rnst-Led Bill to Send Scammers to the Slammer Passes Senate

Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE.

Legislation to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic fraud advances

WASHINGTON - Today, the United States Senate unanimously passed Senate Small Business Committee Chair Sen. Joni Ernst's (R-Iowa) SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act to extend the window for holding COVID fraudsters accountable and recover taxpayers' hard-earned dollars.

For years, Ernst has worked to expose widespread fraud in Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID relief programs, emphasizing that weak oversight opened the door to an estimated $200 billion in fraud that must be clawed back. On April 26, 2026, the statute of limitations started to expire, allowing COVID fraudsters that have not been held accountable yet to get away with their crimes and theft of taxpayer dollars.

Watch Ernst call for the passage of her bill.

Watch Ernst celebrate its final passage.

Ernst called for passage:

"COVID fraudsters stole at least $200 billion, but time is now running out to hold every single one accountable. Starting this week, crooks who defrauded pandemic relief programs are getting away.

"Both Republicans and Democrats should be working around the clock to send a clear message to fraudsters past, present, and future: there are real consequences to stealing from taxpayers.

"But Democrats have wanted to press snooze on passing my SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act.

"This is the third day, fraudsters who stole millions in COVID relief funds have been able to escape justice.

"You heard me right, folks, swindlers who took advantage of SBA COVID relief programs are already escaping justice.

"Every day that passes, another gets away.

"The clock is ticking and the countdown is on.

"My bill simply gives investigators and prosecutors flexibility to do their jobs by extending the statutes of limitation for defrauding the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund by five years.

"Congress has already passed an extension of the statutes of limitation for SBA's other COVID relief programs with bipartisan support.

"This body came together against fraud, and we need to again.

"Pandemic program fraud investigations have already uncovered $57 billion in fraud and issued 1,200 indictments.

"The SBA is currently conducting a manual review of over $3 billion in Restaurant Revitalization Fund awards, but in this program alone, more than $9.5 billion of awards still require review.

"We can't allow swindlers, scammers, and con artists to run out the clock.

"Because for fraudsters, time flies when you're having fun.

"Look no further than Rapper Chris Brown, who exploited the SVOG program to pay for his lavish $80,000 birthday party and paid himself $5.1 million in the process.

"And multi-location franchise CoreLife Eatery that ignored location limits to feast on $7.8 million in taxpayer funds.

"Make no mistake, when it comes to fraud and abuse, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

"Thorough investigations take time, and investigators must be able to continue conducting this vital work on behalf of the American taxpayers.

"That's why I'm urging my colleagues to support the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act, so fraudsters know the days of getting away with their scams are numbered.

"But if Congress continues to press snooze, taxpayers are the ones who lose - billions!"

Ernst celebrated unanimous passage:

"This is a major win for taxpayers who had their hard-earned money stolen by fraudsters.

"Now the investigators have been given the time they need to track down the thieves who stole taxpayer dollars and to build strong, prosecutable cases.

"Today's action also sends a clear message to fraudsters: you will be held accountable.

"You will not get away with your crimes.

"This is critical to ensure that this blatant fraud is stopped in its tracks.

"I look forward to working with the SBA, the IG, and the Department of Justice to track down every single crook who defrauded our taxpayers."

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