OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Condemning Actors Seeking to Defraud the United States Government, and Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives That Governmentwide Fraud and Improper Payment Prevention Reforms Will Meaningfully Improve the Financial Prosperity of the United States, and That Federal Program Eligibility Should Be Verified Before Payment

Floor Speech

Date: June 11, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. FINSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Sessions for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1335.

For far too long, fraud has run rampant through our federally funded, State-administered programs in States like mine, Minnesota. It has allowed bad actors to steal billions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars, taxpayer dollars meant to feed hungry children, taxpayer dollars meant to help with and assist low-income adults, taxpayer dollars that were intended to help veterans afford housing, and taxpayer dollars that were meant to provide affordable childcare.

This administration and congressional Republicans remain committed to putting an end to this nonsense and making sure assistance programs are there to serve our neighbors who truly need them, not fraudsters.

Mr. Speaker, I am just a commonsense farmer from southern Minnesota. It is beyond me and my understanding that tackling this fraud epidemic in this country should not be defined by the sweatshirt and the label we have on that sweatshirt. It should not be a sweatshirt with an ``R'' on it. It should not be a sweatshirt with a ``D.'' This should be the issue that we all put on the sweatshirt that has ``USA.''

We are protecting the taxpayers of this country. We should be committed to putting these fraudsters in jail. That should not be a partisan issue. That should not be a red-State or a blue-State issue.

Earlier this week, the House Oversight Committee released a report exposing, in my State of Minnesota, how Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison were aware of the widespread fraud taking place throughout the State. They had the authority to stop it, and they failed to act.

Today's resolution affirms our commitment to combating waste, fraud, and abuse. It is our commitment that we need to protect the generosity of the American taxpayer. I am proud to support this legislation that holds fraudsters accountable.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

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