Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member of the House Ways and Means Work and Welfare subcommittee for the time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill, the surprise billing our workers act, is another extreme MAGA attempt that threatens to punish hardworking constituents whom, at no fault of their own, may have been overpaid unemployment insurance benefits.

If deficiencies and errors on the part of the unemployment authorities in each State caused an overpayment, this bill would allow the government to go after those funds for up to 10 years.

Imagine that. Constituents in my district in North Las Vegas, who have been working hard, paying their bills, and taking care of their families, suddenly get a surprise bill that says that they owe hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

On top of that, you want to go after fraudulent people gaming the system. We have laws and resources in place to go after networks and individuals who purposely try to get money that they are not entitled to.

Just look at the Member from the other side of the aisle who was indicted yesterday for unemployment fraud, among other things.

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Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, last Congress, I introduced the Unemployment Insurance Technology Modernization Act, which would prevent fraud and address the technical shortcomings of many State unemployment programs. I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with me and other colleagues to actually provide solutions.

Stop targeting our constituents. Let's go after the corporate cartels that are involved in this fraud of our unemployment insurance, but let's protect the unemployment program, which is a bridge to people who need it. My constituents faced the second highest unemployment during the pandemic. I will fight for them every step of the way.

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