This week, I’d like to update you on two of the bills I have introduced this Congress. The first bill passed a crucial hurdle by being reported favorably out of the House Oversight Committee. The second bill has received attention from the House Education and Workforce Committee, and support from several pro-business organizations.

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) Protection Act

The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) covers approximately 8.2 million individuals, including 2.2 million federal employees, 1.9 million retirees, and an estimated 4.1 million family members, at a combined annual cost of roughly $59 billion in premiums paid by both the government and enrollees.

However, a December 2022 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) raised serious concerns regarding the program’s lack of controls for verifying the eligibility of covered family members. This failure is estimated to cost taxpayers between $250 million and $3 billion annually in fraudulent or improper payments. 

To address this problem, I proudly introduced the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) Protection Act, which passed out of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability this week with bipartisan support and now awaits consideration on the House floor. This legislation will help curb government waste by strengthening oversight of the FEHB program, ensuring that only eligible federal employees and their dependents receive benefits, while reducing the number of improper payments. I look forward to seeing this bill advance to the House floor for a vote.

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Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act

During President Trump’s first term, the Department of Labor launched the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) pilot program. This initiative allowed employers to voluntarily self-audit, report, and promptly resolve unintentional wage violations – ensuring that workers received the pay they were owed without the delay of lengthy investigations or the expense of costly lawsuits. The program was well received by both workers and employers, offering a faster, fairer process that prioritized results over bureaucracy.

Unfortunately, shortly after taking office, the Biden Administration abruptly ended the program, removing a commonsense tool that had helped employees get paid faster and enabled businesses to correct honest mistakes without the burden of drawn-out litigation.

This week, I introduced the Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act, which would permanently reinstate the PAID program. When originally implemented in 2018, the PAID program returned four times more in back wages to employees than traditional enforcement methods.

This is a practical and proven solution that protects workers, reduces government red tape, and helps prevent unnecessary legal costs – allowing businesses and their employees to focus on what they do best: creating jobs, growing their operations, and strengthening the American economy.

I am happy to share that this legislation has earned support from the National Retail Federation, HR Policy Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business, International Franchise Association, and Institute for the American Worker.

I had an inspiring meeting with Melissa Kultgen, a passionate advocate for the American Cancer Society. She shared her story with me, and together, we discussed the crucial role of medical research that can help countless Americans lead longer, healthier, and happier lives.

As your Congressman, I'm here to serve you. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to my offices in  Fond du Lac and Washington. If you enjoyed this newsletter, be sure to forward it to your family and friends so they can stay informed on what I’m doing in Washington and the Sixth District, and let them know that they can subscribe by clicking here.

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