Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Protecting American Taxpayers Act
A bill to combat fraud in Federal programs, and for other purposes.
A Republican bill with 29 Republican cosponsors · See all 29 cosponsors
Last activity — Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 452.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The Protecting American Taxpayers Act aims to reduce fraud and improper payments across various Federal programs. It establishes stricter reporting and audit requirements for health care and child care services and extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic-era fraud. The bill also restricts financial assistance to agents of specific foreign principals and opposes support for the Taliban. Additionally, it creates a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer and expands whistleblower protections for government contractors. Finally, it mandates the rescission of unused COVID-19 funding for deficit reduction.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +8
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Mandates the rescission of unused pandemic-era funding and establishes mechanisms to identify surplus agency funds.
- Scored +8
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Implements stricter reporting for improper payments and mandates recovery of stolen or misused Federal funds.
- Scored +7
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
Rescinds unobligated COVID-19 funds and surplus agency funds specifically for deficit reduction.
The opposite· 3 of 10
- Scored -7
Would immigrants be better off under this?
Strictly prohibits and penalizes remittance transfers for those receiving public assistance.
- Scored -6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Creates severe financial penalties ($100k fine) for low-income public assistance recipients sending remittances abroad.
- Scored -5
Does this send more money or help to other countries?
Mandates the suspension of aid to countries or NGOs that provide assistance to the Taliban.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Veterans Protection: Establishes a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer to help veterans and their families identify, report, and avoid consumer fraud and scams (Sec. 3602).
- Whistleblower Protections: Expands protections for contractors and employees of contractors from reprisal when disclosing gross mismanagement, waste of funds, or dangers to public health and safety (Sec. 3702).
- Deep Fake Prevention: Requires a report on best practices for financial institutions to protect consumers from data theft, identity theft, and fraud caused by artificial intelligence and deep fakes (Sec. 3103).
- Fraud Prevention in Child Care: Requires child care providers to be paid based on actual recorded attendance rather than enrollment alone, reducing potential fraud (Sec. 1102).
- Improved Program Integrity: Strengthens the TANF program by measuring improper payments and ensuring Federal funds supplement rather than replace State spending (Sec. 2101, Sec. 2102).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Penalties for Public Assistance Recipients: Imposes a $100,000 fine on individuals receiving public assistance who conduct remittance transfers after declaring they would not (Sec. 3502).
- Restriction of Business Assistance: Prohibits small business concerns from receiving financial assistance if an associate has been convicted of financial misconduct related to specific covered loans or grants (Sec. 1202).
- Loss of Funding: Rescinds unobligated balances from several pandemic-era laws, including the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act, to reduce the deficit (Sec. 1402).
- Increased Data Sharing: Grants the Secretary of the Treasury expanded access to personally identifiable information from the Social Security Administration and the National Directory of New Hires (Sec. 3403).
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.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Implements stricter reporting for improper payments and mandates recovery of stolen or misused Federal funds. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Mandates the rescission of unused pandemic-era funding and establishes mechanisms to identify surplus agency funds. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Rescinds unobligated COVID-19 funds and surplus agency funds specifically for deficit reduction. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Requires a report on best practices for financial institutions to protect consumers from AI-driven deep fake scams. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Prohibits financial assistance for small businesses if an associate has been convicted of financial misconduct.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Establishes a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer to protect veterans from consumer fraud. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Strictly prohibits and penalizes remittance transfers for those receiving public assistance. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Creates severe financial penalties ($100k fine) for low-income public assistance recipients sending remittances abroad. Would business owners be better off under this? — Restricts assistance to small business owners convicted of financial misconduct.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — Expands government access to personally identifiable information from the SSA and National Directory of New Hires.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Imposes heavy fines on public assistance recipients who conduct remittance transfers.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Creates a dedicated officer to prevent veterans from falling victim to scams and fraud. Does this send more money or help to other countries? — Mandates the suspension of aid to countries or NGOs that provide assistance to the Taliban. Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — Expresses a sense of Congress opposing the normalization of relations with the Taliban.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires public reporting of payment information on the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act website. Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases federal oversight of State programs (TANF) regarding improper payments and reporting. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Grants the Treasury expanded access to private tax and social security data for program integrity checks. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Imposes stricter federal reporting and non-supplantation requirements on State agencies.
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/23/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 7/20/2026
- 21 Cosponsors added.
- 7/14/2026
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 452.
- 7/13/2026
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- Alan Armstrong
Republican · Oklahoma
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
John BarrassoRepublican · Wyoming
Jim BanksRepublican · Indiana
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
- Darline Graham
Republican · South Carolina
Bill HagertyRepublican · Tennessee
Jon HustedRepublican · Ohio
James JusticeRepublican · West Virginia
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas
Bernie MorenoRepublican · Ohio
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana