Michelle Fischbach (R-MN)
Federal Benefits Repatriation Verification Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Federal Benefits Repatriation Verification Act of 2026 aims to restrict noncitizens who receive Federal benefits from transferring more than $1,000 outside of the United States within a 12-month period. It requires these individuals to certify their compliance annually to maintain their benefit eligibility. The bill mandates that financial institutions and remittance providers report transactions and check a new Treasury database before processing transfers. The Department of the Treasury will establish a centralized "Treasury Repatriation Verification Database" to monitor these transactions and calculate totals in real-time. Failure to comply can result in the suspension of benefits and the recovery of payments by Federal agencies.
Yes
- Scored +3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill allows federal agencies to recoup improper payments made during periods of noncompliance.
The opposite· 3 of 11
- Scored -8
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill imposes strict financial limits and annual certification requirements on noncitizens receiving federal assistance.
- Scored -7
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill mandates real-time tracking and reporting of personal financial transfers by noncitizens to the Treasury.
- Scored -6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill penalizes low-income noncitizens by threatening to suspend essential benefits like SNAP or Medicaid for exceeding transfer limits.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Establishment of Monitoring Systems: The creation of the Treasury Repatriation Verification Database allows for a secure, centralized system to track repatriation transactions and calculate totals in real-time (Section 5).
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Data Security Protocols: The bill requires that all data collection and sharing must comply with Federal privacy laws and cybersecurity standards, including the use of encryption and access controls (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Funds: Noncitizens receiving Federal benefits, such as Social Security, SNAP, or Medicaid, are prohibited from transferring more than $1,000 outside of the United States in any 12-month period (Section 3).
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Loss of Benefits: An individual who violates the repatriation limit will be ineligible to receive any Federal public benefit, and such benefits may be suspended until compliance is reestablished (Section 3 and Section 6).
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Administrative Burdens for Individuals: Covered individuals must annually certify that they have not violated the repatriation limit as part of their continued benefits eligibility review (Section 3).
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Loss of Benefits due to Inaction: A noncitizen who fails to submit the required annual certification will be deemed ineligible to receive their Federal public benefit (Section 3).
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Financial Recovery: Federal agencies are authorized to recover improper payments that were made during a period of noncompliance (Section 6).
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Financial Institution Mandates: Financial institutions, money service businesses, and cryptocurrency exchanges must perform real-time queries of the Treasury database and are required to deny any transactions that would exceed the set limit (Section 4).
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill imposes strict financial limits and annual certification requirements on noncitizens receiving federal assistance. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill penalizes low-income noncitizens by threatening to suspend essential benefits like SNAP or Medicaid for exceeding transfer limits. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill restricts the ability of noncitizens to remit funds, which heavily impacts many Hispanic immigrant households.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill restricts the ability of noncitizens to send money to families abroad, which can be a vital source of support for households. Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill makes Social Security benefit eligibility contingent upon complying with the $1,000 repatriation limit. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill places specific restrictions and compliance burdens on noncitizens, a group that often faces systemic inequities. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill implements financial monitoring of noncitizens rather than traditional border control measures.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill mandates real-time tracking and reporting of personal financial transfers by noncitizens to the Treasury. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The creation of a new database increases government surveillance of the financial transactions of noncitizens.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill threatens the continuity of Medicaid benefits for noncitizens who exceed the $1,000 repatriation limit.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill allows federal agencies to recoup improper payments made during periods of noncompliance.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill requires the creation of a new centralized database containing identification data and transaction history of covered individuals.
- 4/2/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Pete StauberRepublican · Minnesota