[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 42 (Friday, March 5, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1384. Mr. YOUNG submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 891 proposed by Mr. Schumer (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Brown, Mr. Peters, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Stabenow, 
Mr. Tester, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Carper, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. 
Sanders) to the bill H.R. 1319, to provide for reconciliation pursuant 
to title II of S. Con. Res. 5; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

        Strike section 9032 and insert the following:

     SEC. 9032. FUNDING FOR FRAUD PREVENTION, EQUITABLE ACCESS, 
                   AND TIMELY PAYMENT TO ELIGIBLE WORKERS.

       (a) In General.--In addition to amounts otherwise 
     available, there is appropriated to the Secretary of Labor 
     for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not 
     otherwise appropriated, $1,950,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended, to detect and prevent fraud, promote 
     equitable access, and ensure the timely payment of benefits 
     with respect to unemployment insurance programs, including 
     programs extended under this subtitle.
       (b) Use of Funds.--Amounts made available under subsection 
     (a) may be used--
       (1) for Federal administrative costs related to the 
     purposes described in subsection (a);
       (2) for systemwide infrastructure investment and 
     development related to such purposes; and
       (3) to make grants to States or territories administering 
     unemployment insurance programs described in subsection (a) 
     for such purposes, including the establishment of procedures 
     or the building of infrastructure to verify or validate 
     identity, implement Federal guidance regarding fraud 
     detection and prevention, and accelerate claims processing or 
     process claims backlogs due to the pandemic.
       (c) Reservation of Funds for System Improvements.--Of the 
     amount appropriated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     reserve $100,000,000 to assist States in the following 
     activities:
       (1) Improving States' use of an automated electronic system 
     for transmission of requests for information relating to 
     unemployment compensation and the provision of such 
     information between the State unemployment agency and 
     employers or their agents;
       (2) Using a system designated by the Secretary of Labor for 
     cross-matching claimants of unemployment compensation under 
     State law against any databases in the system to prevent and 
     detect fraud and improper payments.
       (3)(A) Comparing information in the National Directory of 
     New Hires or other wage sources against information about 
     individuals claiming unemployment compensation to identify 
     any such individuals who may have become employed, in 
     accordance with any regulations or guidance that the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services may issue.
       (B) Taking timely action to verify whether the individuals 
     identified are employed.
       (C) Taking appropriate action to suspend or modify 
     unemployment compensation payments if the individuals 
     identified are employed.
       (D) Initiating recovery of any improper unemployment 
     compensation payments that have been made.
       (d) Restrictions on Grants to States and Territories.--As a 
     condition of receiving a grant under subsection (b)(3), the 
     Secretary may require that a State or territory receiving 
     such a grant shall--
       (1) use such program integrity tools as the Secretary may 
     specify; and
       (2) as directed by the Secretary, conduct user 
     accessibility testing on any new system developed by the 
     Secretary pursuant to subsection (b)(2).
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