Roger Williams Seeks to Combat Pandemic Loan Fraud

Congressman Roger Williams (R) recently introduced the Put America on Commission Act of 2026, a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen oversight and accountability for pandemic-era relief programs by incentivizing whistleblowers to report fraud.

The bill would establish an Office of Whistleblower Awards within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to encourage individuals to come forward with credible information related to fraud committed under COVID-19 relief initiatives, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Under the legislation, whistleblowers whose information leads to a final criminal conviction would be eligible for a monetary award based on the significance of the information provided.

Individuals who participated in the fraud would be barred from receiving any award.

"The pandemic relief programs were created to help small businesses survive during an unprecedented crisis, not to be exploited by fraudsters," said Williams. "The Put America on Commission Act helps restore confidence in the American people that federal funds are managed responsibly and that any misuse is addressed quickly and transparently."

The bill also authorizes the SBA to impose additional civil penalties on convicted fraudsters, with collected proceeds deposited into a newly established Whistleblower Award Fund.

Any unused funds would be returned to the U.S. Treasury, ensuring recovered taxpayer dollars are preserved for public benefit.

Congressman Jonny Olszewski (D) is serving as the bill's Democratic co-lead, highlighting its bipartisan support.

"Protecting taxpayers and restoring trust in the government starts with accountability," said Olszewski. "I'm proud to help lead the bipartisan Put America on Commission Act to empower Americans to report fraud and stolen pandemic relief funds."

The Government Accountability Office has estimated that tens of millions of dollars were lost to fraud during the rapid rollout of pandemic relief programs, prompting renewed calls in Congress for stronger enforcement mechanisms and recovery tools.