[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 29, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2106-S2107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              THE CALENDAR

  Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, COVID-19 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 5 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.

[[Page S2107]]

  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 are 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 multilocation franchise CoreLife 
Eatery, which 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 is why I am 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.
  With that, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 
134, S. 1199, and Calendar No. 135, S. 2232.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bills 
en bloc.
  Ms. ERNST. I ask that the committee-reported substitute amendment to 
S. 1199 be withdrawn; that the Ernst substitute amendment at the desk 
be considered; that the Markey amendment to the Ernst substitute be 
considered and agreed to; that the Ernst substitute, as amended, be 
agreed to; further, that the committee-reported substitute to S. 2232 
be agreed to; finally, that the bills, as amended, be considered read a 
third time and passed en bloc and that the motions to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bills considered and agreed to en bloc are as follows:

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