In 1863, Congress enacted the federal False Claims Act to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of government funds. By encouraging private citizens to come forward as whistleblowers, the false claims act holds those filing false or fraudulent claims against the government accountable to taxpayers across the United States. Here in Pennsylvania, we should be holding those who seek to profit off the backs of hardworking taxpayers by filing false or fraudulent claims with the Commonwealth to the same standard.
 
We will soon be re-introducing legislation that will amend the Human Services Code by enacting the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Act. Similar to the federal legislation, our Act will ensure accountability and protection of taxpayer dollars across the state.
 
In fiscal year 2023 alone, the Justice Department recovered nearly $2.7 billion under the federal False Claims Act - of which $1.8 billion involved the health care industry. Since the enactment of the federal False Claims Act, thirty-one states have passed their own false claims acts, including New Jersey and Maryland who have recovered millions for their taxpayers.
 
Recent history has shown that adopting false claims legislation, whether it’s at the state or federal level, exposes waste, fraud, and abuse of government funds and recovers billions of taxpayer dollars. The Commonwealth should join the ranks of the federal and state governments ensuring taxpayer accountability by enacting the Commonwealth False Claims Act.

In past sessions, this legislation has been co-sponsored by Senators Cappelletti, Collett, Comitta, Costa, Fontana, Hughes, Kane, Laughlin, Schwank, Martin, Miller, Muth, Saval, and Stefano.

We urge you to stand with us in support of taxpayer accountability and co-sponsor this powerful piece of legislation.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0341: P.L.31, No.21