Leadership Steve Scalise RSS Articles

The Leader's Floor Lookout: Thursday, June 11, 2026

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Standing Up Against Bad Actors Committed to Defrauding the United States

Taxpayers expect their hard-earned dollars to be spent responsibly. But since 2003, the federal government has made an estimated $3 trillion of improper payments, including payments lost to waste, fraud, and abuse. Every dollar improperly spent is a dollar taken away from working families.

Billions of taxpayer dollars are lost to fraud every year because of weak oversight and preventable errors. One of the biggest drivers is a practice known as “pay and chase,” where federally funded programs send out payments before verifying whether recipients are eligible or even legitimate. It is a reckless system that invites fraud, wastes taxpayer dollars, and leaves agencies scrambling to recover money after it is already gone.

House Republicans continue to advance commonsense measures to combat fraud, protect taxpayer dollars, and strengthen fiscal responsibility. Today, the House will consider legislation condemning those who defraud taxpayers and supporting reforms that prevent fraud before it occurs, including stronger up-front eligibility verification before federal payments are issued.

H. Res. 1335, sponsored by Rep. Pat Fallon, denounces the individuals who abuse and defraud taxpayer dollars and government entities and pledges that reforms which address fraud prevention will meaningfully improve the financial prosperity of the United States, most notably through up-front verification for eligibility before payments are issued.

House Republicans are committed to advancing commonsense fraud measures and preventing fraud before it occurs.

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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars in National Emergencies

Every year, the federal government loses hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent and improper payments. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), those losses total between $233 billion and $521 billion annually. Far too often, these hard-earned dollars are gone for good, with no chance to be recovered.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how vulnerable federal emergency programs are to waste, fraud, and abuse. As the government rushed to distribute an unprecedented influx of federal spending, the need for rapid deployment, and limited safeguards strained oversight systems and left billions of taxpayer dollars vulnerable to fraud. Once those payments were made, much of the money was impossible to recover. Americans expect the government to respond quickly during times of crisis, but they also expect taxpayer dollars to be protected.

While Congress may never know how much money fraudsters ripped off from the American people, the estimated hundreds of billions of dollars dispersed in fraudulent payments is unacceptable. To combat this preventable problem, House Republicans are bringing forward H.R. 8312 today, which will establish permanent preventative measures that provide greater oversight of emergency funds and can flag suspicious payments before they are lost for good.

Rep. Pete Sessions’ legislation, H.R. 8312, the Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act, expands U.S. Treasury Fiscal Service’s financial and program integrity services and establishes a permanent Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery to provide sustained oversight during future national emergencies and maintain the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s (PRAC) anti-fraud data analytics tools.

By prioritizing fraud prevention, House Republicans are working to ensure that no more taxpayer dollars are exploited by fraudsters during a time of crisis.

Preventing Fraud Through Commonsense Reforms

Fraudsters are stealing billions of taxpayer dollars from federal programs every year. For FY 2025 alone, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates $186 billion of taxpayer dollars were improperly paid through fraudulent actions, and the rate only continues to rise.

In states like Democrat-run Minnesota, weak oversight of state-administered federal programs has allowed fraudsters to steal billions of taxpayer dollars intended to help Americans in need. In Minnesota alone, social services programs have been linked to an estimated $9 billion in fraudulent payments. Despite the availability of tools and resources to prevent improper payments, there is currently no government-wide requirement for federal agencies and state-administered programs to conduct anti-fraud verification before taxpayer dollars are distributed.

Today, House Republicans are advancing legislation to ensure government agencies address fraud risks before taxpayer dollars go out the door. The bill allows agencies to pause, segment, or cancel payments flagged as potentially fraudulent before they are distributed, providing time for corrective action and helping stop fraud before taxpayer dollars are lost.

Chairman James Comer’s measure, H.R. 8464, the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act, strengthens the federal payment system by building on oversight of state-administered programs, preventing federal agencies from making payments when an agency has deemed a program to be at an elevated risk for fraud or improper payments, and gives the U.S. Treasury new authority to return payment requests to agencies if they appear to be at risk for fraud.

House Republicans are working tirelessly to ensure agencies shift their focus from fraud recovery to fraud prevention in order to responsibly handle taxpayer dollars.

Rooting out Fraud in Federal Student Aid

Federal student aid programs provide loans, grants, and work-study assistance to help students afford a post-secondary education. But increasingly, fraudsters are exploiting the system by posing as fake "ghost students" and stealing taxpayer-funded aid.

A lack of financial means should never prevent a student from pursuing an education. Yet every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that cannot go to a deserving student. In FY24, 9.9 million students received $120.8 billion in aid through the Office of Federal Student Aid. That same year, California online colleges reported that 34% of aid applicants were likely fraudulent, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards.

To protect students and taxpayers, House Republicans are advancing legislation requiring the Department of Education to use fraud detection systems to identify suspicious FAFSA applications. Applicants flagged by the system would be required to verify their identity through an in-person meeting or video call before receiving aid. In a 2025 pilot program, the Department estimated these safeguards saved taxpayers more than $1 billion.

H.R. 7892, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act, by Rep. Burgess Owens, tackles fraud in student aid by requiring the Secretary of Education to use a detection system to review, identify, and investigate suspicious FAFSA applications before any aid is distributed. The legislation also strengthens accountability by prioritizing audits of schools that recklessly distribute aid to unscreened or suspicious applicants.

House Republicans will preserve student aid for hardworking and deserving students who have earned it, while carefully protecting federal funds.

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The Leader's Floor Lookout: Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Fully Funding ICE and CBP Officers

After four years of chaos at the border under President Biden, President Trump and Republicans delivered the most secure border in modern history, with illegal crossings plummeting to record lows. Yet for more than 100 days, congressional Democrats have refused to advance funding for the agencies on the front lines of homeland security: ICE and Border Patrol.

Every day, ICE and CBP officers put themselves in harm's way to combat terrorism, dismantle human trafficking networks, stop the flow of deadly drugs, take down cartels, and keep Americans safe. Yet Democrats have repeatedly chosen far-left political games over providing these brave men and women with the resources they need to do their jobs.

Without sustained funding, the progress made over the last several months cannot be maintained. That's why House Republicans are bringing the Secure America Act to the floor. This measure fully funds ICE at $38 billion, CBP at $26 billion, and provides an additional $5 billion to address unforeseen operational needs.

Introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham, S. 2, the Secure America Act will fully fund ICE and CBP through fiscal year 2029, guaranteeing these agencies have the necessary resources to carry out President Trump’s border agenda and ensuring congressional Democrats will no longer be able to stymie funding required to keep Americans safe.

House Republicans will continue to stand by our courageous law enforcement officers who work relentlessly to secure our border and protect American families.

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Scalise: Taxpayer Money is For Americans Who Need It, Not For Criminal Organizations

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) to discuss House Republican efforts to crack down on fraud and ensure taxpayer dollars reach the Americans they were intended to help—not criminals exploiting the system. Leader Scalise also highlighted House Republican efforts to strengthen national security by funding border security and renewing critical counterterrorism tools.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise's full remarks.

Highlights from Leader Scalise's remarks:

On rooting out fraud and protecting vulnerable Americans:

“We're bringing a number of additional bills this week to combat fraud, and it's something that we've been seeing, we've been exposing, we've been bringing more tools forward so that we can root out fraud to protect taxpayers. And it's not just taxpayers who suffer, it's a lot of these programs that were intended to help mostly low-income people, kids with disabilities. If you think about some of the Minnesota fraud that's going on in the, the 'learing centers' that you all now know about. That money was intended for students, for children, in some cases children with autism, where that money was stolen by fraudsters. And the government, Tim Walz, Keith Ellison, looked the other way – they knew what was going on, whistleblowers have been telling us that, and they looked the other way – and let the fraud continue. And let the theft of that money continue.

“Again, it's not just billions, tens of billions of dollars stolen from taxpayers. It's money that's not going to people who need it, people with disabilities, senior citizens. Dr. Oz has talked about some of the fraud that he's seen in programs like hospice, where criminal organizations, not just individuals, in some cases foreign countries operating with criminal entities and enterprises are setting up shops to steal tens of billions of dollars, in some cases taking programs away from people, healthcare programs away, and forcing people into things that they don't need, taking away benefits they paid into their whole life. And those dollars are gone, and we're now working to root it out.

“You would think this would be an initiative that everybody in Congress would work on together. I wish it was. Sadly, you saw the vote last week. We brought a bill forward to root out fraud in childcare centers. So it's not just suspected fraud, but if somebody's actually convicted of stealing money from childcare programs, we bet a bill that says you can't participate anymore if you've already stolen money from taxpayers. And do you know that 98% of Democrats on the House floor last week voted against that bill? 98% of Democrats voted to protect the fraudsters who were stealing money from childcare programs. That's who Democrats are protecting. They're protecting criminals who are stealing money from children. It's that basic. So we're going to continue to bring more bills to protect the taxpayers of this country, to root out the fraud that we're seeing.”

On protecting national security:

“We're also, of course, bringing a bill later today on reconciliation 2.0 to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. The final piece, as you know, is to fund ICE and Border Protection. This is a piece that Democrats have said they don't want to fund because they want open borders. They have made it crystal clear, the Democrat Party in Washington, that they want to go back to open borders, and we're not going to do that. We need to fully fund this department, especially at a time of heightened security threats.

“We also need to make sure that we renew FISA. One of the reasons that the Speaker's not here right now is he's over at the White House working with the President to finalize this agreement on FISA. You have the bill over in the Senate. We, of course, passed a bill to have a long-term renewal of FISA. The bill is over in the Senate. They're having negotiations right now, and hopefully they get it resolved. We stand ready to move that bill as soon as it's resolved in the Senate. But, you know, hopefully that happens today, tomorrow. But it's important that that program does not go dark on Friday when it expires, because just understand, FISA has been used time and time again to stop terrorist attacks here on our homeland, on American soil, to prevent terrorist attacks. And that's a critical, critical tool that we need to renew.”

On how anti-business policies drive away jobs and investment:

“I will point out a Truth Social post that [Rep.] Marlin Stutzman put out over the weekend chronicling— a lot of you may be familiar— the Chicago Bears are looking at moving right now to Indiana. Yes, the Chicago Bears playing in Indiana. And you would ask why. He literally lays out in brutal detail how Democrats at all levels in Chicago and the state of Illinois literally ran the Chicago Bears out of Chicago and out of the state of Illinois. And I think it's just important to point out, when you look at what's coming up and what's the difference between the two parties, how one party, literally after 100 years of the Chicago Bears playing football in Chicago, they're going to ultimately end up playing in Indiana. And they didn't want to. They wanted to stay. But now a, you know, multi-billion dollar program with jobs, with tax revenue, all of that is going to leave the state of Illinois because they ran it out of the state through very specific actions that Marlin Stutzman chronicled.”

On raising money for charity with the Congressional Baseball Game:

“With that, finally, hopefully I see a lot of you out tomorrow night at the baseball game. Republicans will be playing the Democrats in a spirited competition. It is officially now a sellout. 38,000 tickets have been sold. Which is pretty impressive when you think about it, and over $3 million for local charities raised already in the bank. And that's something we're very proud of. It helps a lot of youth programs here in the District of Columbia, and it's something that Republicans and Democrats come together to do. We want to beat the Democrats. We beat them last year, 13 to 2. We want to beat them again. But we also come together to raise money for a really good cause. Hope to see all of you there.”

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Scalise: Democrats Once Again Side with Open Borders Over Public Safety

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Angel Families to celebrate the passage of the Secure America Act. Leader Scalise highlighted the fact that every House Democrat voted against funding the ICE agents, Border Patrol agents, and law enforcement officers who secure America's border and keep communities safe.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise's full remarks.

Leader Scalise's remarks:

“Today, Democrats proved once again with their voices and with their votes that they want open borders and that they are willing to vote to defund the police. We've seen time and time again, whether it was the defund the police movement years ago in local communities and now here at the federal level, when we had to fight for months during a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security to properly fund the agency, and especially the law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep our communities safe and enforce our immigration laws, keeping violent criminals out of our communities.

“When I spoke on the House floor earlier today for the bill, I mentioned, sadly, the many, many victims who have been murdered by people who came here illegally that our Border Patrol agents are trying to stop from coming into our country and trying to find and get out of our country so they can't kill more Americans. And yet every Democrat voted no because they want to defund those very law enforcement officers. It's disgraceful, but it's telling to the American people who want safe communities and deserve safe streets.

“We've worked closely with this president to provide safety in communities to the point where now we have the lowest murder rate in over 100 years. And yet there's still violent criminals out there. There's still terrorists who are trying to commit attacks here on our homeland. That's why we need a fully funded Department of Homeland Security. And Democrats time and time again voted to shut the entire agency down, leading to TSA lines. Let's not forget that. Leading to turmoil for millions of American families. And they don't care. They don't care about those families because all they want to do is continue to fight up here anything President Trump does, including trying to secure the border.

“If President Trump says he's going to secure the border, then they deem that something they will fight against, and they want an open border. Well, that's not where America is. I know we've got families up here who have truly felt the impact of this violence of some of these horrible people that have come into our country and committed some of the most violent crimes. We keep them all in our prayers. We continue to not only pray for them but work and vote to ensure that our Department of Homeland Security has the tools to keep our country safe so this never happens again.”

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Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of June 8, 2026

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for from House Republican committees during the week:

Agriculture

On Wednesday, June 10, the Committee on Agriculture will hold a full committee hearing called "Agricultural Perspectives on the Future of the USMCA."

Appropriations

On Tuesday, June 9, the Committee on Appropriations will hold a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill and the Fiscal Year 2027 Homeland Security Bill.

On Thursday, June 11, the Subcommittee on Defense will hold a closed markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Defense Bill.

Education & Workforce

On Tuesday, June 9, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold a hearing called "On Call for America: Strengthening Access Through Locum Tenens Providers."

On Wednesday, June 10, the Committee on Education & Workforce will hold a full committee hearing called "Breaking Trust: Attacks on Parental Rights, Inappropriate Content, and Legal Abuses in America’s Schools."

On Friday, June 12, the Committee on Education & Workforce will hold a full committee field hearing called "Calling the Fouls: Accountability and Transparency in NCAA Enforcement."

Energy & Commerce

On Tuesday, June 9, the Subcommittee on Energy will hold a hearing called "Nuclear Permitting Reform: Legislation to Advance Efficient Licensing."

On Wednesday, June 10, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing called "Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: Examining Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency."

Financial Services

On Tuesday, June 9, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing called "Converging Criminal Enterprises: Chinese Money Laundering Networks and Cartel Financing in the U.S. Financial System."

On Wednesday, June 10, the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance will hold a hearing called "Examining Local Needs in Disaster Recovery."

On Friday, June 12, the Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity will hold a field hearing called "Examining the Structure of the Federal Reserve System."

Foreign Affairs

On Tuesday, June 9, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a full committee markup on the following bills:

H.R. 9086, To amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to modify and improve that Act (Lawler)
H.R. 9062, To increase the capacity and effectiveness of the Department in supporting American businesses operating overseas and protecting American industries from adversaries, and for other purposes (Kim)
H.R. 1939, To require the imposition of sanctions with respect to conflict in Sudan, and for other purposes (Meeks)
H.R. 9087, To direct the Secretary of State to take actions with respect to certain foreign affairs matters (Mast)

House Administration

On Wednesday, June 10, the Committee on House Administration will hold a full committee hearing called “Preventing Fraudulent Donations: Transparency, Verification, and Accountability.”

Judiciary

On Tuesday, June 9, the Judiciary Committee will hold a full committee hearing called "The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II."

On Wednesday, June 10, the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust will hold a hearing called "Examining the Sports Broadcasting Act."

Natural Resources

On Tuesday, June 9, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs will hold a legislative hearing on the following measures:

H.R. 6917, To take certain land into trust for the benefit of the Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians (Titus)
H.R. 8473, the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act (Begich)
H.R. 8954, the Tribal Regulatory Reform Implementation Act of 2026 (Hurd)

On Wednesday, June 10, the Committee on Natural Resources will hold a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025 (Dingell)
H.R. 3925, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act (Obernolte)
H.R. 7882, To provide for the leasing of certain deposits of minerals located within the City of Carlsbad, New Mexico (Stauber)
H.R. 8686, To amend the Military Land Withdrawals Act of 2013 to withdraw and reserve certain public land in the vicinity of Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (Gosar)

On Friday, June 12, the Committee on Natural Resources will hold a full committee field hearing on the "Great American Outdoors Act 250."

Oversight and Government Reform

On Tuesday, June 9, the Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses will hold a hearing called "Amnesty and Chaos: Abuse of U.S. Immigration Policy."

Rules

On Monday, June 8, the Committee on Rules will meet on the following measures:

H.R. 8312, the Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act (Sessions)
H.R. 8464, the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act (Comer)
H. Res. 1335, 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 (Fallon)

Science, Space, and Technology

On Wednesday, June 10, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will hold a full committee hearing called "An Overview of the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request."

Veterans' Affairs

On Friday, June 12, the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization will hold an oversight field hearing called “Delivering Quality and Modern Healthcare to Michigan's Veterans and Servicemembers.”

Ways and Means

On Tuesday, June 9, the Committee on Ways and Means will hold a full committee legislative hearing on Digital Asset Taxation.

On Wednesday, June 10, the Subcommittee on Social Security and the Subcommittee on Work & Welfare will hold a joint hearing with the Commissioner of Social Security, Frank J. Bisignano.

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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Week of June 8, 2026

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor this week:

Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars in National Emergencies

Every year, the federal government loses hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent and improper payments. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), those losses total between $233 billion and $521 billion annually. Far too often, these hard-earned dollars are gone for good, with no chance to be recovered.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how vulnerable federal emergency programs are to waste, fraud, and abuse. As the government rushed to distribute an unprecedented influx of federal spending, the need for rapid deployment, and limited safeguards strained oversight systems and left billions of taxpayer dollars vulnerable to fraud. Once those payments were made, much of the money was impossible to recover. Americans expect the government to respond quickly during times of crisis, but they also expect taxpayer dollars to be protected.

While Congress may never know how much money fraudsters ripped off from the American people, the estimated hundreds of billions of dollars dispersed in fraudulent payments is unacceptable. To combat this preventable problem, House Republicans are bringing forward H.R. 8312 this week, which will establish permanent preventative measures that provide greater oversight of emergency funds and can flag suspicious payments before they are lost for good.

Rep. Pete Sessions’ legislation, H.R. 8312, the Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act, expands U.S. Treasury Fiscal Service’s financial and program integrity services and establishes a permanent Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery to provide sustained oversight during future national emergencies and maintain the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s (PRAC) anti-fraud data analytics tools.

By prioritizing fraud prevention, House Republicans are working to ensure that no more taxpayer dollars are exploited by fraudsters during a time of crisis.

Preventing Fraud Through Commonsense Reforms

Fraudsters are stealing billions of taxpayer dollars from federal programs every year. For FY 2025 alone, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates $186 billion of taxpayer dollars were improperly paid through fraudulent actions, and the rate only continues to rise.

In states like Democrat-run Minnesota, weak oversight of state-administered federal programs has allowed fraudsters to steal billions of taxpayer dollars intended to help Americans in need. In Minnesota alone, social services programs have been linked to an estimated $9 billion in fraudulent payments. Despite the availability of tools and resources to prevent improper payments, there is currently no government-wide requirement for federal agencies and state-administered programs to conduct anti-fraud verification before taxpayer dollars are distributed.

This week, House Republicans are advancing legislation to ensure government agencies address fraud risks before taxpayer dollars go out the door. The bill allows agencies to pause, segment, or cancel payments flagged as potentially fraudulent before they are distributed, providing time for corrective action and helping stop fraud before taxpayer dollars are lost.

Chairman James Comer’s measure, H.R. 8464, the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act, strengthens the federal payment system by building on oversight of state-administered programs, preventing federal agencies from making payments when an agency has deemed a program to be at an elevated risk for fraud or improper payments, and gives the U.S. Treasury new authority to return payment requests to agencies if they appear to be at risk for fraud.

House Republicans are working tirelessly to ensure agencies shift their focus from fraud recovery to fraud prevention in order to responsibly handle taxpayer dollars.

Standing Up Against Bad Actors Committed to Defrauding the United States

Taxpayers expect their hard-earned dollars to be spent responsibly. But since 2003, the federal government has made an estimated $3 trillion of improper payments, including payments lost to waste, fraud, and abuse. Every dollar improperly spent is a dollar taken away from working families.

Billions of taxpayer dollars are lost to fraud every year because of weak oversight and preventable errors. One of the biggest drivers is a practice known as “pay and chase,” where federally funded programs send out payments before verifying whether recipients are eligible or even legitimate. It is a reckless system that invites fraud, wastes taxpayer dollars, and leaves agencies scrambling to recover money after it is already gone.

House Republicans continue to advance commonsense measures to combat fraud, protect taxpayer dollars, and strengthen fiscal responsibility. This week, the House will consider legislation condemning those who defraud taxpayers and supporting reforms that prevent fraud before it occurs, including stronger up-front eligibility verification before federal payments are issued.

H. Res. 1335, sponsored by Rep. Pat Fallon, denounces the individuals who abuse and defraud taxpayer dollars and government entities and pledges that reforms which address fraud prevention will meaningfully improve the financial prosperity of the United States, most notably through up-front verification for eligibility before payments are issued.

House Republicans are committed to advancing commonsense fraud measures and preventing fraud before it occurs.

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The Republican Recap: Week of June 1, 2026

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s a recap of what Republicans achieved on the House Floor this week:

Holding Fraudulent Child Care Programs Accountable ✅

Low-income families rely on federal child care programs so parents can work, provide for their families, and achieve economic freedom. Congress directs taxpayer dollars to support these programs–not to enrich fraudsters.

One such program is the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which supports over one million children each year. When gaps in oversight of these programs occur, fraudsters can take advantage. Such abuse was uncovered throughout Minnesota–including its now-infamous "Quality Learing Center." Under Governor Tim Walz, so-called child care programs exploited CCDBG funds and abused taxpayer dollars—something Governor Walz admitted his state had known about since 2012. Fraud and abuse of federal child care dollars will not be tolerated and taxpayer funds must be used for their intended purpose, not siphoned off by bad actors.

This week, House Republicans passed H.R. 7726, a package of eight bills to strengthen oversight, increase accountability, restore public trust in the CCDBG, and ensure taxpayer dollars support children and families—not fraudsters.

Rep. Mary Miller’s legislation, H.R. 7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026, requires HHS to withhold funds from states that repeatedly misuse child care dollars, increases state reporting requirements, codifies fraud standards, and imposes stricter penalties on both states and providers found to have misused funds under the CCDBG program.

"President Trump and House Republicans promised to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, and the passage of my Stop Child Care Scams Act is another step toward fulfilling that promise," said Rep. Miller. "This legislation is a major win for taxpayers and will help ensure child care assistance is protected for the vulnerable children and working families who truly depend on it."

What Members Said:

Rep. Julie Fedorchak underscored how the Stop Child Care Scams Act exposes abuses of funding for child care programs—like Minnesota's 'Quality Learing Center.'

Rep. Brad Finstad celebrated the bill’s advancement of House Republicans' goals to deliver for American families, not fraudsters.

Responsibly Funding the Agriculture Industry ✅

Every day, farmers and ranchers across Rural America work to provide the nation with a safe and reliable food supply. Congress has a responsibility to support them through responsible appropriations.

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027, invests in agricultural research, rural development programs, and food inspection services. It also cuts burdensome Biden-era regulations on livestock producers.

Additionally, both WIC and SNAP are fully funded based on projected need. This legislation provides $8 billion for WIC, helping low-income mothers access healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, and funds SNAP at $101.2 billion, allowing eligible families to purchase necessary groceries.

To support President Trump's Make America Healthy Again agenda, the bill provides $7.1 billion for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to strengthen oversight of the nation's food, drug, and medical device supply. The legislation also addresses national security concerns posed by Chinese-owned farmland by increasing oversight of foreign-owned agricultural land. In addition, it invests in land-grant universities to ensure American agricultural research continues to outcompete China.

Rep. Andy Harris’s measure, H.R. 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027, passed the House floor to protect Americans’ food and drug supply, prioritize Americans’ health, and equip America to compete against our adversaries, while upholding the GOP’s commitment to fiscal responsibility through regular order appropriations.

"This bill advances American agriculture by backing the farmers and ranchers who feed our nation, support millions of jobs, and power rural economies. Building on the Trump Administration's commitment to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, it eliminates unnecessary spending while preserving investments that strengthen agricultural production and food security," said Rep. Harris. "I’m proud to lead legislation that invests in the farm safety net, agricultural research, and rural infrastructure programs that help producers manage risk, expand production, and remain competitive in a challenging global marketplace."

What Members Said:

Rep. Daniel Webster highlighted how H.R. 8646 restores regular order appropriations while promoting President Trump’s agricultural priorities.

Rep. Juan Ciscomani underlined the bill's efforts to support the hardworking men and women who keep America’s agriculture industry alive.

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Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of June 1, 2026

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week:

Agriculture

On Thursday, June 4, the Committee on Agriculture held a full committee hearing "For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from the Honorable Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture." In this annual hearing, Secretary Rollins provided an update of USDA’s actions in the last year, including its employee reorganization plan, its efforts to contain the spread of New World screwworm, and its work to implement legislation with historic impacts on agriculture, including the Working Families Tax Cuts, which significantly expanded farm safety net programs.

Appropriations

On Tuesday, June 2, the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs held a budget hearing on the State Department with Secretary Rubio. Testimony and member questions centered on refocusing U.S. foreign policy and resources on core national security priorities, strengthening alliances, and countering threats from adversaries. The conclusion was clear: no more unfocused spending, no more blank checks, and no more policies that fail to deliver. We are directing resources to the highest impact national security and economic priorities.

On Tuesday, June 2, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies held an oversight hearing on the Department of Justice with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Discussion focused on DOJ’s efforts to combat violent crime, dismantle drug cartels, curb the flow of fentanyl, support law enforcement, and ensure federal resources are used effectively to keep American communities safe. Members also examined implementation of congressional priorities and the status of key public safety and justice programs.

On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee on Appropriations held a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill and Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill. Taken together, the bills advance priorities including responsible stewardship of public lands and natural resources, infrastructure modernization, transportation safety, housing assistance, and investments that support strong and resilient communities. Following debate and consideration of amendments, both measures were successfully reported.

On Friday, June 5, the Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a joint markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill and Fiscal Year 2027 Homeland Security Bill. Comprehensively, the measures invest in the health, education, and well-being of the American people while strengthening border security, supporting frontline personnel, and enhancing the nation's preparedness and resilience. Both bills were successfully reported to the full committee.

Armed Services

On Thursday, June 4, the Committee on Armed Services held a full committee markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027. The FY27 NDAA authorizes $1.15 in discretionary funding, delivering on President Trump’s commitment to bring defense spending up to 4.5% of our GDP, and to reach a topline investment of $1.5 trillion in FY27. It strengthens our ability to deter our enemies, gives servicemembers the support they need to defend our nation, and replenishes key stockpiles–restocking the Arsenal of Freedom.

Revitalizing the defense industrial base is a central goal of the FY27 NDAA, which has been hollowed out after years of underinvestment. The FY27 NDAA expands U.S. production capacity, unleashes private sector investment, opens the door to new and innovative entrants, reduces needless regulations, and creates thousands of skilled jobs for Americans. Importantly, it increases all servicemembers’ pay by 5 to 7% and improves housing, education, and access to childcare for military families. The FY27 NDAA ensures our warfighters have the capabilities they need to prevail in future conflicts by accelerating innovation and prioritizing cutting-edge technologies like hypersonics and autonomous systems.

Education & Workforce

On Wednesday, June 3, the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing called "Building an AI-Ready America: Higher Education in the Age of AI." This was the Committee’s seventh hearing in its AI series. The hearing focused on how artificial intelligence is changing higher education. Lawmakers discussed how colleges can use AI to improve learning, prepare students for the jobs of the future, and keep America competitive. As AI reshapes the economy, the challenge is making sure students graduate with the skills they need to succeed in an AI-driven workforce.

On Thursday, June 4, the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing called "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the NLRB." For the first time in nearly 20 years, leaders of the NLRB appeared before the Committee. For years the Biden-Harris NLRB put union leaders ahead of workers by making it easier to unionize without a secret-ballot vote and expanding union power through controversial decisions. Because the NLRB sets the rules that govern workers’ rights and unions, its policies affect millions of Americans. The issue is simple: workers—not union leaders or government bureaucrats—should have the final say over whether they join a union.

Energy & Commerce

On Wednesday, June 3, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing called "Examining Legislation to Establish a Federal Comprehensive Privacy and Data Security Law." The hearing covered the SECURE Data Act which creates a single, federal privacy standard that has robust protections for consumers, while giving businesses the certainty they need to invest and grow.

On Wednesday, June 3, the Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing called "Rules of the Road: Examining Legislation to Modernize the Clean Air Act's Mobile Source Requirements." The Clean Air Act is overly burdensome and raises costs for hardworking families across the country. The Committee examined ways to modernize the Clean Air Act and continue to deliver real relief for everyday Americans.

On Thursday, June 4, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing called "Where Are We?: Examining Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Capabilities in the United States." We rely on GPS every single day, from navigation to national defense, but lack a backup system in case of failure. America needs a redundant system to protect everyday life in case of military attack, jamming by nefarious actors, or other failure.

Chairmen Guthrie, Joyce, and Latta also sent a letter requesting the Investigation of foreign adversaries’ efforts to block American data center buildout.

Financial Services

On Thursday, June 4, the Committee on Financial Services held a full committee hearing called "Oversight of Prudential Regulators." The Full Committee, led by Chairman French Hill (AR-02), examined the prudential regulators’ efforts to tailor regulatory frameworks to today’s financial system while promoting economic growth, maintaining fiscal stability, and fostering innovation, and showcased how the Main Street Capital Access Act complements those efforts.

Foreign Affairs

On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a full committee hearing called "Department of State FY 2027 Budget Request: A Commitment to America First Foreign Policy." During his opening remarks, Chairman Mast underscored President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s success in putting America First.

On Thursday, June 4, the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee held a hearing called "Beijing’s Poison Pipeline: The CCP’s Role in the Fentanyl Crisis." Members examined China's role in the fentanyl crisis, and the positive steps President Trump has taken to impose real consequences on the CCP for their role in flooding American communities with fentanyl.

Homeland Security

On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee on Homeland Security held a full committee hearing called "A Review of the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security." DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar discussed the critical security preparations already underway to safeguard upcoming major historic events, including counter-drone capabilities, transportation security enhancements, and law enforcement coordination. Secretary Mullin emphasized that repeated funding disruptions have placed a strain on the DHS workforce, creating recruitment and retention challenges at a time when the nation faces an increasingly complex threat environment.

On Thursday, June 4, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection held a hearing called "The AI Security Landscape: How Frontier Models, Agentic AI, and AI Coding Tools Are Reshaping Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Resilience." Leaders from Google, the Frontier Model Forum, Corridor Security, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation joined the Committee to discuss how AI is both strengthening our cyber defenses and enabling cybercriminals. The hearing follows a series of Committee engagements with leading AI and cybersecurity stakeholders, including roundtables, a demonstration, and briefings to better understand how advanced AI capabilities are changing the national security and cyber threat landscape.

House Administration

On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee on House Administration held a full committee hearing called “Oversight of the Architect of the Capitol: Addressing Past Lessons, Present Projects, and Future Challenges.”

Judiciary

On Wednesday, June 3, the Judiciary Committee held a full committee markup on the following measures:

H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026 (Hamadeh)
- This act aims to protect victims by providing lifetime, no-contact orders against convicted felons of sexual or violent crimes.
H. J. Res. 1, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices (Biggs)
- This resolution aims to formally set the Supreme Court at nine justices.
H.R. 5437, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act (McClintock)
- This act will prohibit civil actions brought against a manufacturer or seller of a stone slab product for harm resulting from a third-party using their products.
H.R. 175, the Deport Alien Gang Members Act (McClintock)
- This act will make illegal aliens who are convicted of a crime or associated with criminal gangs inadmissible for entry in the United States.
H.R. 1869, the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025 (Hinson)
- This act aims at defending the US against international trade crimes and suspicious trade practices.

On Thursday, June 4, the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet held a hearing called "Medicines and IP: Balancing Innovation and Access," which examined how to balance robust patent rights with greater access to affordable medicines, like generics and biosimilars, to sustain the United States' innovative edge in today's environment.

Natural Resources

On Wednesday, June 3, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on the following measures:

H.R. 2406, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025 (Bonamici)
H.R. 8401, To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the transport, purchase, and sale of pelts of, and handicrafts, garments, and art produced from, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters that are taken for subsistence purposes (Begich)
H.R. 8542, the Offshore Parity Act of 2026 (Ezell)
H.R. 8904, To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to provide for the regulation of fishing in marine national monuments (Radewagen)

These bills will restore sound science and transparency for fisheries management, promote state management of marine resources and affirm Alaska Native cultural activities.

On Thursday, June 4, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held an oversight hearing called "The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests and Outlook for the 2026 Wildfire Year." The hearing examined the condition of America’s federal forests, preparations for the 2026 wildfire season, the ongoing efforts to improve forest health and reduce wildfire threats through active management, and received testimony from U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz.

Oversight and Government Reform

On Wednesday, June 3, the Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses held a hearing called "Universal Basic Fraud: Vulnerabilities in Medicaid Waiver Programs." During the hearing, members examined fraud in Ohio’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver program that pays people to visit beneficiaries to perform personal care services such as cooking, cleaning, and other household chores.

On Thursday, June 4, the Subcommittee on Government Operations held a hearing called "Hearing with the Commissioners of the Postal Regulatory Commission" to build on the Subcommittee’s broader work examining the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) ongoing financial challenges and identifying ways to improve service and increase revenue. In the hearing, members heard from PRC Commissioners about steps being taken to address USPS’s well-documented financial issues and improve service delivery to Americans across all parts of the country.

Rules

On Tuesday, June 2, the Committee on Rules met on the following measures:

H.R. 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027 (Harris)
H.R. 7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026 (Miller)
H.R. 7892, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 (Owens)
H.R. 8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act (Carey)

On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee on Rules met on the following measure:

H. Res. 1336 - Provides that the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House is waived with respect to any resolution reported through the legislative day of June 5, 2026, relating to a measure providing for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 33 (Foxx)

This week, the Committee on Rules met twice to report out legislation designed to support rural communities, stop fraud, and grant same-day authority for a reconciliation measure. Members discussed Buy American requirements and the importance of connectivity in rural areas. Rules Republicans detailed the troubling levels of fraud discovered across the country and asserted that any waste of tax dollars is simply unacceptable in the eyes of everyday Americans. Finally, the Committee discussed the need to move quickly regarding any Senate action on fully funding ICE and CBP.

Science, Space, and Technology

On Thursday, June 4, the Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing called "Advancing Environmental Protection Through Science and Technology." The purpose of this hearing was to discuss and review the science and technology activities at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, and how it relates to the Agency’s long-term research and development efforts for emerging environmental concerns and the use of science in the Agency’s regulatory decision-making processes.

Select Committee on China

On Tuesday, June 2, the Select Committee Chairman introduced the Biotech Investment National Security Act (BINSA) to ensure American investment in adversary biotechnology is subject to the review requirements of the Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security (COINS) Act. This would apply to biotechnology, including pharmaceutical development, biologics manufacturing, and clinical research and development.

On Wednesday, June 3, the Select Committee Chairman introduced the bipartisan Guarding the U.S. Against Adversarial Robotics Dominance (GUARD) Act to stop Chinese robots. The legislation requires scrutiny of robots made by China and other foreign adversaries and would prohibit the importation of robots determined to be a national security threat to the United States.

On Thursday, June 4, the Select Committee hosted a bipartisan press conference honoring the legacy of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, and the courageous individuals who still face transnational repression from the CCP 37 years later. Special guests included Arthur Liu, proud dad to Olympic Champion figure skater Alysa Liu, and former U.S. Army Chaplain Yan Xiong.

Small Business

On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee on Small Business held a full committee hearing called "Restoring America's Industrial Base: The Role of Small Businesses in National Security." The purpose of this hearing was to examine the critical role small businesses play in restoring and strengthening the American DIB through their contributions in innovation, critical technology development, and support for national security. The hearing highlighted federal pathways and resources that enable small business participation in the defense industrial base.

Transportation and Infrastructure

On Wednesday, June 3, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee held a hearing called "Future of United States Maritime: Review of Fiscal Year 2027 Maritime Administration and Federal Maritime Commission Budget Requests." Subcommittee Republicans covered a range of issues, including the Trump Administration’s and Congress’ work to promote building ships domestically, training more mariners, increasing the U.S. flag fleet, identifying new sources of cargo, and reinvigorating the American maritime industrial base.

On Thursday, June 4, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Views and Estimates of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, highlighting the Committee’s BUILD America 250 Act, which provides core infrastructure investments for the nation’s roads, bridges, and other surface transportation infrastructure; historic investments in the U.S. Coast Guard and the nation’s air traffic control system through last year’s budget reconciliation process; and ongoing work to advance the next Water Resources Development Act, pipeline safety legislation, a FEMA reform bill, important aviation safety legislation, and more. The Committee also officially welcomed Rep. Clay Fuller to T&I and approved updated subcommittee rosters.

On Thursday, June 4, the Aviation Subcommittee held a hearing called "Connecting Rural America to the National Airspace System." Subcommittee Republicans highlighted the value of small and rural community airports that serve 46 million Americans, the role they play in their communities, and the challenges they face in maintaining and expanding access.

Ways and Means

On Thursday, June 4, the Committee on Ways and Means held a full committee hearing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Ways and Means Republicans highlighted the tax relief delivered by the Working Families Tax Cuts to workers, families, farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers during this week’s hearing with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Ahead of the hearing, the Treasury Department released data showing 70 percent of tax filers who received a tax cut earned less than $100,000, destroying a Democrat talking point that Republican tax cuts targeted at waiters, factory workers, and seniors solely benefited billionaires. The hearing examined how pro-family, pro-worker, pro-growth policies gave working families more money through historic tax refunds and bigger paychecks while boosting manufacturing and investment in the United States.

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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Holding Fraudulent Child Care Programs Accountable

Low-income families rely on federal child care programs so parents can work, provide for their families, and achieve economic freedom. Congress directs taxpayer dollars to support these programs–not to enrich fraudsters.

One such program is the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which supports over one million children each year. When gaps in oversight of these programs occur, fraudsters can take advantage. Such abuse was uncovered throughout Minnesota–including its now-infamous "Quality Learing Center." Under Governor Tim Walz, so-called child care programs exploited CCDBG funds and abused taxpayer dollars—something Governor Walz admitted his state had known about since 2012.

Fraud and abuse of federal child care dollars will not be tolerated and taxpayer funds must be used for their intended purpose, not siphoned off by bad actors.

Today, House Republicans are bringing forward H.R. 7726, a package of eight bills to strengthen oversight, increase accountability, restore public trust in the CCDBG, and ensure taxpayer dollars support children and families—not fraudsters.

Rep. Mary Miller’s legislation, H.R. 7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026, requires HHS to withhold funds from states that repeatedly misuse child care dollars, increases state reporting requirements, codifies fraud standards, and imposes stricter penalties on both states and providers found to have misused funds under the CCDBG program.

House Republicans are advancing commonsense reforms that protect taxpayers and hold accountable those who use child care programs as a front for fraud.

Safeguarding America’s Welfare Systems

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) distributes $16.5 billion each year to support low-income families. Yet current law does not require TANF to measure improper payments, leaving billions of taxpayer dollars vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse.

A 2025 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that TANF non-assistance spending—which accounts for 78% of total state spending—lacks key financial controls and oversight, making it especially vulnerable to misuse.

House Republicans are advancing reforms to strengthen accountability by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to track improper payments, report them annually, and develop a strategy to prevent fraud. The bill also prevents states from stockpiling TANF funds by imposing a three-year spending deadline and limiting annual reserves to 15% of grant awards.

Rep. Mike Carey’s measure, H.R. 8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act, roots out the abuse of TANF funds by adding safeguards and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are going where they are meant for – low-income families wanting to get back on their feet.

By strengthening oversight and cracking down on fraud, House Republicans are working to ensure TANF dollars serve the families they were intended to help.

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