CONGANALYTICS
Bills/HR 8873
HR 8873In Committee

Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act

Legislative Progress
Introduced
Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Both Chambers
Enacted
SummaryReported to House
2026-05-29

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.  

Text Versions4 versions
VersionDateFormats
Referred in Senate2026-07-13T04:00:00Z
Engrossed in House2026-06-29T04:00:00Z
Reported in House2026-05-29T04:00:00Z
Introduced in House2026-05-19T04:00:00Z
Introduced2026-05-19
119th Congress
Cosponsors0
Co-sponsoring members
Policy Area
Primary subject
Last Action2026-07-13
Received in the Senate and Read twice an
Legislative Subjects10 total
Advisory bodiesCardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment studies and investigationsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsState and local financeState and local government operationsUnemployment
Latest Action2026-07-13

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.