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The House passed the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, which extends the time the government has to prosecute individuals for pandemic-era unemployment fraud. The bill passed with broad support from Democrats and a split Republican caucus.
This bill, H.R. 1156, extends the "statute of limitations"—the legal deadline for starting a prosecution—for fraud involving several COVID-19 relief programs. Specifically, it gives federal investigators up to 10 years from the date of the offense to file criminal charges or civil lawsuits against those who illegally obtained Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and other related benefits. It does not allow for the reopening of cases where the deadline had already passed before this bill becomes law. A "vote on passage" is the final step for a bill in this chamber. If a bill receives enough "yes" votes, it moves forward in the legislative process. In this case, because the bill passed the House, it now moves to the Senate for consideration. The bill passed with a bipartisan majority of 295 to 127. While almost all Democrats voted in favor, Republican members were nearly evenly divided on the measure. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it must also pass before it can be sent to the President to be signed into law.
The bill moves to the Senate, where it has already been placed on the legislative calendar for future debate and voting.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. It increases the likelihood that individuals who stole pandemic relief funds will face legal consequences by giving investigators several more years to build cases.
Who’s affected. Law Enforcement: Federal prosecutors and investigators gain a longer window to pursue complex fraud cases. · Taxpayers: Potential for increased recovery of billions of dollars in defrauded government funds. · Fraudulent Claimants: Individuals who illegally obtained pandemic benefits face a higher risk of prosecution for up to a decade.
Democrats. A large majority of Democrats supported the measure, with 161 voting in favor.
Republicans. Republican members were closely divided, with 107 voting yes and 110 voting no.
On Passage
Mar 11, 2025
The House passed the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, which extends the time the government has to prosecute individuals for pandemic-era unemployment fraud.
The bill passed with broad support from Democrats and a split Republican caucus.
This was a final vote on the bill in the House of Representatives. Passing this vote means the House has officially approved the legislation and is sending it to the Senate for further action.
The bill moves to the Senate, where it has already been placed on the legislative calendar for future debate and voting.
It increases the likelihood that individuals who stole pandemic relief funds will face legal consequences by giving investigators several more years to build cases.
The bill passed with a large bipartisan majority, though Republican members were split on the final vote.
A large majority of Democrats supported the measure, with 161 voting in favor.
Republican members were closely divided, with 107 voting yes and 110 voting no.
The lone independent member voted in favor of the bill.