Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

Download PDF
Bill ID: 119/hr/2716
Last Updated: April 8, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

ID: H001077

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 371.

January 7, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Joy. Another bill that's going to "improve" something, because God knows our government is just overflowing with competence and efficiency. Let me put on my surgical gloves and dissect this mess.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act (because who doesn't love a title that screams "we're trying too hard") aims to reduce improper payments made by the federal government, specifically those going to deceased individuals. Wow, what a novel concept. I'm sure it took a team of rocket scientists to come up with this one.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Social Security Act to improve coordination between federal and state agencies, as well as the Do Not Pay working system (because that's not an Orwellian name at all). It requires the Commissioner of Social Security to provide information to the agency operating the Do Not Pay system to help prevent improper payments. Oh, and there's a new provision that ensures the Commissioner can't record a death unless they have "clear and convincing evidence" – because we wouldn't want any accidental deaths on our hands.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: federal agencies, state agencies, the Social Security Administration, and (of course) deceased individuals. I'm sure the latter group is thrilled to be included in this legislative masterpiece.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** Let's get real here. This bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It might reduce some improper payments, but it won't address the underlying issues of bureaucratic incompetence and waste that plague our government. The "improvements" will likely be negligible, and we'll just see more money wasted on administrative costs to implement these changes.

Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a bad case of " Politician's Disease" – a condition where lawmakers think they can solve complex problems with simplistic solutions and PR-friendly titles. Symptoms include an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of understanding of the underlying issues, and a healthy dose of cynicism towards the public.

Treatment: A strong dose of reality, followed by a thorough examination of the actual problems plaguing our government's payment systems. But let's be real, that's not going to happen. Instead, we'll just get more of the same – empty promises, bureaucratic red tape, and a healthy serving of pork barrel politics.

Prognosis: Grim. This bill will likely pass with flying colors, only to be forgotten in the annals of legislative history as another failed attempt at "reform." Meanwhile, the real problems will continue to fester, waiting for someone with actual courage and vision to tackle them head-on.

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement State & Local Government Affairs Civil Rights & Liberties Transportation & Infrastructure Government Operations & Accountability Small Business & Entrepreneurship National Security & Intelligence Congressional Rules & Procedures
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$91,508
21 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$2,000
Committees
$0
Individuals
$89,508

No PAC contributions found

1
LAWLEY AGENCY
1 transaction
$1,000
2
WESTERN NEW YORK MRI, LLP
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
DOWNING, FRANK
3 transactions
$9,900
2
GLYNN, CHRISTOPHER M.
3 transactions
$9,900
3
LEE, CYNTHIA R.
3 transactions
$9,900
4
LEE, PATRICK P.
3 transactions
$9,900
5
BOLLINGER, DONALD
2 transactions
$6,600
6
HEBERT, MARC
1 transaction
$3,500
7
PIETROWSKI, DAVE
1 transaction
$3,300
8
VAZQUEZ, RAUL MD
1 transaction
$3,300
9
BALBACH, CHARLES
1 transaction
$3,300
10
BUCHHEIT, GERALD A. JR.
1 transaction
$3,300
11
CROWLEY, JOSEPH
1 transaction
$3,300
12
GIOIA, ANTHONY H.
1 transaction
$3,300
13
JEMAL, DOUGLAS
1 transaction
$3,300
14
MAXWELL, JOHN F.
1 transaction
$3,300
15
HAMER, GREGORY J MR. SR
1 transaction
$3,300
16
FREY, GERARD A.
1 transaction
$3,300
17
CRAPPEL, ADAM
1 transaction
$3,300
18
UIHLEIN, RICHARD
1 transaction
$3,300
19
THORNBERG, KEN
1 transaction
$208

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]

ID: M001204

Top Contributors

10

1
PRIDE MOBILITY PRODUCTS CORP
Organization DURYEA, PA
$2,500
Sep 18, 2024
2
COTLER, YUDACUFSKI, HUEBNER
Organization SAINT CLAIR, PA
$1,000
Apr 23, 2024
3
DOWD, JOHN J
SUNDANCE VACATIONS PRESIDENT
Individual LEHIGHTON, PA
$6,600
Mar 25, 2024
4
PEYKOFF, ANDY
NIAGARA BOTTLING, LLC CEO
Individual LAS VEGAS, NV
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
5
DOWD, JOHN J
SUNDANCE VACATIONS PRESIDENT
Individual LEHIGHTON, PA
$6,600
Sep 18, 2024
6
ROWAN, MARC J
APOLLO MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT
Individual GREENWICH, CT
$6,600
Aug 23, 2023
7
ROWAN, CAROLYN
CAROLYN ROWAN COLLECTION OWNER
Individual GREENWICH, CT
$6,600
Aug 23, 2023
8
RICH, BRIAN R MR. JR
GILBERTON COAL CO. EXECUTIVE SALES
Individual CONSHOHOCKEN, PA
$6,600
Oct 24, 2024
9
VOLPE, ELLEN M
SELF HOMEMAKER
Individual WAVERLY TOWNSHIP, PA
$5,800
May 31, 2023
10
VOLPE, CHARLES J
EXCALIBUR INSURANCE MGMT PRESIDENT
Individual WAVERLY TOWNSHIP, PA
$5,800
May 31, 2023

Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]

ID: M001215

Top Contributors

10

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
COM TAMA, IA
$1,000
Aug 11, 2023
2
RENEWABLE ENERGY, CITIZENS FOR
COM MADISON, WI
$500
Aug 20, 2024
3
POLITICAL COMMITTEE, NWF ACTION FUND
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$500
Sep 18, 2024
4
US MARSHALS SERVICES
Organization NEW YORK, NY
$2,900
Apr 20, 2023
5
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
Organization RICHMOND, VA
$1,000
Mar 22, 2023
6
HOGAN, PATRICK F
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual DALLAS, TX
$13,200
Mar 15, 2023
7
HOLDEN, RONALD
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual WILLIAMSBURG, IA
$13,200
Jun 20, 2023
8
VANDEWALLE, LOLA L
SELF-EMPLOYED ENTREPRENEUR
Individual BLUE GRASS, IA
$13,200
Oct 16, 2023
9
GLEESON, JOHN W
KLINGER COMPANIES, LLC CEO
Individual SIOUX CITY, IA
$11,600
Feb 15, 2023
10
SMITH, DYAN
HOMEMAKER HOMEMAKER
Individual NAPLES, FL
$10,000
May 13, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 30 nodes and 36 connections

Total contributions: $103,608

Top Donors - Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs19 Individuals