U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today helped to introduce the Chase COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2022, which would fight pandemic unemployment fraud and hold bad actors accountable.
“Criminals capitalized on pandemic relief programs and stole billions from hardworking American taxpayers during one of our nation’s darkest hours,” said Congresswoman Walorski. “Our legislation, the Chase COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2022, will take important steps to restore order and recover taxpayer funds. We must send a clear signal that fraud will not be tolerated. As a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, I will continue to fight to expose fraudsters’ deception, get answers, and hold criminals accountable.”
Experts have estimated that up to $400 billion of pandemic unemployment relief has been lost to fraud. Just last month, the Washington Post reported that an estimated $163 billion has been captured by fraudsters.
Congresswoman Walorski serves as the top Republican on the Ways and Means Worker and Family Support Subcommittee, which has broad jurisdiction over employment issues. She has led public meetings with industry experts to raise awareness and offer safeguards to taxpayer dollars. Previously, she helped to introduce H.R. 3268, the Combatting COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2021, and has called on the Government Accountability Office to investigate this fraud.
Congresswoman Walorski introduced today’s legislation alongside House Ways and Means Committee Republican Leader Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Committee on Oversight and Reform Republican Leader Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), House Committee on Small Business Republican Leader Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.), and House Committee on the Budget Republican Leader Jason Smith (R-Mo.), as well as fellow Republican members of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Read the full text of the Chase COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2022 here.
