119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 1156

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

Passed Origin Chamber

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, extends the time period for federal criminal and civil actions related to fraud in unemployment insurance programs established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it increases the statute of limitations from 5 to 10 years for fraud involving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. Additionally, the bill rescinds a specific amount of previously allocated funds intended for anti-fraud efforts.

Key provisions

Extends the statute of limitations for unemployment fraud claims to 10 years.
Applies to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.
Covers criminal charges including aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
Includes civil actions related to false claims.
An exception exists: the extension does not apply if the original statute of limitations has already expired.
Rescinds $5,000,000 in previously allocated funds for anti-fraud activities.
Amendments are made to the CARES Act to implement these changes.

Who is affected

Unemployed individuals
State unemployment insurance agencies
The Department of Labor
Fraudulent unemployment claimants

Notable changes

Positions across the country

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Legislative history

2025-02-10House

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

2025-02-10

Introduced in House

2025-02-10

Introduced in House

2025-02-12House

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 18.

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Feb 10, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 1156

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To amend the CARES Act to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain unemployment programs, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

2.Extension of the statute of limitations for fraud by individuals under certain unemployment programs

(a)Pandemic unemployment assistance

Section 2102 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9021) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:

(h)Statute of Limitations

(1)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to paragraph (2), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by pandemic unemployment assistance under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy.

(2)ExceptionParagraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

(b)Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment compensationSection 2104(f) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9023(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)Statute of Limitations

(A)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy.

(B)ExceptionSubparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the statute of limitations applicable to such criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action expired prior to the date of enactment of the

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

(c)Pandemic emergency unemployment compensationSection 2107(e) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9025(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)Statute of Limitations

(A)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1344, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or section 3729 or 3801 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to any unemployment compensation claim funded in whole or in part by pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under this section shall be brought not later than 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy.

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

3.Budget offset

Out of the unobligated balances of amounts made available by section 2118(a) of title II of division A of Public Law 116–136, as added by section 9032 of Public Law 117–2, $5,000,000 are hereby rescinded.

4.Effective date

This amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

HR 1156

Bill overview

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