Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act

U.S. Congress · HR8873 · In Committee

Progression

Timing in context

Primary sponsor's contributions received (same period)

Adjacency in time is shown for context; it is not evidence of cause. Funded ≠ false — see the methodology.

What the bill says

HR8873 · U.S. Congress · In Committee

Introduced 2026-05-19. Latest action: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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Summary (plain-language)

Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act This bill extends 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 bill also establishes a task force to locate fraudulent payments and develop strategies to recover such payments. 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 (currently subject to a 5-year statute of limitations); and (2) civil actions involving false claims (currently subject to a 6-year statute of limitations). 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. The task force established by this bill must coordinate with state agencies to identify federal pandemic unemployment compensation payments held by financial institutions and other entities or held by state agencies responsible for unclaimed property, coordinate with federal agencies to develop model processes that result in the cost-effective recovery of such payments, issue guidance to financial institutions on legal pathways for returning such payments, and issue guidance to state unclaimed property agencies on their obligation to review and return such payments.

Sponsors

Text versions

  • Introduced in House — 2026-05-19 — XML
  • Reported in House — 2026-05-29 — XML
  • Engrossed in House — 2026-06-29 — XML
  • Referred in Senate — 2026-07-13 — XML

What analysts say

CBO cost estimates

  • H.R. 8873, Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act — 2026-06-25
    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional B…

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested but not received a cost estimate for this bill from the Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Chairman of the Committee shall cause such estimate and statement to be printed in the Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

    V. OTHER MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE

    CBO cost-estimate text quoted from the committee report on GovInfo (public domain).

Committee reports

What politicians say

No linked claims or utterances yet — no one on record has cited this measure to justify a public argument.

Action History

DateAction
2026-07-13Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
2026-06-29Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2026-06-29Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4269-4272)
2026-06-29DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8873.
2026-06-29Passed/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)
2026-06-29On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4269-4270)
2026-06-29Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-05-29Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-671.
2026-05-29Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 585.
2026-05-21Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2026-05-21Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
2026-05-19Introduced in House
2026-05-19Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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