[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 64 (Friday, May 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO IDENTIFY WELFARE CHEATS

  (Mr. LAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LAZIO. Mr. Speaker, this week a woman in New York was arrested 
and charged with welfare fraud. Not an usual circumstance in itself, 
but investigators found that over a 7-year period this woman collected 
benefits she was not entitled to using at least 15 different fake ID's, 
each with her real photograph on the front and each entitling her to 
public assistance. In 1991, the woman was using eight different names 
at once and claiming 46 children--all fictitious. Between 1987 and 1993 
she received a total of $450,000 in illegal benefits, making this 
possibly the largest case of welfare fraud in New York's history.
  Earlier this year, I introduced H.R. 3723, calling upon the Secretary 
of HHS to conduct a feasibility study on the use of biometric 
technology as a means to identify welfare applicants and prevent just 
such incidents.
  New York and California are conducting experimental programs on a 
limited basis using finger-imaging to identify welfare cheats. If the 
New York program is expanded statewide, it could save the taxpayers $46 
million a year. Governor Cuomo has called for the expansion of this 
project. California projects a $20 million savings in its program over 
5 years.
  Reducing welfare fraud will cut costs and ensure that this assistance 
goes to those who honestly need help, not those who cheat the system 
and the taxpayers.
  I urge my colleagues to join the 64 bipartisan cosponsors who have 
already signed onto H.R. 3727.

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