GOP Introduces Bill to Recover Billions in Stolen Unemployment Benefits

House Republicans iFriday’s legislation was introduced to recover billions in stolen money related to unemployment benefits.

H.R. 1163, Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment fraud Act, would incentivize state investigations and recovery of lost funds, as well as fight and prevent future unemployment. fraudIncrease the penalties for fraudsters. During the COVID-19 pandemic fraud, up to $400 billion in unemployment benefits could have been lost. According to The U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means.

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“At a time when Americans were suffering from government lockdowns, hundreds of billions were being stolen from those in need,” Jason Smith, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee (R-MO) “Yet the Biden administration has ignored the rampant identity theft and fraud that’s left these people devastated. It has kept itself and the American people in the dark about the size and scope of unemployment fraud that was stolen during COVID. House Republicans are now turning on the lights after raising the alarm about this greatest theft of tax dollars in American history.”

To assist states in recovering these stolen items FondsThe Way & Means Committee This legislation was passed. It contains several solutions to the problem of stolen unemployment insurance.

State incentives to collect fraudulent unemployment payments

Under this new legislation, states would be allowed to keep 25% of all recovered fraudulent overpayments of federal funds. Recovered funds would be available to the states to enhance the integrity and prevention of fraud.

Enhance program integrity to prevent future fraud.

States will also be permitted to retain 5% of the state unemployment insurance overpayments under this new legislation, provided that they match data on integrity and are used to prevent future fraud.

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Prolong the statute limit for fraud prosecution.

The statute of limitations for criminal and civil charges for prosecuting fraud has been extended from five to ten years. In response to a recommendation from the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the Ways and Means Committee has extended this charge to 10 Years.

“Pandemic unemployment fraud may be the greatest heist of American taxpayer dollars in history,” Rep. James Comer (R.KY). “Hundreds of billions of dollars were stolen by fraudsters, foreign adversaries, and international criminals. Not only is this gross mismanagement of taxpayer dollars, but it’s also a national security threat.”