Bill

H.R. 1156 (119th): Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act 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.

house · Substantive

Rankings updated October 26, 2026, 11:44 AM ET · Votes through September 30, 2026
Exported candidates: 719 | Filings on file, by office: H: 5838 | P: 1467 | S: 1567. These counts include every filing for that office, so they are larger than the ranked list. One person can have more than one filing. Non-voting delegates are left out.

Official source

Summary

Recorded summary

The bill extends from 5 to 10 years the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges and civil false-claims actions tied to fraud in four COVID-19 pandemic unemployment insurance programs. It covers charges such as aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy. It does not revive any prosecution or civil action whose limitations period expired before enactment. It also rescinds specified unobligated American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds provided to the Department of Labor for anti-fraud and program integrity activities.

abuse_accountabilityappropriationsfraud_enforcementjusticerescissionstatute_of_limitations

Theological note: Scripture requires honest weights and just dealing (Proverbs 11:1), and civil authority bears the sword for restraining fraud and theft (Romans 13:4). Extending the time to prosecute fraud against public funds touches general equity and stewardship of public trust. The rescission of unobligated anti-fraud funds raises a separate question of whether public stewardship is served by reducing the capacity to prevent that fraud. The bill does not directly advance or restrain a named moral evil like abuse or coercion, so the issue is one of prudential justice and governance.

Scoring

How this bill is scored

Debt and war Cloture and Tier 1 Procedural votes Scoring mechanics abuse accountability

Roll

Recorded votes

Roll 68 · 11-Mar-2025 5:32 PM · On Passage · Passed

Yea 295 · Nay 127 · Other 10

Yea

Nay

Other

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