syndicates that use large scam centers and forced labor of trafficked persons to perpetuate mass online scams against Americans. The task force must (1) submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress to combat these scam centers and dismantle the criminal elements involved with them, and (2) coordinate and oversee implementation of the strategy. Within 360 days of submitting the strategy to Congress and annually thereafter for five years the task force must submit to Congress a report addressing various topics related to such scam centers including a list of all foreign persons sanctioned by the United States for their scam center involvement.

    The Department of State is authorized to provide trauma-informed care, shelter, reintegration, and support services for victims of trafficking in persons within online scam centers.

    Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Sep 18, 2025).

    Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

    What has happened

    Sourced
    1. Sep 18, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

    Show all 6 recorded actions

    Cosponsors

    • Gabe Amo D-RI-1
    • Mark E. Amodei R-NV-2
    • Michael Baumgartner R-WA-5
    • Sheri Biggs R-SC-3
    • Gus M. Bilirakis R-FL-12
    • Mike Bost R-IL-12
    • André Carson D-IN-7
    • Joaquin Castro D-TX-20
    • Ben Cline R-VA-6
    • Warren Davidson R-OH-8
    • Donald G. Davis D-NC-1
    • Troy Downing R-MT-2
    Show 61 more cosponsors
    • Brian K. Fitzpatrick R-PA-1
    • Vince Fong R-CA-20
    • Russell Fry R-SC-7
    • Laura Gillen D-NY-4
    • Craig A. Goldman R-TX-12
    • Josh Gottheimer D-NJ-5
    • Josh Harder D-CA-9
    • Mike Haridopolos R-FL-8
    • Bill Huizenga R-MI-4
    • Jonathan L. Jackson D-IL-1
    • Sydney Kamlager-Dove D-CA-37
    • Thomas H. Kean, Jr. R-NJ-7
    • Timothy M. Kennedy D-NY-26
    • Young Kim R-CA-40
    • Raja Krishnamoorthi D-IL-8
    • Darin LaHood R-IL-16
    • George Latimer D-NY-16
    • Michael Lawler R-NY-17
    • Susie Lee D-NV-3
    • Frank D. Lucas R-OK-3
    • Ryan Mackenzie R-PA-7
    • Sarah McBride D-DE-At Large
    • Kristen McDonald Rivet D-MI-8
    • Addison P. McDowell R-NC-6
    • James P. McGovern D-MA-2
    • Mark B. Messmer R-IN-8
    • Daniel Meuser R-PA-9
    • Max L. Miller R-OH-7
    • John R. Moolenaar R-MI-2
    • Tim Moore R-NC-14
    • Nathaniel Moran R-TX-1
    • Seth Moulton D-MA-6
    • James C. Moylan R-GU-At Large
    • Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
    • Johnny Olszewski, Jr. D-MD-2
    • August Pfluger R-TX-11
    • Ayanna Pressley D-MA-7
    • Josh Riley D-NY-19
    • Michael A. Rulli R-OH-6
    • John H. Rutherford R-FL-5
    • Janice D. Schakowsky D-IL-9
    • Brad Sherman D-CA-32
    • Christopher H. Smith R-NJ-4
    • Pete Stauber R-MN-8
    • Elise M. Stefanik R-NY-21
    • Bryan Steil R-WI-1
    • Thomas R. Suozzi D-NY-3
    • Shri Thanedar D-MI-13
    • Derek Tran D-CA-45
    • David G. Valadao R-CA-22
    • Jefferson Van Drew R-NJ-2
    • Matt Van Epps R-TN-7
    • Derrick Van Orden R-WI-3
    • Eugene Simon Vindman D-VA-7
    • Ann Wagner R-MO-2
    • Debbie Wasserman Schultz D-FL-25
    • George Whitesides D-CA-27
    • Roger Williams R-TX-25
    • Joe Wilson R-SC-2
    • Robert J. Wittman R-VA-1
    • Rudy Yakym III R-IN-2