Bill · H.R. 8873· House(119-HR-8873)
Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act
- Introduced
- 5/19/2026
- Last activity
- 7/13/2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Beth Van Duyne
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the "Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act," aims to recover unclaimed pandemic-era unemployment compensation funds. It establishes a National Recovery Coordinator and a Task Force to oversee the identification and recovery of improper payments held by financial institutions or State agencies. The Task Force is responsible for coordinating with State and Federal agencies to develop cost-effective recovery processes and guidance. Additionally, the bill extends the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution and civil enforcement regarding pandemic unemployment fraud. This extension allows such actions to be brought up to 10 years after a violation or conspiracy occurs.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+5
Establishing a process to identify and recover improper payments improves oversight of public funds.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+4
The bill provides resources and notices for individuals whose identities were stolen for fraud.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?+3
The bill seeks to recover improper pandemic payments, which returns funds to the Federal Government.
The opposite
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?-4
The extension of the statute of limitations to 10 years increases legal exposure for individuals.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Recovery of Unclaimed Funds: The Task Force will coordinate to identify pandemic unemployment payments on prepaid debit cards held by financial institutions or transferred to State unclaimed property agencies (Section 2, subsection b, paragraph 1). This helps recover money that was improperly paid.
-
Victim Support: The bill requires the development of model notice and information regarding resources available to individuals whose identity information was used fraudulently to obtain Federal pandemic unemployment compensation (Section 2, subsection b, paragraph 2, subparagraph C).
-
Cost-Effective Processes: The Task Force is tasked with developing model processes that comply with laws and result in the cost-effective recovery of identified payments (Section 2, subsection b, paragraph 2).
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State Reimbursement: The Secretary of Labor will reimburse States for administrative costs resulting from coordination with the Task Force (Section 2, subsection d).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Extended Legal Liability: The bill extends the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions related to pandemic unemployment assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation to 10 years after the date of the violation or conspiracy (Section 3, subsections a, b, and c).
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Increased Prosecution Window: This extension applies to various violations of the United States Code, providing a much longer window for legal actions to be brought against individuals (Section 3, subsections a, b, and c).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+5Improves Consumer Protection+4Reduces National Debt+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+2Increases Federal Power+2Improves Due Process-4
- 7/13/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 6/29/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4269-4270)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4269-4270)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8873.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4269-4272)
- Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 5/29/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-671.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 585.
- 5/21/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/19/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Randy FeenstraRepublican · Iowa
Thomas SuozziDemocrat · New York