Rep. Kennedy Joins Push to End Fraud Draining Care from Vulnerable Americans

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) joined a fraud roundtable led by Rep. Brandon Gill (TX-26) following Daily Wire’s exposure of a quarter-billion-dollar Medicaid scam in Ohio. Since taking office, Congressman Kennedy has advanced legislative initiatives aimed at increasing accountability, strengthening oversight and rooting out waste, fraud and abuse across federal programs. These efforts include the Stop Childcare Funding Fraud Act, the Ensuring Medicaid Eligibility Act and the Let’s Get to Work Act. Through these initiatives, Congressman Kennedy continues the work of promoting transparency and  integrity in federal spending. Fraudsters who exploit Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal healthcare programs steal taxpayer dollars and divert critical healthcare resources away from seniors, vulnerable families, individuals with disabilities, and other Americans who genuinely depend on these programs. 

“This criminal behavior is enriching filthy individuals who deserve to be in jail” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that didn't go to someone who needed it. That should bother all of us... Republicans and Democrats. Decades of ducking responsibility to the taxpayer have left us with $39 trillion debt. That is the crushing, unsustainable legacy we're handing our kids unless we act.”

Kennedy continued: “When fraud happens, it's not just the taxpayers who lose, it is the kids and families these dollars were intended to help. Utah families work hard and pay their taxes, expecting Washington to be good stewards of that money. My Stop Child Care Funding Fraud Act makes certain that fraudsters face real consequences and brings transparency to how states are spending these funds. I will continue to fight to root out waste, fraud, and abuse wherever it exists — because every federal dollar meant for America's children must reach America's children.”

"Fraud is not a victimless crime. Fraudsters steal money from innocent people who are meant to benefit from these programs, Medicare, Medicaid, home health,” said RSC Vice Chair Ben Cline (R-VA). “One of the main weapons that we have is transparency."

“The American people want to know that their tax dollars are actually being used for the American people, not for foreigners, not for fraudsters,” said Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX). “Our job is to stop it, to get the bad guys in jail by issuing criminal referrals."

“It's unfortunate when people come to this country, have no intent in helping build this country, but are just simply here to defraud the American citizens who are here and working to build this country,” said Congressman Michael Cloud (R-TX). “The waste, fraud, and abuse is turned into a money laundering scheme for leftist organizations."

"We are not providing federal funding for the purpose of subsidizing negligence, incompetence, or corruption,” said Congressman Laurel Lee (R-FL). “Every dollar that is stolen is $1 that is no longer available for vulnerable Americans who actually need these services."

“We found over a trillion dollars in duplication and increased bureaucracy,” said Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN). “Every time the Democrats holler and say, 'Oh, you're cutting this program,' you're damn right. We're cutting the waste, abuse, and fraud.”

"This is not just going to be hearings after hearings. There's going to be arrests and prosecutions,” said Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ). “We have to end this now. What we're uncovering is criminals."

Background

Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX), who chairs the House Oversight Committee's newly formed Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses, announced the task force is launching a formal investigation with subpoena power to issue criminal referrals. 

The roundtable comes as House Republicans push aggressive fraud enforcement measures, building on President Trump and Vice President Vance's White House Fraud Task Force that has already deferred billions of dollars in Medicaid reimbursements from states failing to stop fraud and put a hold on new hospice and home health care licenses until states comply with integrity requirements.

Members in attendance included RSC Vice Chair Ben Cline (VA-06), Reps. Michael Cloud (TX-27), Laurel Lee (FL-15), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Mike Kennedy (UT-03), Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08), and Ralph Norman (SC-05).