[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6770 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6770
To direct the Commander of the United States Cyber Command to submit to
Congress a report regarding recommended actions in cyberspace to defend
the United States against transnational organized crime networks linked
to the Chinese Communist Party that operate digital scams.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 16, 2025
Mr. Vindman (for himself and Mr. Finstad) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Commander of the United States Cyber Command to submit to
Congress a report regarding recommended actions in cyberspace to defend
the United States against transnational organized crime networks linked
to the Chinese Communist Party that operate digital scams.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Scam Defense Strategy Act''.
SEC. 2. TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME NETWORKS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) According to estimates from the United States
Institutes of Peace, China-linked transnational organized crime
groups that operate ``fraud farms'' in Southeast Asia steal
nearly $43,800,000,000 annually through digital scams.
(2) Such scams increasingly affect Americans and
disproportionately target vulnerable populations such as the
elderly and socially isolated.
(3) According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2024
alone--
(A) 246,783 scam text messages were reported,
resulting in $469,000,000 in losses to Americans;
(B) 371,664 scam emails were reported, resulting in
$502,000,000 in losses to Americans; and
(C) 284,651 scam phone calls were reported,
resulting in $948,000,000 in losses to Americans.
(4) Transnational organized crime groups maintain
documented ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese
officials and state-owned enterprises have provided direct
support for the construction and operation of facilities linked
to transnational organized crime, raising serious concerns
about a coordinated campaign of foreign interference and
sabotage.
(5) The involvement of the Chinese Communist Party in
transnational organized crime networks presents an urgent
national security threat. These networks funnel financial
assets and sensitive personal information of United States
citizens to a hostile foreign power, undermining American
economic security and individual privacy.
(6) Such transnational organized crime networks have deeply
imbedded themselves into Southeast Asian economies, exerting
destabilizing influence across the region.
(7) Proceeds from scams operated by these transnational
crime networks are used to fund warlords and ongoing civil
conflicts, compounding regional instability.
(8) Transnational organized crime networks have trafficked
an estimated 300,000 individuals into cyber scam operations
across Southeast Asia. Victims, including United States
citizens, are forced to work under conditions that the U.S.-
China Economic and Security Review Commission compares to
modern slavery. The United Nations has warned that human
trafficking tied to these scam centers has reached the level of
a humanitarian and human rights crisis.
(9) The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review has
acknowledged credible reports linking scam facilities in the
Philippines to Chinese espionage activity. These facilities are
being constructed near air bases strategically important to
United States operations, including Clark Air Base and Basa Air
Base, a key site under the Enhanced Defense Cooperative
Agreement. Philippine intelligence has provided compelling
evidence that these compounds have been used for surveillance
and cyber intrusions.
(10) The Chinese government has used the presence of
Chinese transnational organized crime networks in Southeast
Asia to pressure regional governments to allow a greater role
for Chinese security forces, which threatens national
sovereignty and regional stability.
(11) Transnational organized crime networks endanger
American defense priorities as well as democracy, good
governance, and stability worldwide by co-opting local elites,
undermining law enforcement, weakening state authority, and
threatening the strategic interests of the United States in
building a free and open Indo-Pacific.
(12) An effective response by the United States Government
will require a coordinated, whole-of-government effort drawing
on the competencies of Federal agencies in information
collection, financial enforcement, diplomatic engagement,
defense and intelligence preparedness, and law enforcement.
(b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commander of the United States Cyber Command
shall submit to Congress a report regarding recommended actions for the
Secretary of Defense to take in cyberspace to defend the United States
and United States citizens, assets, and interests against transnational
organized crime networks linked to the Chinese Communist Party that
operate digital scams.
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