H.R. 8873 Passed the House Finance and Financial Sector

Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act

To recover unclaimed pandemic-era unemployment compensation funds held by financial institutions or escheated to State unclaimed property administrators, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24] Introduced May 19, 2026 Cosponsors 2 (1 D, 1 R) Latest action July 13, 2026

Summary

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.  

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Jul 13, 2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  2. Jun 29, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Jun 29, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4269-4270)
  4. Jun 29, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8873.
  5. Jun 29, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4269-4272)
  6. Jun 29, 2026 Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  7. May 29, 2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 585.
  8. May 29, 2026 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-671.
  9. May 21, 2026 Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
  10. May 21, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  11. May 19, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
  12. May 19, 2026 Introduced in House

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