Sponsors (2)
The bill aims to keep more public-assistance dollars domestic and standardize recipient declarations to aid enforcement, but it does so by imposing extremely large civil penalties and procedural burdens that could deter eligible people from receiving benefits and raise due-process and administrative-cost concerns.
Low-income recipients of covered public assistance: more of program dollars may remain available for domestic needs if remittances are reduced, potentially increasing the effective value of benefits.
State and federal benefit-administering agencies: gain a single, standardized declaration (signed under penalty of perjury) to document recipients' agreement to program conditions, which could simplify verification and enforcement workflows.
Low-income recipients of covered public assistance: face a civil penalty of up to $100,000 for sending remittances after signing the declaration, creating a severe financial risk that is disproportionate to typical transfer amounts.
Eligible low-income individuals and applicants: may be deterred from applying for or renewing benefits because the declaration and threat of large penalties create fear of civil exposure or legal consequences.
Recipients of public assistance: face civil‑liberties and due‑process risks because large penalties would be imposed based on self‑certification rather than clear proof of intent to misuse benefits, raising concerns about fairness and legal protections.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 29, 2026 by Bernardo Moreno · Last progress January 29, 2026
Requires federal agencies that run public assistance programs to collect a sworn declaration from applicants and reapplicants that they will not send remittance transfers (money sent abroad) while receiving benefits. It creates a civil penalty of $100,000 for any individual who signs the declaration and then makes a remittance transfer during the period they receive payments or benefits; the rule applies to benefits provided more than 30 days after enactment. The bill directs agency heads to obtain the declaration but does not provide funding, describe verification methods, or set out administrative procedures for enforcement.