Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act
This bill extends the deadline to 10 years for the federal government to bring criminal charges or civil lawsuits against people suspected of stealing or improperly receiving COVID-19 pandemic unemployment benefits. The extended time limit applies to offenses like identity theft, wire fraud, and false claims, as long as the original deadline to prosecute has not already expired before the bill takes effect. To offset costs, the legislation cancels $5 million in unspent federal funding previously set aside for pandemic unemployment programs.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Federal prosecutors and enforcement agenciesGains an extended 10-year window (statute of limitations) to bring criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions for fraud, theft, and false claims involving pandemic unemployment compensation programs (Sec. 2).
Who it burdens
- Individuals investigated or prosecuted for pandemic unemployment fraudFaces an extended 10-year window of legal liability and potential criminal or civil prosecution for alleged fraud, false claims, or identity theft involving pandemic unemployment benefits, provided their statute of limitations has not already expired (Sec. 2).
- Federal pandemic unemployment fraud prevention programsLoses $5,000,000 in unobligated funding previously allocated for fraud prevention and unemployment system administration through a budget rescission (Sec. 3).
The provisions, in plain language.
Extends the time limit to 10 years for the federal government to bring criminal charges or civil lawsuits for fraud, identity theft, or conspiracy involving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims, provided the previous deadline has not already passed.
Extends the time limit to 10 years for the federal government to bring criminal charges or civil lawsuits for fraud, identity theft, or conspiracy involving Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation claims, provided the previous deadline has not already passed.
Extends the time limit to 10 years for the federal government to bring criminal charges or civil lawsuits for fraud, identity theft, or conspiracy involving Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation claims, provided the previous deadline has not already passed.
Cancels $5,000,000 in unused federal funding previously allocated to support pandemic unemployment fraud prevention and system administration.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 18 actions
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.
- Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 295 - 127 (Roll no. 68). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1093-1094)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 295 - 127 (Roll no. 68). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1093-1094)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1124)
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 1156, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Davis (IL) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1156.
- Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 25, H.R. 1156 and H.R. 1968. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 25, H.R. 1156, and H.R. 1968 under a closed rule. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 211. (consideration: CR H1093-1099)
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 211 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 25, H.R. 1156 and H.R. 1968. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 25, H.R. 1156, and H.R. 1968 under a closed rule. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 2.
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-6.
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 18.
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Introduced in House
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 295 - 127 (Roll no. 68). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1093-1094)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 295 - 127 (Roll no. 68). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1093-1094)
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 211 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 25, H.R. 1156 and H.R. 1968. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 25, H.R. 1156, and H.R. 1968 under a closed rule. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-6.
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 18.
- Introduced in House
Read it for yourself.
Sources & provenance
Cite this page
Civic Herald. “Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act (H.R. 1156, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-1156. Congress.gov record as of Jul 23, 2026.