I call this hearing of the Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to order.

Thank you.

Senator Wicker, if you'd like to make an opening statement, that would be great with the Subcommittee.

I think we'll have a robust discussion about that as we do our FTC reauthorization over the next several months.

It's great to have you here today, and thank you.

Clearly, consumers are at risk of being swindled during this time, and they absolutely cannot afford to be bilked out of their savings and make disastrous financial decisions due to deceptive practices and fraud.

I think now is the time, more than any, that we have to make sure we're enforcing these laws because people are really suffering out there, and predators prey on them when there's not enough money to go around.

I encourage your committee to consider any additional enforcement measures at the Federal level to make people using these fraudulent tactics think twice.

Senator Nelson, do you have an opening statement?

From your experience, how is that coordination going between various Federal and State agencies?

Well, it sounds like we have an honest disagreement here, and we're not going to solve it today. But, I really do appreciate your input.