WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody secured the Senate passage of the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act. This bipartisan-supported legislation cosponsored by Senator Moody permanently allows the Department of the Treasury to access certain death records maintained by the Social Security Administration in order to facilitate the identification and prevention of improper payments—for example, payments to deceased individuals.
Senator Ashley Moody said, “Government by and for the people should run as efficiently as possible, and we owe it to the people to cut waste. I’m proud to cosponsor the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, which has now passed out of the Senate, that permanently codifies coordination between the Department of Treasury and Social Security Administration to eliminate payments to dead people.”
Senator John Kennedy said, “It is unconscionable that hardworking Americans are forced to foot the bill for the government’s wasteful payments to dead people. I applaud the U.S. Senate for taking bold action by passing my crucial bill to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from our federal budget. Now, the U.S. House of Representatives ought to step up and pass this vital reform without delay.”
Current law requires the SSA to share its Death Master File with the Do Not Pay system maintained by Treasury for three years. This bill makes this requirement permanent.
Senator Moody is joined by Senators John Kennedy, Joni Ernst, Gary Peters, Ron Wyden, Mark Warner, and Maggie Hassan in cosponsoring the bill.
To read the full bill text, click here.
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