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Medicare fraud prevention week: protecting TANF
Every dollar stolen from a program meant for struggling families is a dollar that is stolen from the taxpayer, and worse, is a dollar that never reaches the people who need it most. Fraudsters shouldn't be able to get away with it, and states that can't protect taxpayer dollars shouldn't be trusted with them.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) spends $16.5 billion every year to help low-income families get back on their feet, and it’s one of the only federal programs that isn’t even required to measure improper payments.
Last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the bulk of TANF spending operates with almost no financial guardrails, and one witness told the Ways and Means Committee the lack of oversight had created an environment that supports widespread fraud.
I joined House Republicans today to address all of this and pass the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act.
Here’s a quick run-down on what the bill does:
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Holds states accountable by requiring TANF to measure and report improper payments—and sets a goal to eliminate them within 10 years.
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Delivers money to families who actually need it, verifying a clear income threshold.
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Stops states from cheating the system by ensuring they have skin in the game.
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Lets states set aside "rainy-day funds" so help is already there when crises occur.
The Trump Administration has made stopping this kind of theft a priority; the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, led by Vice President JD Vance, has been rooting out waste and abuse across government programs, and this week, the House did its part by advancing this bill to the Senate.
Protecting our families in need and taxpayer dollar integrity go hand in hand. In Congress, I’ll continue to support families across the Treasure Coast.