Sen. Cornyn Targets $240 Billion in Stolen Taxpayer Funds with New Anti-Fraud Bill

Texas Border Business

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Protecting American Taxpayers Act, a comprehensive legislative package to recover stolen funds, protect taxpayer dollars, and stop fraudsters that includes his Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act, which would establish a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

“Congress must do more to protect innocent Americans who are being defrauded left and right while crooks and illegal migrants profit,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this package of legislation, which includes my VSAFE Act to protect veterans from scams, to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, scammers are held accountable, and fraud is rooted out once and for all.”

The Protecting American Taxpayers Act is led by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and cosponsored by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Jim Banks (R-IN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Jon Husted (R-OH), Dave McCormick (R-PA), and James Lankford (R-OK).

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Background:

The Protecting American Taxpayers Act includes the following initiatives to hold fraudsters accountable:

• Sen. Cornyn’s VSAFE Act to establish a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assist with fraud and scam prevention, reporting, and incident response plans;
• The Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act to establish a task force to combat deep fake scams;
• The SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act and the Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act to extend the statutes of limitations to ensure criminals are caught and held accountable;
• The Fraud Alert Systems Act to require the U.S. Treasury to have a description of and crosscheck every payment;
• The Stopping Transfers of Public Funds Abroad Act to require individuals who want to conduct international wire transfers to certify that they do not receive public assistance;
• And the Expanding Whistleblower Protection for Contractors Act to close loopholes in whistleblower protection laws.

The package includes the following initiatives to recover wasteful funds:

• The Stop Fraud Before Payment Act and WALZ Act to require payments be made as reimbursements only after a service has been provided;
• The Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act to prevent criminals convicted of defrauding the Small Business Administration from receiving future assistance;
• The Returning Unspent COVID Funds Act to claw back more than $65 billion in unused COVID funds;
• The Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act to allow Inspectors General to pay out bonuses to employees who uncover fraud in government programs;
• And the Improper Payments Transparency Act to require data on improper payments in the President’s annual budget request.

The package includes the following initiatives to protect taxpayer dollars:

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• The JOBS for Success Act to increase accountability for employment outcomes through updates to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program;
• The No Funding for Foreign Agents Act to prohibit funds from going to countries under travel bans or arms embargos;
• The No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act to disclose cash assistance in Afghanistan to prevent Taliban access;

And the Stop Secret Spending Act to require tax dollars hidden through “Other Transaction Agreements” to be disclosed.

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