Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act: What It Does

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Introduced, doneFebruary 10, 2025
Committee, doneFebruary 10, 2025
Floor Vote, doneMarch 11, 2025
Outcome, current stage

How Congress Voted

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How Congress Voted

How Congress VotedOfficial Record

422members of the House voted

295 Yea, 127 Nay, 0 Present

10 Not Voting

Yea
Nay
Present
Not Voting

House votes by party
Party	Yea	Nay	Not Voting
Republican	212	0	6
Democrat	83	127	4
Total	295	127	10

Republican
Yea
212
Nay
0
Present
0
Not Voting
6
Democrat
Yea
83
Nay
127
Present
0
Not Voting
4

House roll call vote, March 11, 2025

What This Bill Does

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.

What Congress Said

Members who spoke about this bill on the floor, in their own words from the Congressional Record.

Republicans15 spoke

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
Michelle FischbachR-MN, House, March 11, 2025
The Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act is simple. It doubles the statute of limitations from 5 to 10 years so we can prosecute and recover hundreds of billions of stolen tax dollars.
Jason SmithR-MO, House, March 11, 2025
So here we are again. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who constantly always talk about the need to support a CR to ``keep the lights on'' now find themselves in the curious position of not wanting to have the lights on because they don't like what is happening.
Chip RoyR-TX, House, March 11, 2025

12 more speakers

My friend mentioned cutting Social Security. There is nothing about Social Security that is in this bill. My friend mentioned or I guess will mention cutting Medicaid. There is nothing about cutting Medicaid in here.
Ralph NormanR-SC, House, March 11, 2025
This bill will help crack down on this type of fraud and would extend the statute of limitations that law enforcement needs to pursue criminal charges or civil actions and also incentivizes States to help us crack down and recover these fraudulent payments, and it puts in checks and balances to stop future unemployment insurance payments from going to…
Nicole MalliotakisR-NY, House, March 11, 2025
If I can also say to my friend, he also knows this bill well. This is not about incidental actions that have happened through someone who accidentally filled out something or a State did something inappropriately. This bill is very clear. That is why it had such strong bipartisan support out of the House.
James LankfordR-OK, Senate, April 2, 2025
I rise in strong support of H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act. This bill extends the statute of limitations for CARES Act unemployment fraud from 5 to 10 years to provide law enforcement agencies with more time to go after the fraudsters and international criminal organizations.
Darin LaHoodR-IL, House, March 11, 2025
Unfortunately, the statute of limitations for prosecuting these fraudsters expires at the end of March. This bill would extend that deadline for another 5 years so that we can continue to hold these criminals accountable and recover the stolen funds.
Rudy Yakym IIIR-IN, House, March 11, 2025
I rise today in support of H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, introduced by our chairman, Jason Smith.
Nathaniel MoranR-TX, House, March 11, 2025
To the fraudsters, con men, and outright thieves, I have a message to you from the American people: We want our money back, and this bill is going to help us get it.
Aaron BeanR-FL, House, March 11, 2025
I rise today in strong support of the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act. Before I get into my planned remarks, I want to fact check some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle attacking President Trump, claiming that laid off Federal workers are being prevented from receiving unemployment.
Ron EstesR-KS, House, March 11, 2025
I thank the chairman of the committee for bringing this bill, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act.
Derek SchmidtR-KS, House, March 11, 2025
During the pandemic, Congress created three new unemployment benefits and issued $675 billion in benefits to folks who lost their jobs because of the pandemic.
Chuck EdwardsR-NC, House, March 11, 2025
I am quite astonished. I had every expectation I would be coming to the floor for what would be a bill with overwhelming bipartisan support. After all, COVID-era unemployment fraud was the largest fraud of taxpayer dollars in U.S. history. In California alone, it amounted to some $32 billion.
Kevin KileyR-CA, House, March 11, 2025
I understand that there are two bills at the desk and ask for their first reading en bloc.
John ThuneR-SD, Senate, March 12, 2025

Democrats17 spoke

My Republican friends want to pretend like this is a clean CR. It is 99 pages, for God's sake. A CR is pretty simple. The government gets funded at the same levels. Calling this CR clean is laughable. This bill cuts healthcare for veterans. Mr.
James P. McGovernD-MA, House, March 11, 2025
So you ask yourself, why are Republicans attempting to make this cut?
Ron WydenD-OR, Senate, April 2, 2025
I rise to reluctantly oppose H.R. 1156 that would extend the statute of limitations for pandemic unemployment insurance fraud for 5 years.
Danny K. DavisD-IL, House, March 11, 2025

14 more speakers

This bill's true objective is to penalize working Americans who, through no fault of their own, both lost their jobs during the pandemic and then received mistaken amounts of overpayment thereafter.
Lloyd DoggettD-TX, House, March 11, 2025
A ``yes'' vote on this rule is a vote for Trump's tariffs. A ``yes'' vote on this rule is a vote to keep prices high for American families. A ``yes'' vote is a vote to block Congress from doing its job to lower costs.
Gregory W. MeeksD-NY, House, March 11, 2025
That is exactly right. It is CR day on Capitol Hill, and what is going on with Republicans? I mean, President Trump puts out a tweet and says please and all a sudden they just flip- flop.
Jared MoskowitzD-FL, House, March 11, 2025
Costs are at an all-time high. I came down here to tell people that if you are struggling to afford food, can't pay rent, or the medical bills are stacking up, this bill will make your life worse. Why? To give tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations.
Maxwell FrostD-FL, House, March 11, 2025
As we stand here on the floor today, I am hearing Members of the other side of the aisle who said they would never vote for a continuing resolution, that they would never vote to raise the debt, and that they would never vote for a bill that extends the debt ceiling say that we have to pass this bill.
Melanie A. StansburyD-NM, House, March 11, 2025
This bill would allow President Trump and Elon Musk to supercharge their attacks on essential Federal programs and workers, including Social Security and the FAA, with no input from Congress.
Mary Gay ScanlonD-PA, House, March 11, 2025
I rise today in strong opposition to the Republicans' partisan sham of a government funding bill which is nothing more than a blank canvas for Donald Trump and Elon Musk to continue their smashing and looting of our Federal Government.
Daniel S. GoldmanD-NY, House, March 11, 2025
I strongly oppose this rule and the full-year continuing resolution. The CR is an act of fiscal sabotage against D.C. and is an abuse of power over a disenfranchised jurisdiction, the consequences be damned.
Eleanor Holmes NortonD-DC, House, March 11, 2025
This is about the rule so that we can get to this continuing resolution or so-called continuing resolution.
Delia C. RamirezD-IL, House, March 11, 2025
Rather than stand up to Musk, Republicans are giving him the power to shut down the government programs Musk doesn't like. Remember, just last night Musk said that he wants to eliminate the big programs like Social Security and Medicare. Musk also wants to fire thousands of VA employees.
Teresa Leger FernandezD-NM, House, March 11, 2025
Since the COVID-19 pandemic's start, Democrats have gone after the criminal fraud rings that stole from our pandemic unemployment insurance programs and empowered our partners across the Federal Government.
Judy ChuD-CA, House, March 11, 2025
Our Nation's sacred promise is just as the military says: On the battlefield we leave no soldier behind, and when they come home we leave no veteran behind. With this bill, Republicans have broken that promise.
Nancy PelosiD-CA, House, March 11, 2025
I rise in opposition to this bill. This partisan-charged bill targets innocent workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic, received unemployment benefits, spent them in good faith to pay for necessities, and had no idea that their States made mistakes in paying their benefits.
Terri A. SewellD-AL, House, March 11, 2025
This bill abdicates our constitutional responsibilities to direct funding and it gives it to Elon Musk and Mr. Trump. It undercuts the separations of powers in our Constitution.
Betty McCollumD-MN, House, March 11, 2025

Timeline

Mar 13, 2025SenateRead the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.
Mar 12, 2025SenateReceived in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Mar 11, 2025House floor actionsRules Committee Resolution H. Res. 211 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 25, H.R. 1156 and H.R. 1968. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 25, H.R. 1156, and H.R. 1968 under a closed rule. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.
Mar 11, 2025Floor Vote
Mar 11, 2025Passed the House
Feb 25, 2025House floor actionsReported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-6.
Feb 12, 2025House committee actionsCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Feb 10, 2025Library of CongressIntroduced in House
Feb 10, 2025House floor actionsReferred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Feb 10, 2025Introduced
Feb 10, 2025Committee

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Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

What Do You Think?

What Happened in Congress?

How Congress Voted

How Congress Voted

How Each Member Voted

Yea 295

Nay 127

Not Voting 10

What This Bill Does

What Congress Said

Sponsors

Related Documents

Timeline

Comments

What Congress Said

What Do You Think?

What Happened in Congress?

Where the Bill Stands

How Congress Voted

How Congress Voted

How Each Member Voted

Yea 295

Nay 127

Not Voting 10

What This Bill Does

What Congress Said

Sponsors

Related Documents

Timeline

Comments

What Congress Said