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119-hr-7412119th CongressWALLET

Put America on Commission Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would create a federal whistleblower awards program for COVID loan fraud by establishing an Office of Whistleblower Awards at the Small Business Administration and a Treasury fund to pay claims. It would reward and protect people who provide original information that leads to final convictions or settlements in COVID loan cases.

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  • People who provide original information that helps secure convictions or settlements would be eligible for awards equal to 10% for U.S. nationals or entities or 15% for foreign nationals or entities of amounts deposited into the Fund. They would also get anti-retaliation protection and a court-reviewable appeal route for most determinations.
  • The SBA would host a new Office run by a competitive-service official to receive, evaluate, and award claims, coordinate with the Inspector General, and track whether tips lead to COVID loan actions.
  • Civil monetary penalties equal to 30% of the aggregate principal loans involved in a COVID loan action can be collected and deposited into the Fund to finance awards and Office operations.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New 30% penalty for COVID loan fraud

If enacted, this bill would let the SBA Administrator impose a civil penalty equal to 30% of the aggregate principal of covered COVID loans on people who are finally convicted of, or who enter into settlements or plea agreements for, covered COVID loan actions. The Administrator could compromise or sue to collect the penalty and could deduct agreed penalties from money the United States owes that person. Penalty money that is finally collected would be deposited into the Whistleblower Award Fund.

Who can get whistleblower awards

If enacted, you would be able to get an award if you gave original information that the Inspector General finds was a basis for a covered COVID loan action. Awards would equal 10% of the deposited recovery when the convicted or settling person is a U.S. national or U.S. entity, and 15% when that person or entity is foreign. Awards could be reduced or denied if the whistleblower planned, initiated, or participated in the misconduct, and a whistleblower finally convicted of those crimes must repay the award. If multiple people provided original information, only the most substantial contributor may receive an award. The bill sets a four-part test for what counts as "original information."

New SBA whistleblower office and fund

If enacted, this bill would create an Office of Whistleblower Awards inside the Small Business Administration. It would also create a Treasury Whistleblower Award Fund to hold money from COVID-loan convictions, settlements, or plea agreements that were based on original tips. Money in the Fund would pay awards and the Office's costs without further appropriation, and unused Fund money would go to the Treasury general fund. The SBA must write program rules within six months and an IG contribution process within three months, and awards tied to a deposit must be paid within one year.

Whistleblower protections, notices, and appeals

If enacted, the bill would ban retaliation or discrimination against people who report or help report fraud under these rules. The Office would confirm receipt of your tip, tell you whether your information is "original," and notify you of each Inspector General determination about whether your tip was the basis for action. You would get a chance to comment on preliminary determinations. You could appeal most Office decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals within 30 days, though award amounts set by the statute's percentage rules are generally not appealable.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 2/5/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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