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'Edith's Bill:' Lawmakers push for bill named after local woman in next COVID-19 relief package

Posted at 6:04 AM, Aug 13, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-13 07:04:15-04

WAUKESHA — This week, Senator Tammy Baldwin's team sent a news release to media detailing the progress and support behind the Edith Shorougian Senior Victims of Fraud Compensation Act, also known as "Edith's Bill," named after Edith Shorougian of Waukesha County.

She and her then-husband lost more than $80,000 in a financial scheme with their long-time financial advisor.

"Edith's Bill" would help seniors recoup the money they lost in financial scams by allowing states to pay back victims of financial fraud.

In 2019, the I-Team met with Senator Baldwin as she was drafting the legislation.

Senator Baldwin, along with Senator Lindsey Graham, is leading the bipartisan effort to have the bill included in the next COVID-19 relief package.

Here's part of a letter they wrote to Senate leadership:

"Scammers view the pandemic as an opportunity to exploit anxiety over this public health crisis and particularly target seniors who are physically separated from their support networks. We need to protect seniors who are especially vulnerable to fraud and abuse by bad actors, and protect the retirement savings they worked so hard over a lifetime to build."

Click here to read the entire letter.

Attorney General Josh Kaul, along with more than 40 Attorneys General across the country, is also calling for the passage of the legislation.

Shorougian's longtime financial advisor, Chris Kubiak, was convicted and sentenced to prison last year.

The Shorougian family recently told TMJ4 News the IRS intercepted Kubiak's tax return and is paying it out to his victims.

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