Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act
Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act
Plain Language Summary
# Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act - Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would extend the time limit for prosecuting fraud cases related to COVID-19 relief programs from 5 years to 10 years. Currently, prosecutors and civil authorities have only five years to bring charges or lawsuits against people who fraudulently obtained pandemic relief money. The bill would give them twice as long to investigate and pursue these cases.
Two COVID programs—the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program—already have 10-year limits, so this bill would bring other relief programs in line with those standards. **Who it affects and current status:** The bill would affect anyone who received COVID-19 relief funds fraudulently, as well as federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies tasked with recovering misused funds. It could also impact victims of fraud seeking civil restitution. As of now, the bill is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate, meaning it remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds ActThis bill extends the statute of limitations (i.e., time limit for bringing a legal action) to 10 years for criminal and civil violations involving specified COVID-19 pandemic relief programs, such as violations involving fraudulent activity. Under current law, the statute of limitations is generally five years for violations concerning these pandemic-era programs. The Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program currently have 10-year statutes of limitations relating to program fraud.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.