Protecting American Taxpayers Act
Sponsored By: Senator Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
In Committee
Summary
**This bill would target waste and fraud across federal programs by *preventing improper payments*** and by rescinding unspent COVID‑era and Afghan-related funds to help reduce the deficit. It layers program-integrity checks, rapid fraud triggers for health programs, and recovery tools across agencies.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 5 costs, 3 mixed.
No remittances while on benefits
If enacted, this bill would require people applying for certain public assistance to sign a sworn statement that they will not send remittance transfers while receiving benefits. The rule would start for payments given after 30 days from enactment. If someone signs the statement and later sends a remittance while getting benefits, they would face a $100,000 fine.
SBA help blocked after fraud conviction
If enacted, this bill would bar a small business and its associates from getting most new SBA financial assistance if an associate is finally convicted of financial misconduct related to a covered loan or grant. "Associate" includes owners with more than 20 percent equity, officers, key employees, and controlled entities. The rule would not apply to government contracts entered before enactment and still allows assistance under one narrowly defined SBA program.
Cancel unused pandemic funding
If enacted, this bill would rescind unobligated balances from many pandemic-era laws on the date of enactment and deposit the money into the Treasury general fund for deficit reduction. The President could waive the rescission for specific accounts by notifying Congress within 60 days. Agencies and programs could lose funds unless waived.
More Treasury data to stop improper payments
If enacted, this bill would let Treasury use more government data to find and stop improper federal payments. Treasury would get access to the National Directory of New Hires, certain IRS return details for at least 3 years, and Social Security identifiers for matching. Agencies would have to report payment codes and post verified payment data within 30 days of certification. The bill would also direct Treasury to get public feedback and report to Congress on how banks should guard against AI-enabled fraud.
Longer time to sue over pandemic fraud
If enacted, this bill would make the statute of limitations for many criminal and civil cases tied to pandemic-era programs 10 years. The listed pandemic laws covered include CARES, the Paycheck Protection Program, and the American Rescue Plan Act. The extension applies to certain criminal statutes, civil forfeiture, customs actions, and False Claims Act suits, with discovery-based timing rules.
Afghanistan aid rescinds and reporting
If enacted, this bill would cancel unobligated balances from many Afghanistan reconstruction accounts and transfer the money to the Treasury for deficit reduction. It would also require the State Department to report within 90 days on U.S. direct cash assistance to Afghanistan since August 1, 2021, explaining who got money, how payments were made, how hawalas were used, and how oversight prevented Taliban access. Rescinded amounts would go to the Treasury general fund.
New VA officer to fight veteran scams
If enacted, this bill would create a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer at the VA to help prevent scams and identity theft. The officer would promote the VA fraud hotline and website, coordinate with the VA Inspector General, report fraud metrics to Congress each year, and do outreach with veterans groups. The authority would sunset on September 30, 2030.
Severability to preserve other rules
If enacted, this bill would include a severability clause saying that if one provision is held unconstitutional, the rest of the Act would remain in effect. This would protect the remaining provisions from being voided if a court strikes part of the law.
Ban federal aid to foreign‑agent‑controlled groups
If enacted, this bill would bar any entity that is controlled by an agent of a listed foreign principal from getting direct or indirect U.S. financial assistance. The bill lists covered nations and defines who counts as an agent or controlled actor. Ineligible support would include contracts, grants, loans, vouchers, and other government-funded payments.
Stricter TANF and child care checks
If enacted, this bill would make states report full-population TANF data and require child care payments based on recorded attendance instead of enrollment. Providers would have to keep attendance records for 7 years and allow audits. The HHS Secretary would issue rules within two years and send Congress a 10-year plan to reduce improper payments. HHS and other agencies would get rapid‑fraud triggers and IGs would investigate large payment spikes.
Agency savings paid to Treasury, small awards
If enacted, this bill would require agencies to identify "surplus salaries and expenses" and transfer those amounts to the Treasury general fund. Agencies could keep up to 10 percent of the transferred money to pay cash awards to the employees who found the savings. Agencies must report annually on total savings and awards and OPM would certify agency award programs.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
IA • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
ND • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
IA • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]
AL • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]
MO • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 7/21/2026
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 7/21/2026
Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
MS • R
Sponsored 7/21/2026
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Sen. Graham, Darline [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Sen. Armstrong, Alan [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov