banks experienced $212 billion in suspicious activity related to
identity. That number increased to $394 billion in transactions in
2023.

  The statute of limitations for prosecuting many of these pandemic
crimes is 5 years, meaning that consequences began expiring for some of
these criminals in March of 2025. This has already resulted in the loss
of hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds. We have to act
now, before we lose these millions of dollars.
  Congress has to be united in going after fraud and protecting
Americans from illegal scams and identity theft. We have an opportunity
to take that action today by supporting H.R. 8873, Recover COVID
Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act.
  This bill would extend the statute of limitations for the remaining
cases, where it hasn't already expired, and create a task force to
support recovery of those funds identified by the inspector general
that can be recovered cost-effectively, without diverting time or money
from future fraud protection.
  Every time a debit card that was issued using a stolen identity is
detected, in addition to recovering the money, this bill ensures that
the victim of the theft is notified and provided with resources.
  This is critically important because, if the criminal has used the
victim's identity to apply for pandemic unemployment insurance, chances
are that that criminal is going to use that stolen identity to commit
other crimes as well.
  By extending the statute of limitations, this bill would allow the
Office of the Inspector General to complete at least 300 current
investigations into large-scale unemployment insurance fraud and
potentially recover those funds for the taxpayer.
  By supporting this bill, Congress can help States focus their energy
on the most cost-effective prevention and recovery efforts. Money
recovered by the States will help ensure that State unemployment
insurance systems are able to prevent fraud and pay earned benefits on
time and accurately to unemployed Americans in the future.

                              {time}  1440

  This is especially important right now. Gas prices are too high.
Grocery prices are too high. Healthcare prices are too high, and too
many Americans live in fear of losing their jobs and being unable to
afford their families' basic needs.
  We have a responsibility to eradicate fraud, hold fraudsters
accountable, and keep Americans and their identities safe from harm
online.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Representative Van Duyne for
sponsoring this commonsense bill, and I urge all Members to support
this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).
  Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8873, the
Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act, which I was proud to
introduce with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi), my bipartisan
partner.
  This commonsense legislation creates a Federal task force to work
with States to recover unspent Federal pandemic unemployment funds that
remain frozen in financial institutions and return those taxpayer
dollars to the U.S. Treasury, but Congress must act quickly.
  Last December, the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General
issued two fraud alerts identifying nearly $1 billion in unspent
Federal unemployment funds frozen by banks because of suspected fraud.
Those funds are now sitting on millions of prepaid debit cards that
States used to distribute supplemental unemployment benefits during the
pandemic.
  More than 6 years later, many of these accounts have simply been
forgotten. They remain unreconciled by State workforce agencies and, in
many cases, have even been transferred to State unclaimed property
divisions, making recovery even that much more difficult. Without
congressional action, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars could be
lost permanently.
  The Committee on Ways and Means has made combating pandemic
unemployment fraud a top priority. Earlier this year, the Subcommittee
on Work and Welfare held a hearing that examined the scope of this
problem and the consequences of failing to act.
  During that hearing, the Department of Labor Inspector General
testified that the fraud alerts covered prepaid debit card accounts
across 21 States and that more than $200 million in suspected
fraudulent funds have already been transferred into State unclaimed
property programs.
  H.R. 8873 addresses this problem by establishing a Federal task
force, led by a national recovery coordinator, to partner with States
in identifying, recovering, and returning those Federal unemployment
dollars to taxpayers.
  The bill also extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting
pandemic unemployment fraud from 5 years to 10 years. This provision
mirrors H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act,
which passed the House last year with bipartisan support.
  Federal investigators are still actively pursuing hundreds of
pandemic fraud cases. Since October 2025 alone, the Department of Labor
Inspector General has brought 59 criminal matters to prosecution,
resulting in charges against 131 individuals and more than $16 million
in recoveries. Extending the statute of limitations ensures prosecutors
have the time they need to hold fraudsters accountable.
  This legislation has earned bipartisan support from the National
Association of State Workforce Agencies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and Strategic Services on
Unemployment & Workers' Compensation.
  Every dollar stolen through fraud is a dollar that cannot serve
hardworking Americans or reduce our Nation's debt. It is not too late
to recover these taxpayer funds, and it is not too late to hold
criminals accountable. H.R. 8873 gives us the tools to do both.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan
legislation.
  Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am
prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  H.R. 8873, the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act, is a
commonsense bill that helps eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse; recovers
stolen taxpayer dollars; and protects some of our most vulnerable
citizens, including older Americans.
  At a time when too many families face the uncertainty of
unemployment, high gas and grocery prices, and seniors are forced to
choose between food, rent, and healthcare, we can't allow fraudsters to
get away with stealing funds meant to help hardworking families.
  We have a responsibility to root out fraud, hold bad actors
accountable, and protect Americans and their identities from being
exploited ever again.
  I again thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne), my
colleague, for working in a bipartisan and collaborative fashion on
this commonsense legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this
bipartisan bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Committee on Ways and Means was able to
come together in bipartisan unity and bring this important piece of
legislation to the floor.
  The American people expect Congress to root out the fraud in the
critical social safety net so many rely on, including unemployment
insurance.
  To date, only $6 billion of stolen UI benefits have been recovered.
  It is shameful that these benefits were stolen from vulnerable
Americans in the first place. It will be equally shameful if Congress
doesn't pass the bipartisan bill, recover the fraudulent unemployment
benefits we know are sitting in banks, and prosecute more fraudsters.
  I thank all of my colleagues, but especially the leaders of this
bill, Representatives Van Duyne and Suozzi, for their leadership in
fighting fraud.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 8873, as amended.