In FY2015, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) is continuing his record of saving taxpayer money and eliminating government waste by targeting improper payments to deceased individuals.

“Ensuring the federal government is not issuing payments to people no longer alive is more than saving taxpayer money—it’s just plain common sense,” Congressman Cuellar said. “Every single taxpayer dollar is precious and should be going towards paying down the debt, supporting businesses, and improving the quality of life of Texans, not wasted by government inefficiencies.”

The language Cuellar successfully included in the House of Representatives FY2015 appropriations bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to work with agencies across the federal government to ensure processes are in place to eliminate payments to deceased persons. The OMB must report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committee within 120 days of enactment.

The Government Accountability Office issued a report in 2013 that estimated federal agency improper payments estimated around $108 billion. The report details improper payments including over $500,000 in retirement benefits to a sole deceased beneficiary, and over $23 million in Medicare services and $35.9 million in farm subsidies provided to people no longer living, among other unnecessary expenditures. 

This added language is Cuellar’s most recent step in a continued advocacy of efficient and responsible use of taxpayer money by the federal government. In 2013, Cuellar co-sponsored the Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancement (IPACE) Act which aims to improve the accuracy of government death records as well as the access federal agencies have to the master death list. IPACE is projected to potentially save the government hundreds of millions, if not billions, in taxpayer dollars.

###