Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Stop Fraud by SOMALIA Act to Address Child Care Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and four of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Stop Fraud by Strengthening Oversight and More Accountability for Lying and Illegal Activity (Stop Fraud by SOMALIA) Act, which would strengthen penalties for child care providers who commit fraud and impose immigration consequences on fraudulent child care providers who are not U.S. citizens, making them inadmissible and deportable:

This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.).

BACKGROUND

The Stop Fraud by Strengthening Oversight and More Accountability for Lying and Illegal Activity (Stop Fraud by SOMALIA) Act would amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act to impose strict penalties on child care providers who commit fraud, including:

• Mandatory permanent debarment from all federally funded child care assistance programs;

• Repayment of misspent funds;

• And required referral for federal criminal investigations.

The bill would also require states to enforce these bans and prevent providers from evading debarment through restructuring or name change.

Lastly, the Stop Fraud by SOMALIA Act would impose immigration consequences on child care providers who are not U.S. citizens and are involved in fraud or terrorism-related activity, making them inadmissible and deportable, barring them from asylum, adjustment of status, and subjecting them to mandatory detention and expedited removal.

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Click here for bill text.