S. 2742Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Recovering Fraudulent Claims Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 6:38 AM UTC

The Recovering Fraudulent Claims Act creates a COVID‑19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force to investigate fraud and identity theft tied to pandemic unemployment benefits. It requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Labor Secretary, to set up the task force, appoint members from multiple agencies, and report its findings to Congress. The bill also directs the GAO to study how federal funds are used by states to detect, prevent, and recover such fraud.

Key Provisions

Attorney General must establish the task force within 60 days and appoint representatives from agencies such as the FBI, IRS, DHS, and state workforce groups; members serve without federal compensation.
Task force investigates fraudulent payments to ineligible individuals or entities and identity‑theft schemes, but does not probe improper payments to eligible recipients.
Task force must submit a detailed preliminary report to specified Senate and House committees within one year, and a final report a year later, covering fraud totals, prosecutions, recovery efforts, challenges, and state‑by‑state data.
Task force terminates after the final report or on a later date set by the Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary.
GAO is required to study how CARES Act and ARPA funds are used by states to detect, prevent, and recover unemployment insurance fraud and to report its findings and recommendations to Congress within one year.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S6502-6503)

Finance Committee

September 14, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 14, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S6502-6503)

Finance Committee

September 14, 2021

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S. 2742 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA · Sep 14, 2021

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the ``Comprehensive Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program Act of 2021,'' which I introduced today. Millions of children and adolescents across the Nation…

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the ``Comprehensive Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program Act of 2021,'' which I introduced today.

Millions of children and adolescents across the Nation struggle every day with mental health concerns that threaten their emotional well- being and academic achievement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for comprehensive school mental health systems that can provide the support and services that students desperately need.

This bill is a targeted effort to address the worsening mental health crisis in this country. If enacted, this legislation would help schools as they work to promote positive school climates, improve social and emotional learning, and reduce the prevalence and severity of mental illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that between March and October of 2020, the proportion of children between the ages of 5 and 11 who visited an emergency department because of a mental health crisis climbed 24 percent compared to the same time period in 2019, and climbed 31 percent for children between the ages of 12 and 17. More people are reporting frequent thoughts of suicide and self- harm than have ever been recorded. The full effects of increased learning loss, social isolation, uncertainty, and trauma may not manifest for years, and schools must be prepared to deal with this preventatively.

That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which would direct the Secretary of Education to establish a $20 million 4-year pilot grant program to help schools serving low-income students address mental and behavioral wellbeing, as well as academic, cognitive, and social and emotional development, through multi-tier, evidence-based interventions that foster positive learning environments. More specifically, this funding may be used for providing professional development opportunities, encouraging restorative policies, establishing racially, culturally, and linguistically appropriate trauma-informed practices, and hiring more school-based mental and behavioral health professionals.

I want to thank Representative David Trone for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this solution to our youth mental health crisis.

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Sen. John CornynR-TX · Sep 14, 2021

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to print my bill for introduction in the Congressional Record. The bill's purpose is to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Dustoff crews…

Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Sep 14, 2021

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 14, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2742

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 14, 2021

Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Crapo) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To establish the COVID–19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Recovering Fraudulent Claims Act.

COVID–19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force

(a)

In general

(1)

Establishment

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary, shall establish the COVID–19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force (in this section referred to as the Task Force).

(2)

Duties

(A)

Investigation

The Task Force shall investigate fraud with respect to COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits, including an identification of and investigation into—

(i)

subject to paragraph (3), any alleged instance of fraudulent payment of COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits to any individual, entity, or organization (either foreign or domestic) that was not eligible to receive such benefits; and

(ii)

any alleged instance in which an individual, entity, or organization (either foreign or domestic) stole or attempted to steal the identity or personally identifiable information of any United States citizen in an effort to obtain COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits, including any instance of synthetic identity theft.

(B)

Submission of findings to Attorney General

The Task Force shall submit to the Attorney General the Task Force's findings with respect to the investigation conducted under subparagraph (A) to assist the Attorney General in the prosecution of fraud concerning COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits.

(3)

Clarification

The investigation conducted under paragraph (2)(A) shall not include an identification of or investigation into any improper payment of COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits to any individual that was eligible to receive such benefits.

(b)

Membership

(1)

In general

The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary, shall appoint to the Task Force a representative from each of the following:

(A)

The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Labor.

(B)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(C)

The Department of Homeland Security.

(D)

The Internal Revenue Service.

(E)

The United States Postal Service.

(F)

The Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration.

(G)

The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security.

(H)

A nonprofit organization representing State workforce agencies.

(I)

A national law enforcement organization.

(J)

Any other organization the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary, determines to be appropriate.

(2)

Prohibition on compensation

The members of the Task Force shall not receive any compensation from the Federal Government by reason of their service on the Task Force.

(c)

Report to Congress

(1)

Preliminary report

Subject to paragraph (3), not later than 1 year after the date on which the Task Force is established under subsection (a)(1), the Task Force shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that contains a detailed description of the following:

(A)

The Task Force's findings with respect to the investigation conducted under subsection (a)(2)(A), including the following:

(i)

The total number of individuals and an itemized list of entities and organizations (either foreign or domestic) that were identified by the Task Force as having allegedly obtained or attempted to obtain fraudulent payments of COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits, including the amount of such benefits that were identified by the Task Force as having been obtained.

(ii)

The total number of individuals and an itemized list of entities and organizations (either foreign or domestic) that were identified by the Task Force as having allegedly stolen or attempted to steal the identity or personally identifiable information of any United States citizen in an effort to obtain COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits, including any instance of synthetic identity theft.

(iii)

The total number of individuals and an itemized list of entities and organizations (either foreign or domestic) that were identified by the Attorney General during the period beginning on the date of enactment of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136) and ending on the date of the establishment of the Task Force under subsection (a)(1) as having allegedly obtained or attempted to obtain fraudulent payments of COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits.

(iv)

The total number of individuals and an itemized list of entities and organizations (either foreign or domestic) that were identified by the Attorney General during the period beginning on the date of enactment of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136) and ending on the date of the establishment of the Task Force under subsection (a)(1) as having allegedly stolen or attempted to steal the identity or personally identifiable information of any United States citizen in an effort to obtain COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits, including any instance of synthetic identity theft.

(v)

The total number of individuals the Attorney General has prosecuted for fraud concerning COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits, including a list of the criminal charges brought and any prison sentences or accompanying fines imposed.

(B)

The steps the Attorney General or the head of any other relevant Federal or State agency is taking, or is planning to take, to prosecute or otherwise penalize the individuals, entities, or organizations described in subparagraph (A).

(C)

Any challenge or impediment the Attorney General or the head of any other relevant Federal or State agency has encountered in prosecuting or otherwise penalizing such individuals, entities, or organizations.

(D)

The efforts the Attorney General or the head of any other relevant Federal or State agency is taking, or is planning to take, to recover any fraudulent payment of COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits, and the challenges associated with such efforts.

(E)

The total amount of fraudulent COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits that were issued by States, including a State-by-State breakdown of such amount.

(F)

The total amount of fraudulent COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits that the Attorney General or the head of any other relevant Federal or State agency has been able to recover.

(G)

The specific challenges the Task Force encountered in carrying out subsection (a)(2)(A).

(2)

Final report

Subject to paragraph (3), not later than 1 year after the submission of the report under paragraph (1), the Task Force shall submit to the appropriate Committees of Congress a final report that includes updated information regarding subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (1).

(3)

Disclosure of return information

No return information (as defined in section 6103(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) may be included in a report submitted under paragraph (1) or (2), except as authorized by such section 6103.

(d)

Sunset

The Task Force shall terminate on the later of—

(1)

the date on which the Task Force submits the final report under subsection (c)(2); or

(2)

a specific date selected by the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary, that falls after the date set forth in paragraph (1).

(e)

Definitions

(1)

Appropriate committees of Congress

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A)

the Committee on Finance of the Senate;

(B)

the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;

(C)

the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;

(D)

the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives;

(E)

the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and

(F)

the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.

(2)

COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits

The term COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits means unemployment insurance benefits provided under any of the programs under section 2102, 2104, or 2107 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9021, 9023, 9025).

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.

(4)

Synthetic identity theft

The term synthetic identity theft means the use of a combination of personally identifiable information to fabricate an individual or entity in order to commit a dishonest act for personal or financial gain.

GAO study and report

(a)

Study

The Comptroller General of the United States (in this section referred to as the Comptroller General) shall conduct a study on unemployment insurance fraud with respect to COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits (as defined in section 2(e)). Such study shall include an analysis of—

(1)

how the amounts appropriated under section 2118 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9034), as added by section 9032 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2), are being utilized by States to—

(A)

detect and prevent fraud in any such program; and

(B)

recover any fraudulent payment of COVID–19 unemployment insurance benefits;

(2)

any reason that such appropriated amounts were not used by States to detect and prevent such fraud and to recover such fraudulent payments;

(3)

whether such appropriated amounts were successful in helping States to detect and prevent such fraud and to recover such fraudulent payments; and

(4)

any other area determined appropriate by the Comptroller General.

(b)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.