H.R. 1156
Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act
Sponsor: Jason Smith
25 cosponsors
- Aaron Bean
- Adrian Smith
- Beth Van Duyne
- Blake D. Moore
- Brian K. Fitzpatrick
- Carol D. Miller
- Claudia Tenney
- Darin LaHood
- David Kustoff
- David Schweikert
- Gregory F. Murphy
- Jodey C. Arrington
- Kevin Hern
- Lloyd Smucker
- Max L. Miller
- Michelle Fischbach
- Mike Carey
- Mike Kelly
- Nathaniel Moran
- Nicole Malliotakis
- Randy Feenstra
- Ron Estes
- Rudy Yakym III
- Vern Buchanan
- W. Gregory Steube
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act
This bill extends from 5 to 10 years the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges or civil enforcement actions for fraud related to several unemployment insurance programs that were established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The extension applies to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. The bill extends the statute of limitations for (1) criminal charges related to fraud, including aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit fraud; and (2) civil actions involving false claims. However, the bill does not apply to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the applicable statute of limitations expired before the date of the bill's enactment.
Additionally, the bill rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the Department of Labor for anti-fraud and program integrity activities.