Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act of 2026

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act, bipartisan legislation that I am proud to lead with Representative Self.

This bill is rooted in a pretty basic idea: If someone is convicted of defrauding a Federal program, they should not be able to turn around and keep doing business with the Federal Government. This isn't about politics. It is about protecting taxpayer dollars and making sure that the Federal Government is worthy of the trust that the people place in it.

In every community we represent, people work hard, pay their taxes, and expect government programs to be run with honesty and accountability.

Each year, the Federal Government awards more than $700 billion in contracts to various agencies. Taxpayers expect those dollars to support families, to strengthen communities, and to deliver the services Congress intended, not go back to people who have already been convicted of abusing public funds.

This issue was brought to us by the inspectors general, the public servants who spend every day rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse across the Federal Government. They identified a real gap in the current system.

Too often, individuals convicted of fraud involving Federal programs remain eligible to apply for and receive Federal contracts. Under current law, agencies can suspend or debar these individuals, but the process can be slow, staff intensive, and inconsistent.

We have been told that preparing one single suspension or debarment package can take up to 20 hours.

For agencies already operating with limited staff and growing backlogs,

that means people who should be barred from Federal contracts can slip through the cracks. That is exactly the kind of problem Congress should be working together to fix.

According to a study by the inspectors general, of 550 felony fraud convictions involving pandemic-related Federal program funds over a 3- year period, more than 95 percent of those convicted were not suspended or debarred from doing business with the government. That is unacceptable.

Our bill creates a clear, commonsense standard: Individuals convicted of fraud involving Federal programs would be automatically ineligible for Federal contracts for at least 3 years. That means stronger accountability, more consistent enforcement, and more time for the inspectors general to focus on other cases of waste, fraud, and abuse.

The American people are owed more accountability and transparency into what taxpayer-funded contracts are being approved.

The Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act is a targeted, bipartisan solution to a documented problem. It protects taxpayers. It supports the work of the inspectors general, and it helps make sure Federal dollars go where they are supposed to go. I am grateful to the inspectors general who raised this issue and helped us develop this legislation, and I thank Representative Self for his partnership.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6916) to amend title 41, United States Code, to identify individuals who commit certain Federal felonies implicating Federal programs as an excluded source on the System for Award Management Exclusions list, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6916, the Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act.

The Federal Government pays a substantial amount of money to contractors for services to help agencies fulfill their missions. It is a privilege, not a right, to receive a contract, grant, loan, or other form of Federal financial assistance.

Unfortunately, there are individuals who take advantage of these resources and use it as an opportunity to defraud the government.

This bill closes a glaring loophole by prohibiting individuals that are convicted of certain felonies, primarily defrauding the Federal Government, from receiving Federal awards.

Under H.R. 6916, fraudsters will no longer be able to get rich from taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. This bill requires these individuals to be listed on the General Services Administration's System for Award Management Exclusion list, thus ensuring that Federal agencies know who these individuals are to ensure they, or any entity of which they have a controlling interest, are not awarded a contract or grant.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the bill's sponsors, Congressman Keith Self and Congresswoman Emily Randall, a colleague on the House Oversight Committee, for bringing this commonsense bill to the Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this necessary and bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6916, the Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's extensive investigations and hearings on fraud in Federal programs have made one thing clear: If fraudsters are successful, they will continue to find new ways to steal taxpayer dollars.

Such egregious actions require proactive fraud mitigation to prevent fraudsters and criminals from taking advantage of loopholes in our government and continuing to enrich themselves with taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of H.R. 6916, the Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act of 2025.

The American people expect their hard-earned tax dollars to be used responsibly. They should never have to worry that individuals convicted of defrauding the Federal Government can turn around and receive additional Federal contracts, grants, or loans.

Unfortunately, we have seen too many examples of individuals exploiting Federal programs for personal gain. One repeat fraudster submitted at least 22 fraudulent pandemic loan applications and additional fraudulent unemployment benefit applications, resulting in more than $250,000 in taxpayer losses. That is only one case.

It is common sense to expect that someone convicted of defrauding the government should not return and apply for more money. This bill closes that loophole.

H.R. 6916 requires individuals convicted of specific Federal fraud offenses involving Federal programs to be placed on the System for Award Management Exclusion list for 3 years. In simple terms: If someone is convicted of stealing from, lying to, or defrauding the Federal Government, they will not be eligible to receive more Federal dollars.

This bill does not create new crimes. It does not expand Federal spending. It simply ensures that individuals convicted of serious fraud involving Federal programs are temporarily barred from receiving additional taxpayer funds.

At a time when Americans are demanding greater accountability from their government, Congress should send a clear message: Taxpayer dollars are not an entitlement in the face of fraud.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Office of Inspector General and the professionals who worked with my team throughout the development of this legislation. Their work investigating fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars is indispensable.

Mr. Speaker, I also thank Representative Randall for her partnership with this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6916.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today also in support of H.R. 6916, the Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act.

This bill would automatically ban individuals and companies convicted of defrauding the government from receiving Federal contracts, grants, and other Federal financial assistance for 3 years.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as the sponsors of the bill mentioned, we have a responsibility to ensure that Federal funds are spent wisely and go to Americans who truly need them. I think it is pretty clear that if you commit fraud to steal from the Federal Government, you should not be rewarded with a Federal contract or grant.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.