September 13, 2024

Oversight Committee

Chairman Sessions opens a Subcommittee hearing

This week was the first back in Washington following the August district work period, so there was lots of legislative work to be done. On Tuesday, myself and Chairman Comer of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability released a staff report titled, “Widespread Failures and Fraud in Pandemic Unemployment Relief Programs.” This report details how states across the country processed pandemic unemployment insurance (UI) claims carelessly. The result of this was a reported $200 billion stolen from taxpayers in the Biden-Harris administration pandemic spending spree. This level of fraud is historic, and the Oversight Committee is committed to ensuring solutions are enacted to prevent improper payment reporting. To read the report, click here.

On a related note, my Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce held a hearing to continue investigation of COVID-related reports of fraud in unemployment insurance programs. We discussed the findings of the staff report then assessed the current anti-fraud and improper payment efforts in federal agencies. You can view my opening statement here. A link to the entire hearing is here.

9/11 Anniversary

Texas Pork Producers Association

TOMORROW: Service Academy Forum

Tomorrow, my office will be hosting the 2024 Central Texas U.S. Service Academy Forum. This is a great opportunity for students, parents, and educators to come and learn about the admissions process to all five U.S. Service Academies. The forum will include time to meet with congressional and academy representatives, an academy admissions panel, and congressional panel. There will also be opportunities to hear about the admissions process form parents, the Academy Board, and cadets/midshipmen. See here for more information

This week, we focused on legislation to counter the threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). We addressed restoring security in American manufacturing and technology against the threat of the CCP as well as protecting our universities from infiltration from the CCP. Next week, we will be sure to get the government funded.

H.R. 1398→ Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2024
H.R. 1425→ No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act
H.R. 7980→ End Chinese Dominance of Electric Vehicles in America Act of 2024
H.R. 9456→ Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024

The Epoch Times→ House Republicans, Democrats Agree on Need to Stop Waste, Fraud in Pandemic Programs
More than $191 billion was wasted due to fraud and mismanagement of pandemic unemployment insurance relief programs in the federal government’s response to the coronavirus, according to congressional investigators working under myself.