Legis Daily

False Claims Amendments Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-2428| Senate 
| Updated: 11/16/2021
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (4)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
False Claims Amendments Act of 2021 This bill revises procedures under the False Claims Act (FCA), a law that rewards whistleblowers (known as relators) who bring claims on behalf of the government by allowing them to share in the recovery in cases where the government recovers funds lost to fraud. To be recoverable under the FCA, a fraud must meet, among other conditions, standards for materiality. In determining materiality, the decision of the government to forego a refund or to pay a claim despite actual knowledge of fraud or falsity shall not be considered dispositive if other reasons exist for that decision with respect to such refund or payment. In dismissing an action over the objections of the relator, the government must identify a valid government purpose and a rational relation between dismissal and accomplishment of the purpose. The relator must have the opportunity to show that the dismissal is fraudulent, arbitrary and capricious, or contrary to law. The bill extends relief from retaliatory actions to former employees. The Government Accountability Office must report on the effectiveness of the FCA.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Jul 22, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jul 22, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Oct 28, 2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Nov 16, 2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Nov 16, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.
  • July 22, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 22, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • October 28, 2021
    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • November 16, 2021
    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • November 16, 2021
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.

Government Operations and Politics

Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightEvidence and witnessesFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment studies and investigationsLegal fees and court costs

False Claims Amendments Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-2428| Senate 
| Updated: 11/16/2021
False Claims Amendments Act of 2021 This bill revises procedures under the False Claims Act (FCA), a law that rewards whistleblowers (known as relators) who bring claims on behalf of the government by allowing them to share in the recovery in cases where the government recovers funds lost to fraud. To be recoverable under the FCA, a fraud must meet, among other conditions, standards for materiality. In determining materiality, the decision of the government to forego a refund or to pay a claim despite actual knowledge of fraud or falsity shall not be considered dispositive if other reasons exist for that decision with respect to such refund or payment. In dismissing an action over the objections of the relator, the government must identify a valid government purpose and a rational relation between dismissal and accomplishment of the purpose. The relator must have the opportunity to show that the dismissal is fraudulent, arbitrary and capricious, or contrary to law. The bill extends relief from retaliatory actions to former employees. The Government Accountability Office must report on the effectiveness of the FCA.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 22, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jul 22, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Oct 28, 2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Nov 16, 2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Nov 16, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.
  • July 22, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 22, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • October 28, 2021
    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • November 16, 2021
    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • November 16, 2021
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (4)
Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Government Operations and Politics

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightEvidence and witnessesFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment studies and investigationsLegal fees and court costs