Senate Republicans Unveil $240 Billion WALZ Act Package to Curb Welfare and COVID Fraud
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 15
Senate Republicans Unveil $240 Billion WALZ Act Package to Curb Welfare and COVID Fraud
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 15
Summary
$240 billion in projected taxpayer savings anchors a Senate Republican anti-fraud package led by the new WALZ Act, which targets welfare schemes, COVID fund abuse, remittance misuse and repeat fraud offenders.
The bill would shift federal payments to reimbursement after services are proven and trigger an HHS inspector general probe when a state program's disbursements rise more than 10% over six months.
$65 billion in unspent COVID funds would be clawed back under a companion measure, while another proposal would extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic fraud.
Sen. Joni Ernst and other Republicans tied the package to Minnesota's Feeding Our Futures scandal, using Gov. Tim Walz's name to symbolize what they call unchecked government waste.
John Thune could move the multi-bill package toward a Senate vote as early as late this week, though its prospects will depend on clearing procedural hurdles.