Maxine Waters (D-CA)
DPA Transparency Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The DPA Transparency Act of 2026 seeks to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950. It aims to limit eligibility for assistance by preventing entities where specific high-ranking individuals or their families hold significant interests from receiving aid. The bill also increases monetary penalties from $10,000 to $100,000 in several sections. Additionally, it establishes new fraud risk management processes and training requirements for the Committee. Finally, it includes a technical correction for the short title of the original Act.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +8
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Increases transparency by requiring fraud risk assessments and summaries of steps taken to reduce fraud.
- Scored +5
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Mandates GAO-standard fraud risk management and reporting.
- Scored +1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
Reduced fraud in DPA transactions may prevent wasteful government spending.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this?
High-ranking officials and their families with significant interests are barred from receiving DPA assistance.
- Scored -2
Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this?
High-ranking officials and their families with significant interests are barred from receiving DPA assistance.
- Scored -2
Would billionaires be better off under this?
High-ranking officials and their families with significant interests are barred from receiving DPA assistance.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Accountability for Officials: By limiting assistance to entities where the President, Vice President, or members of the Defense Production Act Committee (and their close family members) hold significant interests, the bill seeks to prevent conflicts of interest. (Section 2)
-
Stronger Deterrence of Wrongdoing: Increasing monetary penalties from $10,000 to $100,000 across multiple sections provides a much higher financial consequence for violations. (Section 3)
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Improved Oversight of Government Funds: The bill requires the establishment of formal processes and procedures to combat fraud based on leading practices. (Section 4)
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Enhanced Fraud Prevention: By requiring a summary of steps taken to reduce fraud and a formal fraud risk assessment, the bill aims to better protect transactions undertaken under the Act. (Section 4)
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Dedicated Fraud Oversight: The mandate to train personnel and designate a specific point of contact within the Committee creates a more structured way to manage and coordinate fraud-related issues. (Section 4)
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on Assistance Eligibility: Certain entities may lose their eligibility for assistance if they are owned or controlled by a "covered individual" or their family members holding a significant interest of at least 20 percent. (Section 2)
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Increases transparency by requiring fraud risk assessments and summaries of steps taken to reduce fraud.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Mandates GAO-standard fraud risk management and reporting. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Improved fraud risk management may reduce unnecessary expenditures. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Reduced fraud in DPA transactions may prevent wasteful government spending.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would billionaires be better off under this? — High-ranking officials and their families with significant interests are barred from receiving DPA assistance. Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this? — High-ranking officials and their families with significant interests are barred from receiving DPA assistance. Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this? — High-ranking officials and their families with significant interests are barred from receiving DPA assistance.
- 3/20/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Introduced in House