VIDEO: Blackburn Applauds Trump Administration for Holding Fraudsters Accountable in Minnesota and Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor railing against the massive fraud scheme in Minnesota that is estimated to exceed $9 billion in stolen taxpayer dollars and praising the Trump administration for going after fraudsters across the country:

Click here to download Senator Blackburn's remarks on the Senate floor.

EXCERPTS OF REMARKS

Blackburn Rails Against Widespread Fraud Scheme in Minnesota

"One of the things that has really captured the attention of the American people in this new year is the amount of fraud that has been uncovered in Minnesota."

"The total has climbed to $9 billion, still rising, and it's important to note that is all stolen taxpayer money."

"This big theft was uncovered by a young independent journalist who really blew the story open when he started visiting child care centers."

"Despite these centers having pulled in tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, the child care centers were actually empty. There were no children. There were no cars in the parking lot. And usually not even any staff to come answer the door."

"What we are learning is that this child care fraud scheme is just one part of a widespread fraud operation taking place in Minnesota."

"The Trump administration has targeted this fraud network, and they're bringing dozens of criminal indictments. The list of these alleged crimes is staggering."

"One of the things I have heard from Tennesseans most on is this fraud issue because they can't believe nobody ever noticed. We're talking $9 billion in fraud and climbing. One state."

"We know that the answer to this… Most of this fraud was committed by members of Minnesota's Somali community, and that community is closely tied to the state's Democratic machine… There were some Democrats who chose to look the other way, and they allowed this to happen."

The Biden Administration Greenlit Fraud by Eliminating Safeguards

"The Biden administration poured gas on the fire, eliminating safeguards that were meant to stop waste, fraud, and abuse of your hard earned taxpayer dollars."

"In 2024, the Joe Biden administration scrapped a rule that required child care centers to verify that kids actually attended their facilities in order to receive federal funding."

"His administration paid out more than $19 billion dollars to daycare centers without having any verification that that child care center had children."

President Trump Is Ensuring These Fraudsters Face Justice

"Thankfully, President Trump and his administration are working to ensure that these fraudsters face justice and that something like this can never happen again."

"President Trump has also frozen more than $10 billion in federal funding for social service programs to Minnesota and other states, California, Colorado, Illinois, and New York, where there are fraud investigations."

"The President's message is quite clear, if these states want to see a dime of federal taxpayer dollars, they must prove that they have put in place some safeguards."

"This issue goes far beyond Minnesota."

"California's nonpartisan auditor found that eight state agencies have a high risk of waste, fraud and abuse, yet they have taken zero corrective action."

"In New York, Republican lawmakers are calling for an independent audit of the state spending following several fraud scandals."

"The Trump administration indicted two men outside Chicago who submitted nearly $300 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, as well as to private insurers."

"While President Trump works to end this abuse of taxpayer dollars, Congress should do everything possible to support his efforts."

"I am introducing the Fraud Accountability Act, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to explicitly make clear that fraud is a deportable offense. If you come to our country to steal from the American people, you ought to be deported."

"Every single member of this chamber should support this legislation. The era of rampant fraud is over."