Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.

Mar 13, 2025

This bill extends the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges and civil enforcement actions related to fraud in four COVID-19 pandemic unemployment programs from 5 years to 10 years. The extended statute of limitations applies to charges involving fraud, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and civil false claims actions. The extension does not apply to cases where the original statute of limitations expired before the bill's enactment. The bill also rescinds unobligated funds that were previously provided to the Department of Labor under the American Rescue Plan Act for anti-fraud and program integrity activities.

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Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act This bill extends from 5 to 10 years the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges or civil enforcement actions for fraud related to several unemployment insurance programs that were established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The extension applies to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. The bill extends the statute of limitations for (1) criminal charges related to fraud, including aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit fraud; and (2) civil actions involving false claims. However, the bill does not apply to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the applicable statute of limitations expired before the date of the bill's enactment. Additionally, the bill rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the Department of Labor for anti-fraud and program integrity activities.