Congressman Becerra: Congress Must Give Social Security Administration The Tools To Eliminate Fraud And Abuse

Press Release

Today, Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security and Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement after re-introducing The Social Security Fraud Prevention Act. The bill would provide the Social Security Administration with the most cost-effective tools to combat fraud and errors and guarantee funding to the Social Security Administration's fraud investigation team.

Other original co-sponsors from the Ways and Means Committee include Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rep. John Larson (D-CT), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA).

"For millions of hard-working Americans and their families, Social Security is a cornerstone of economic security," said Rep. Becerra. "With every paycheck, Americans pay into a system that will protect them and their families from birth to death. Congress's role is to make sure both the contributions Americans make and the benefits they earn are well-guarded.

"This is why I have reintroduced legislation that will expand the most cost-effective methods of reducing fraud and errors. Social Security fraud is rare, but this legislation would ensure that when it happens, we can use the full force of the law to punish those who steal from our country's crown jewel. While I am disappointed that Republicans failed to act on this legislation in the last Congress, I hope this year we can work together to strengthen and protect Social Security for the millions of hard-working Americans that pay into it."

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