H.R. 3555 requires death data to be shared between federal agencies
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) has recently co-sponsored the Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancement (IPACE) Act which aims to improve the accuracy of government death records as well as the access federal agencies have to the master death list. This could potentially translate into saving the government hundreds of millions, if not billions in taxpayer dollars.
Each year, the federal government makes millions of dollars in improper payments to deceased individuals, wasting taxpayer money. Most federal agencies rely on a slimmed down, incomplete version of the list of deceased people, known as the Death Master File (DMF). With a partial and inaccurate DMF, agencies such as the Social Security Administration and the Agriculture Department have hundreds of people every month that are listed as living that are dead and vice versa. This means that improper payments are made, such as the $601 million paid to federal retirees between 2006 and 2010 that were later found to be dead.
“Every taxpayer dollar should be used effectively to pay down the debt, provide care for veterans, or invest in public schools, among other top priorities,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Without the measures outlined in this important bill, federal agencies unknowingly provide expensive improper payments. As the author of the Government Performance and Results Act, a major piece of government reform legislation, I am a strong supporter of any bill that makes the government more efficient. I am glad to work with other Members who are also focused on good government and thank Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL17) for introducing this bill.”
The IPACE Act requires the improvement of the Death Master File as well as allowing federal agencies to access the complete database and ensuring that federal agencies managing retirement programs share best practices. With these steps, Congressman Cuellar hopes to see a better collection of records, a decrease in fraud, and a stop of improper payments.
Congressman Henry Cuellar is a Member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Vice Chairman of the House Steering and Policy Committee, Senior Whip, and member of the Blue Dog Coalition. Job creation, accessibility to constituents, education, economic development, and national security are his priorities.
