[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H1159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EPIDEMIC OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE

  (Mr. KENNEDY of Utah asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KENNEDY of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the 
epidemic of waste, fraud, and abuse that is ripping off taxpayers with 
impunity.
  Too often, Congress forgets that every dollar of government money 
collected comes from an American who worked hard for it. That is why 
waste, fraud, and abuse are not abstract problems. They are real 
problems that hurt real people.
  When government programs pay twice for the same service, fund 
projects that never get built, or lose track of billions, taxpayers 
suffer and confidence in government weakens.
  We need to honor hardworking families by pursuing the bad actors with 
a vengeance. Stewardship is our sacred responsibility.
  We just found out about a case in my own district where an individual 
was collecting her dead mother's Social Security checks for 3 years. 
Her blatant fraud was finally discovered, and she was sentenced and 
ordered to repay $25,000 in restitution. This case is not isolated. The 
Government Accountability Office estimates that the Federal Government 
loses up to $521 billion to fraud every single year.
  The American people expect honesty, fiscal discipline, and respect 
for their sacrifice. I am proud of the Republican Conference for doing 
just that.

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