Representatives Tran, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand No-Cost Legal Assistance for Seniors

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Tran (D-CA-45) introduced bipartisan legislation alongside Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08) to expand access to free, professional legal assistance for seniors, all without leaving their home.

The Senior Legal Hotline Act would create a grant program to support organizations that operate senior legal hotlines, which provide older adults with no-cost legal information, advice, and referrals on topics ranging from finances and scam prevention to health, disability, and guardianship. The legislation would ensure that hotlines tailored to seniors' unique legal needs are appropriately staffed and have the technology and resources necessary to connect seniors with critical legal support.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

"Older Americans work their whole lives to care for their families and save for retirement. Elder abuse, including financial scams and caregiver neglect, can wipe out the security that seniors have built for themselves over decades," said Representative Tran. "Senior legal hotlines are a critical tool to prevent such abuses and provide support to older adults who need help when they are targeted by scammers and other dishonest actors. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan legislation and ensure that our government provides the support that our seniors deserve."

"Too many seniors are forced to navigate a confusing legal landscape without a dependable place to start. The Senior Legal Hotline Act fixes that by establishing a single, trusted entry point where older adults can get timely guidance from trained professionals before a problem becomes a crisis. In our PA-1 community, we've seen how access to clear information can stop scams in their tracks and protect a senior's financial stability and independence. This bipartisan bill replaces guesswork with accountability and ensures that when our seniors reach out for help, someone qualified is always on the other end of the line," said Representative Fitzpatrick.

According toThe Elder Justice Roadmap, funded by the Department of Justice, elder abuse impacts approximately 10% of Americans over the age of 60. Elder abuse can include physical abuse, financial scams, caregiver neglect, psychological, and/or sexual abuse. In 2022, victims over 60 were reported to lose more money to call center scams than all other age groups combined. Victims of financial scams reported emptying retirement accounts, remortgaging homes, or borrowing from family and friends to cover losses.

The Senior Legal Hotline Act would authorize the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Community Living to create a competitive grant program to support organizations that operate senior legal hotlines. Specifically, the legislation:

• Ensures older adults are provided access to statewide hotlines staffed with appropriately trained attorneys, paralegals, and other staff members.

• Ensures older adults are provided access to a robust network of support and referral services, including from aging organizations, other legal aid agencies, and private attorneys providing pro bono legal services.

• Allows hotlines to employ a variety of technologies, such as video conference systems, web-based platforms, or e-mail, to deliver legal assistance to older adults.

• Authorizes $10 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 for these purposes.

This bill is supported by six original co-sponsors in the U.S. House, including Delegates Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL), as well as Representatives Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05).

This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the American Bar Association, Elder Justice Coalition, National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), National Association of Senior Legal Hotlines (NALSH), Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, and Community Legal Aid SoCal.

Before being elected to Congress, Representative Tran was a consumer protection attorney. He is continuing his work to protect individuals in Congress, including supporting our community's older citizens with resources and access to the services they need to thrive. Tran is a cosponsor of H.R. 1667, the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act, and a signatory on letters supporting the maintenance of telephone assistance for Social Security recipients and protecting funding for programs that support seniors at risk of homelessness.

"NASLH strongly supports Representative Tran's Senior Legal Hotlines Act. In states where they exist, senior legal hotlines and helplines provide critical access to legal assistance, helping older adults protect their rights. These services resolve issues related to housing, Medicare, and Medicaid, and address elder abuse and exploitation, including scams. Representative Tran's bill would not only strengthen existing hotlines but also ensure that, in every state, justice is just a phone call away for older adults," said Jill K. Randall, co-chair of the National Association of Senior Legal Hotlines.

"A statewide Senior Legal Hotline would be a game-changer for older adults in California. In Orange County alone, nearly 63,000 seniors live at or below the federal poverty level, and thousands face multiple civil legal problems every year-issues that can threaten their housing, health, and financial security. While Community Legal Aid SoCal closed more than 3,600 cases for seniors last year, we know that represents only a small fraction of the lowest-income seniors that needed legal assistance. The reality is that most low-income seniors still go without the legal help they desperately need. A statewide hotline will fill this critical gap in the legal services infrastructure and promote dignity, autonomy, and justice for every older Californian," said Kate Marr, Executive Director, Community Legal Aid SoCal.

"The Elder Justice Coalition is pleased to endorse the Senior Legal Hotline Act and commend Representatives Tran and Fitzpatrick on their timely introduction. In an increasingly complex world, having access to reliable information provided by senior legal hotlines is invaluable. Grants of this kind are investments into peace of mind for older adults when they need it most, " said Bob Blancato, National Coordinator, Elder Justice Coalition.

"Too often our elders are targeted by scammers. Over half of AANHPI elders do not speak English well, so they could be especially vulnerable to scammers who target them in their native language. NAPCA is glad to support the Senior Legal Hotline Act so that our elders can have a strong network of resources to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams and schemes, including those in languages other than English," said Clayton Fong, President and CEO, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA).

"Too many older adults face legal crises alone," said Yvonne Mariajimenez, President and CEO, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County. "A statewide hotline would give seniors a clear, accessible path to help, protecting their housing, health, and dignity."

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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.