H.R. 7078 – False Claims Enhancement Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 2:17 PM UTC

The False Claims Enhancement Act amends Title 31 of the U.S. Code to broaden the false claims law. It makes it a crime to knowingly misrepresent an obligation to pay or transmit duty payments to the government and then receive those payments without actually paying or transmitting them. The change targets anyone handling duty payments, such as importers or customs brokers, by adding a new prohibited conduct to the false claims statute.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subparagraph (H) to Section 3729(a)(1) that criminalizes knowingly misrepresenting an obligation to pay or transmit duty payments to the government and improperly receiving those payments without fulfilling the obligation.
Makes minor punctuation edits to existing subparagraphs (F) and (G) for clarity.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 25, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 25, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 25, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 25, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7078

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 25, 2024

Mr. Buck introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 31, United States Code, to prohibit the misrepresentation and receipt of a false obligation to the Government, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the False Claims Enhancement Act.

2.

False Claims Act

Section 3729(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (F), by striking or at the end;

(2)

in subparagraph (G), by striking the comma, and inserting ; or; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(H)

knowingly misrepresents to another an obligation to pay or transmit duty payments to the Government and improperly receives such payment or transmission of duty payments without paying or transmitting such duty payments to the Government,

.