Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) According to the Government Accountability Office, the Federal Government lost between $233,000,000,000 and $521,000,000,000 annually to fraud from fiscal years 2018 through 2022. (2) The range reflects the varying risk environments for fraud—ninety percent of the estimated fraud losses fell in this range. (3) In Minnesota, the nonprofit organization Feeding Our Future and associated individuals carried out the largest COVID–19 pandemic fraud scheme in the United States, stealing over $250,000,000 intended to feed hungry children. (4) The Department of Justice has charged 75 defendants in the fraud scheme, and Federal prosecutors have secured multiple convictions against participants in this scheme, which involved the submission of false reimbursement claims, the creation of fictitious meal sites, and the laundering of Federal funds through shell entities and fraudulent invoices. (5) Charges and convictions in the Feeding Our Future scheme include— (A) wire fraud; (B) conspiracy to commit wire fraud; (C) theft of government funds; (D) conspiracy to defraud the United States; (E) Federal program bribery; (F) money laundering; and (G) engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property. (6) Some of the proceeds of this fraud were used to purchase luxury real estate and vehicles, and at least one defendant transferred funds and property abroad, including to Kenya, beyond the reach of United States authorities.