H.R. 8312 — Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act

This section establishes the Bureau of the Fiscal Service in the Department of the Treasury to administer the Do Not Pay system under section 3354 and operate a voluntary governmentwide data analysis program that shares fraud data, screens awardees and payees, verifies identities, and provides analytical services to federal agencies and state and local governments administering federally funded programs. It requires annual reports to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on participation and effectiveness in reducing fraud and improper payments, mandates Treasury coordination in designating Do Not Pay databases, and requires the data analysis center under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.

This section establishes the Office of the Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery within the Department of the Treasury. The Inspector General is appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, removable under existing Inspector General removal procedures, and paid at the standard Inspector General rate. The office must conduct audits, investigations, and oversight of covered funds to detect and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement; support other agency Inspectors General; coordinate data analytics and analytical products with the Department of Justice and Fiscal Service; and maintain an advisory committee of Inspectors General to identify cross-agency risks and recommend preventive measures.

This section expands the Department of the Treasury’s authority to enter data-sharing agreements with federal agencies, Offices of Inspector General, and private entities to prevent fraud and improper payments, support the Do Not Pay Initiative, and supply data for investigations. Beginning December 31, 2028, the agreements must also support the Fiscal Service and the new Office of the Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery. For any supplemental appropriations measure exceeding $100 billion or any new program exceeding $100 million in a fiscal year, the Treasury must submit legislative recommendations on fraud prevention, oversight, and reporting requirements to congressional leadership and specified committees. Within 270 days of enactment, the Office of Management and Budget must update regulations and issue governmentwide guidance to implement these changes.

This section terminates the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee on December 31, 2028 (from September 30, 2034). It transfers all assets and obligations of the committee, including contracts, data, records, personnel, and unexpended balances, to the Office of the Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery and repeals the committee’s authorizing statute.