Indy Standard

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has approved the Complete COVID Collections Act, a legislative proposal aimed at recovering billions of taxpayer dollars lost to fraud during the pandemic. This initiative was introduced by Senators Todd Young from Indiana and Joni Ernst from Iowa following warnings from the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) about its expiring authority, which could allow fraudsters to evade accountability for stealing over $200 billion.

Senator Young expressed concern over misuse of relief programs intended for small businesses, stating, “Programs designed to provide relief to our small businesses were repeatedly taken advantage of, leaving small businesses hurting and taxpayers on the hook.” He emphasized his support for efforts to recover these funds and prevent further abuse.

Senator Ernst voiced her determination to reclaim misappropriated funds: “I will not allow fraudsters to get away with stealing hundreds of billions of dollars from taxpayers.” She criticized what she described as an irresponsible approach in Washington towards federal spending, linking it to the national debt exceeding $36 trillion. Ernst underscored the importance of treating tax revenue with care similar to personal budgeting rather than as a limitless resource.

The bill also received backing from Senators Marsha Blackburn, James Lankford, Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, and John Curtis. The full text of the legislation is available for review.