Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.
Introduced:Feb 10, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Don Bacon
Representative
Republican
NE-2
Cosponsors
25
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Labor and Employment
Summary
This bill extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic unemployment fraud from 5 to 10 years. It applies to criminal charges and civil enforcement for fraud in COVID-era programs including PUA and federal pandemic unemployment compensation.
Latest Action
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic unemployment fraud from 5 to 10 years. It applies to criminal charges and civil enforcement for fraud in COVID-era programs including PUA and federal pandemic unemployment compensation.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act</strong></p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Doubles fraud prosecution deadline to 10 years
Covers pandemic unemployment programs
Applies to wire fraud, identity theft, false claims
Does not affect already-expired cases
Rescinds some DOL anti-fraud funding
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Prosecutors would have more time to pursue criminals who stole billions through fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims. The extended deadline gives investigators additional years to build cases against fraud rings that exploited emergency programs.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Labor and Employment
Related Subjects
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Infectious and parasitic diseases
State and local finance
Unemployment
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
1156, 119th Congress (2025). "Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1156
