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Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act

USA119th CongressHR-8873| House 
| Updated: 5/29/2026
Beth Van Duyne

Beth Van Duyne

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (2)
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Randy Feenstra (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation aims to recover improperly paid or fraudulently obtained federal pandemic unemployment compensation funds. It establishes a National Recovery Coordinator within the Department of Labor and a multi-agency Recover Pandemic Unemployment Funds in Banks Task Force , comprising representatives from the Departments of Justice, Labor, and Treasury, along with the FDIC and CFPB. The Task Force's primary role is to coordinate with state agencies to identify federal pandemic unemployment payments issued on prepaid debit cards that are currently held by financial institutions or have been escheated to state unclaimed property administrators. The Task Force is charged with developing comprehensive guidance for states and financial institutions. This guidance will outline model processes for the cost-effective recovery of improper payments, including methods for determining fraud, actions to take, and procedures for returning funds to the federal government. It also includes information for financial institutions on legal pathways for returning funds and a model notice for individuals whose identities were fraudulently used to obtain benefits. The Secretary of Labor will reimburse states for administrative costs incurred while coordinating with the Task Force. Furthermore, the bill extends the statute of limitations to 10 years for criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions related to fraud concerning various pandemic unemployment programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. This extension applies to a range of federal fraud statutes, but it does not retroactively apply to cases where the original statute of limitations had already expired before the bill's enactment.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline
May 19, 2026
Introduced in House
May 19, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
May 21, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
May 21, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
May 29, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 585.
May 29, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-671.
  • May 19, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • May 19, 2026
    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


  • May 21, 2026
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • May 21, 2026
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.


  • May 29, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 585.


  • May 29, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-671.

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1156: Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act
Advisory bodiesCardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment studies and investigationsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsState and local financeState and local government operationsUnemployment

Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act

USA119th CongressHR-8873| House 
| Updated: 5/29/2026
This legislation aims to recover improperly paid or fraudulently obtained federal pandemic unemployment compensation funds. It establishes a National Recovery Coordinator within the Department of Labor and a multi-agency Recover Pandemic Unemployment Funds in Banks Task Force , comprising representatives from the Departments of Justice, Labor, and Treasury, along with the FDIC and CFPB. The Task Force's primary role is to coordinate with state agencies to identify federal pandemic unemployment payments issued on prepaid debit cards that are currently held by financial institutions or have been escheated to state unclaimed property administrators. The Task Force is charged with developing comprehensive guidance for states and financial institutions. This guidance will outline model processes for the cost-effective recovery of improper payments, including methods for determining fraud, actions to take, and procedures for returning funds to the federal government. It also includes information for financial institutions on legal pathways for returning funds and a model notice for individuals whose identities were fraudulently used to obtain benefits. The Secretary of Labor will reimburse states for administrative costs incurred while coordinating with the Task Force. Furthermore, the bill extends the statute of limitations to 10 years for criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions related to fraud concerning various pandemic unemployment programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. This extension applies to a range of federal fraud statutes, but it does not retroactively apply to cases where the original statute of limitations had already expired before the bill's enactment.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
May 19, 2026
Introduced in House
May 19, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
May 21, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
May 21, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
May 29, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 585.
May 29, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-671.
  • May 19, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • May 19, 2026
    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


  • May 21, 2026
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • May 21, 2026
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.


  • May 29, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 585.


  • May 29, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-671.
Beth Van Duyne

Beth Van Duyne

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (2)
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Randy Feenstra (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1156: Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Advisory bodiesCardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment studies and investigationsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsState and local financeState and local government operationsUnemployment