Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/2716
Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

ID: H001077

Follow the money

The bill

Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

HR. 2716, 119th Congress.

The sponsor

Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$66,200 raised

20 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 371.

January 6, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Joy. Another bill that's going to "improve" something, because God knows our government is just overflowing with competence and efficiency. Let me put on my surgical gloves and dissect this mess.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act (because who doesn't love a title that screams "we're trying too hard") aims to reduce improper payments made by the federal government, specifically those going to deceased individuals. Wow, what a novel concept. I'm sure it took a team of rocket scientists to come up with this one.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Social Security Act to improve coordination between federal and state agencies, as well as the Do Not Pay working system (because that's not an Orwellian name at all). It requires the Commissioner of Social Security to provide information to the agency operating the Do Not Pay system to help prevent improper payments. Oh, and there's a new provision that ensures the Commissioner can't record a death unless they have "clear and convincing evidence" – because we wouldn't want any accidental deaths on our hands.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: federal agencies, state agencies, the Social Security Administration, and (of course) deceased individuals. I'm sure the latter group is thrilled to be included in this legislative masterpiece.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** Let's get real here. This bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It might reduce some improper payments, but it won't address the underlying issues of bureaucratic incompetence and waste that plague our government. The "improvements" will likely be negligible, and we'll just see more money wasted on administrative costs to implement these changes.

Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a bad case of " Politician's Disease" – a condition where lawmakers think they can solve complex problems with simplistic solutions and PR-friendly titles. Symptoms include an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of understanding of the underlying issues, and a healthy dose of cynicism towards the public.

Treatment: A strong dose of reality, followed by a thorough examination of the actual problems plaguing our government's payment systems. But let's be real, that's not going to happen. Instead, we'll just get more of the same – empty promises, bureaucratic red tape, and a healthy serving of pork barrel politics.

Prognosis: Grim. This bill will likely pass with flying colors, only to be forgotten in the annals of legislative history as another failed attempt at "reform." Meanwhile, the real problems will continue to fester, waiting for someone with actual courage and vision to tackle them head-on.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$66,200
16 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$66,200

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
HAMER, GREGORY J MR. SR
2 transactions
$6,600
2
BOLLINGER, DONALD
2 transactions
$6,600
3
COOLEY, WILLIAM
2 transactions
$6,600
4
HAMER, GREG MR. JR.
2 transactions
$6,600
5
HEBERT, MARC
1 transaction
$3,500
6
FREY, GERARD A.
1 transaction
$3,300
7
CRAPPEL, ADAM
1 transaction
$3,300
8
UIHLEIN, RICHARD
1 transaction
$3,300
9
DAVIS, JORDAN
1 transaction
$3,300
10
ALFORD, ANTHONY
1 transaction
$3,300
11
CASTILLE, CARROL
1 transaction
$3,300
12
MIGUEZ, STEVEN
1 transaction
$3,300
13
MALLETT, CHESTER
1 transaction
$3,300
14
GRIGSBY, LANE
1 transaction
$3,300
15
HOLLINGSWORTH, DAVID
1 transaction
$3,300
16
VANHOOSE, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]

ID: M001204

Top Contributors

10

1
PRIDE MOBILITY PRODUCTS CORP
OrganizationDURYEA, PA
$2,500
Sep 18, 2024
2
COTLER, YUDACUFSKI, HUEBNER
OrganizationSAINT CLAIR, PA
$1,000
Apr 23, 2024
3
DOWD, JOHN J
SUNDANCE VACATIONSPRESIDENT
IndividualLEHIGHTON, PA
$6,600
Mar 25, 2024
4
PEYKOFF, ANDY
NIAGARA BOTTLING, LLCCEO
IndividualLAS VEGAS, NV
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
5
DOWD, JOHN J
SUNDANCE VACATIONSPRESIDENT
IndividualLEHIGHTON, PA
$6,600
Sep 18, 2024
6
ROWAN, MARC J
APOLLO MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT
IndividualGREENWICH, CT
$6,600
Aug 23, 2023
7
ROWAN, CAROLYN
CAROLYN ROWAN COLLECTIONOWNER
IndividualGREENWICH, CT
$6,600
Aug 23, 2023
8
RICH, BRIAN R MR. JR
GILBERTON COAL CO.EXECUTIVE SALES
IndividualCONSHOHOCKEN, PA
$6,600
Oct 24, 2024
9
VOLPE, ELLEN M
SELFHOMEMAKER
IndividualWAVERLY TOWNSHIP, PA
$5,800
May 31, 2023
10
VOLPE, CHARLES J
EXCALIBUR INSURANCE MGMTPRESIDENT
IndividualWAVERLY TOWNSHIP, PA
$5,800
May 31, 2023

Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]

ID: M001215

Top Contributors

10

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
COMTAMA, IA
$1,000
Aug 11, 2023
2
RENEWABLE ENERGY, CITIZENS FOR
COMMADISON, WI
$500
Aug 20, 2024
3
POLITICAL COMMITTEE, NWF ACTION FUND
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$500
Sep 18, 2024
4
US MARSHALS SERVICES
OrganizationNEW YORK, NY
$2,900
Apr 20, 2023
5
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
OrganizationRICHMOND, VA
$1,000
Mar 22, 2023
6
HOGAN, PATRICK F
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$13,200
Mar 15, 2023
7
HOLDEN, RONALD
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualWILLIAMSBURG, IA
$13,200
Jun 20, 2023
8
VANDEWALLE, LOLA L
SELF-EMPLOYEDENTREPRENEUR
IndividualBLUE GRASS, IA
$13,200
Oct 16, 2023
9
GLEESON, JOHN W
KLINGER COMPANIES, LLCCEO
IndividualSIOUX CITY, IA
$11,600
Feb 15, 2023
10
SMITH, DYAN
HOMEMAKERHOMEMAKER
IndividualNAPLES, FL
$10,000
May 13, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 41 nodes and 26 connections (45 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $78,300

Top Donors - Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount

16 Individuals

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