Stop Fraud in Federal Programs Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7155
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-20: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-10T09:05:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to deter fraud and corruption in federal programs by strengthening criminal penalties for theft or bribery and by mandating independent audits in the summer food service program to improve oversight and accountability.
Key Provisions
- Penalty Enhancements: Amends 18 U.S.C. § 666 to raise the maximum prison term for theft or bribery involving federal funds from 10 years to 20 years.
- New Fine Structure: Replaces the standard fine with a “covered amount,” defined as the greater of $250,000 or twice the value of the property or benefit involved.
- Audit Requirement: Amends Section 13(m) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761) to require each service institution participating in the summer food service program to obtain an annual audit from a qualified third-party auditor. Results must be submitted directly to the Secretary, and the auditor cannot be the service institution or its sponsor organization.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Increases the statutory maximum sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 666 by 10 years and introduces a value-based fine calculation.
- Adds a new mandatory third-party audit obligation to the summer food service program that did not previously exist in statute.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for the Department of Agriculture (or its designee) in receiving and reviewing audit reports; may require additional resources for enforcement of the enhanced penalties.
- Citizens and Entities: Raises the financial and criminal risk for individuals or organizations involved in federal programs; summer food service providers face new annual compliance costs for independent audits.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies administering programs receiving federal funds (particularly the U.S. Department of Agriculture).
- Service institutions and sponsor organizations operating the summer food service program.
- Third-party auditors engaged to perform the required audits.
- Individuals or entities subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 666.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Expands federal criminal jurisdiction by increasing penalties for offenses involving federal funds, potentially affecting plea negotiations and sentencing outcomes.
- Introduces a new regulatory requirement for independent audits in a specific nutrition program, which may raise questions about administrative burden and the scope of congressional oversight of executive agencies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-20: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-20: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Fraud in Federal Programs Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-20 — PDF (3 pages)