Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

Bill Number: H.R. 1156
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Labor and Employment
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-03-13: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.
Last Updated: 2026-07-10T16:53:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act (H.R. 1156) aims to strengthen accountability for fraud in unemployment insurance programs established during the COVID-19 pandemic by extending the time frame in which the government can pursue criminal or civil actions against violators.

Key Provisions

Extension of Statute of Limitations: Applies a 10-year limit from the date of the violation for prosecuting or enforcing actions related to specific fraud crimes (e.g., conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 371, theft of government property under § 641, identity theft under § 1028A, wire fraud under § 1343, money laundering under § 1956, and false claims under 31 U.S.C. § 3729) tied to claims under three CARES Act programs:
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA, 15 U.S.C. § 9021).
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC, 15 U.S.C. § 9023).
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC, 15 U.S.C. § 9025).
Exception Clause: The extension does not revive cases where the original statute of limitations (typically 5 years for most federal crimes) had already expired before the Act's enactment.
Budget Offset: Rescinds (cancels) $5 million from unobligated funds previously allocated under the CARES Act for emergency rental assistance, to offset the Act's costs.
Effective Date: Amendments take effect immediately upon enactment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Under current federal law, most statutes of limitations for criminal prosecutions are 5 years (per 18 U.S.C. § 3282), with some civil fraud actions also limited to shorter periods. This Act overrides those limits specifically for pandemic-related unemployment fraud, doubling the prosecution window to 10 years without affecting expired cases.
Adds new subsections to the CARES Act sections governing PUA, FPUC, and PEUC, explicitly targeting fraud in claims funded by these programs.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Enhances the ability of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor (DOL), and state unemployment agencies to investigate and recover billions in fraudulent pandemic-era payments (estimated at over $100 billion lost to fraud). This could lead to more successful recoveries but may increase workload for ongoing investigations.
Citizens: Individuals who committed fraud in unemployment claims face a longer risk of prosecution, potentially deterring future misconduct but raising concerns for those with delayed discoveries. Legitimate claimants are unaffected.
International Relations: No direct impact, as the Act focuses on domestic U.S. unemployment programs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal and State Governments: DOJ for prosecutions, DOL and state agencies for program administration and fraud detection.
Individuals Involved in Fraud: Potential defendants, including those who filed false claims or engaged in related schemes during the pandemic.
Taxpayers and the Public: Benefit from potential recovery of misused funds, reducing the overall financial burden of pandemic relief programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: The extension is narrowly tailored to pandemic programs and specific crimes, avoiding retroactive application to expired cases, which helps mitigate due process challenges under the Fifth Amendment. It reinforces Congress's authority to adjust statutes of limitations for federal crimes.
Constitutional: Aligns with Article I powers to regulate commerce and spend for the general welfare, as it addresses fraud in congressionally funded relief efforts without infringing on individual rights beyond extending enforcement timelines.
Political: Signals bipartisan commitment to combating pandemic-era waste and abuse, potentially building public trust in government spending oversight, though it may spark debate over balancing fraud prevention with access to emergency aid.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Smith, Jason [R-MO-8]

Cosponsors (25)

Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1], Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1]

Recent Actions

2025-03-13: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.
2025-03-12: Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
2025-03-11: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-03-11: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 295 - 127 (Roll no. 68). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1093-1094) (Roll call 68)
2025-03-11: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 295 - 127 (Roll no. 68). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1093-1094) (Roll call 68)
2025-03-11: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1124)
2025-03-11: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 1156, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Davis (IL) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
2025-03-11: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2025-03-11: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1156.
2025-03-11: 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.
2025-03-11: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 211. (consideration: CR H1093-1099)
2025-03-11: Rules 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.
2025-02-25: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 2.
2025-02-25: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-6.
2025-02-25: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-6.

Bill Versions

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act — issued 2025-03-11 — PDF (6 pages)
Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act — issued 2025-02-10 — PDF (5 pages)
Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act — issued 2025-03-13 — PDF (6 pages)
Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act — issued 2025-02-25 — PDF (8 pages)