Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

Bill: 119-hr-1156
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smith, Jason [R-MO-8]
Introduced: 2025-02-10
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Infectious and parasitic diseases

State and local finance

Unemployment
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-13
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-10
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act</strong></p><p>This bill extends from 5 to 10 years the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges or civil enforcement actions for fraud&nbsp;related to several&nbsp;unemployment insurance programs that were established during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp; </p><p>The extension applies to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment&nbsp;Compensation, Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.</p><p>Additionally, the bill rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021&nbsp;to the Department of Labor  for anti-fraud and program integrity activities. &nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 29 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1156 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 12, 2025 Received; read the first time March 13, 2025 Read the second time and placed on the calendar AN ACT To amend the CARES Act to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain unemployment programs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . 2. Extension of the statute of limitations for fraud by individuals under certain unemployment programs (a) Pandemic unemployment assistance Section 2102 of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9021 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection: (h) Statute of Limitations (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to paragraph (2), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by pandemic unemployment assistance under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . (b) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment compensation Section 2104(f) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023(f) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Statute of Limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . (c) Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation Section 2107(e) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9025(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Statute of Limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . 3. Budget offset Out of the unobligated balances of amounts made available by section 2118(a) of title II of division A of Public Law 116–136 , as added by section 9032 of Public Law 117–2 , $5,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 4. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives March 11, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

March 13, 2025 Read the second time and placed on the calendar

tv_txt: IB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1156 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the CARES Act to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain unemployment programs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . 2. Extension of the statute of limitations for fraud by individuals under certain unemployment programs (a) Pandemic unemployment assistance Section 2102 of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9021 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection: (h) Statute of Limitations (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to paragraph (2), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by pandemic unemployment assistance under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . (b) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment compensation Section 2104(f) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023(f) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Statute of Limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . (c) Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation Section 2107(e) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9025(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Statute of Limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . 3. Budget offset Out of the unobligated balances of amounts made available by section 2118(a) of title II of division A of Public Law 116–136 , as added by section 9032 of Public Law 117–2 , $5,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 4. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives March 11, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 2 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1156 [Report No. 119–6] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 10, 2025 Mr. Smith of Missouri (for himself, Mr. LaHood , Mr. Yakym , Mr. Bean of Florida , Mr. Moran , Ms. Van Duyne , Mr. Feenstra , Mr. Carey , Mr. Miller of Ohio , Mr. Steube , Mr. Buchanan , Ms. Tenney , Mr. Smith of Nebraska , Mrs. Miller of West Virginia , Mr. Smucker , Mr. Kustoff , Ms. Malliotakis , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Moore of Utah , Mr. Estes , Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania , Mr. Hern of Oklahoma , Mr. Arrington , Mr. Fitzpatrick , Mrs. Fischbach , and Mr. Schweikert ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means February 25, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 10, 2025 A BILL To amend the CARES Act to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain unemployment programs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . 2. Extension of the statute of limitations for fraud by individuals under certain unemployment programs (a) Pandemic unemployment assistance Section 2102 of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9021 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection: (h) Statute of Limitations (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to paragraph (2), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by pandemic unemployment assistance under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . (b) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment compensation Section 2104(f) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023(f) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Statute of Limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . (c) Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation Section 2107(e) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9025(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Statute of Limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . 3. Budget offset Out of the unobligated balances of amounts made available by section 2118(a) of title II of division A of Public Law 116–136 , as added by section 9032 of Public Law 117–2 , $5,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 4. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

February 25, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1156 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 10, 2025 Mr. Smith of Missouri (for himself, Mr. LaHood , Mr. Yakym , Mr. Bean of Florida , Mr. Moran , Ms. Van Duyne , Mr. Feenstra , Mr. Carey , Mr. Miller of Ohio , Mr. Steube , Mr. Buchanan , Ms. Tenney , Mr. Smith of Nebraska , Mrs. Miller of West Virginia , Mr. Smucker , Mr. Kustoff , Ms. Malliotakis , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Moore of Utah , Mr. Estes , Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania , Mr. Hern of Oklahoma , Mr. Arrington , Mr. Fitzpatrick , Mrs. Fischbach , and Mr. Schweikert ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend the CARES Act to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain unemployment programs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . 2. Extension of the statute of limitations for fraud by individuals under certain unemployment programs (a) Pandemic unemployment assistance Section 2102 of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9021 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection: (h) Statute of Limitations (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to paragraph (2), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by pandemic unemployment assistance under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . (b) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment compensation Section 2104(f) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023(f) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Statute of Limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . (c) Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation Section 2107(e) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9025(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Statute of Limitations (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act . . 3. Budget offset Out of the unobligated balances of amounts made available by section 2118(a) of title II of division A of Public Law 116–136 , as added by section 9032 of Public Law 117–2 , $5,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 4. Effective date This amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.