Data Foundation Welcomes House Passage of Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 8, 2026 — The Data Foundation welcomes today's bipartisan House passage of the Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act (H.R. 8463), the centerpiece of a broader package of improper payments and fraud prevention bills from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform considered today on the House floor. The package addresses pre-payment verification, federal program exclusions, emergency spending controls, state-administered program audits, federal workforce training, and other dimensions of program integrity. Together the bills represent the most comprehensive legislative response to the federal government's $162 billion annual improper payments problem in a generation.

H.R. 8463, introduced by Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and advanced with strong bipartisan support, modernizes Treasury's Do Not Pay system to function as a pre-payment verification tool while establishing a durable privacy architecture in statute. In floor remarks today, Chairman Comer affirmed that the bill was "drafted in coordination with privacy stakeholders" and includes "appropriate data protection safeguards for personal and sensitive information."

Key elements of H.R. 8463:

• Mandatory pre-payment verification as a statutory obligation under 31 U.S.C. § 3325a, with structured agency exemptions where statute or operations require them.
• Streamlined Do Not Pay onboarding through a standardized computer matching agreement template, addressing the administrative bottleneck that has kept the system underutilized for over a decade.
• Durable privacy architecture establishing the system as a match-based query interface rather than a data warehouse, carrying source-statute confidentiality obligations explicitly into the system, bounding data retention to 30 days, and imposing criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and five years' imprisonment for unlawful disclosure.
• Transparency and oversight built in through a published System of Records Notice, quarterly Treasury reports to Congress, consolidated Federal Register publication of computer matching agreements, and annual evaluations of system effectiveness.

"Today's bipartisan House action is a meaningful step toward addressing the more than $162 billion in improper payments the federal government reports each year,” said Nick Hart, President & CEO of the Data Foundation. “H.R. 8463 addresses the operational bottleneck that has kept Do Not Pay from delivering on its promise, while building in the privacy architecture that makes the system legally durable and operationally defensible. We commend Chairman Comer, Chairman Arrington, Ranking Member Garcia, and the bipartisan members of the Committee. We look forward to continuing this work as the bill advances to the Senate."  

Improper payment prevention is not a partisan issue. The infrastructure this package authorizes will serve administrations of both parties for years to come. The Data Foundation commends the Committee for today's bipartisan action and stands ready to work with Members of both parties as these bills advance.

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About the Data Foundation

The Data Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that champions the use of open data and evidence-informed public policy to make society better for everyone. As a nonpartisan think tank, we conduct research, collaborative thought leadership, and advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data. Our activities proactively address emerging data-related needs in the country with the goal of devising realistic solutions, accelerating policy coordination, and advancing innovation. The Data Foundation is recognized by Candid Guidestar with the Platinum Seal of Transparency and received 4-Stars from Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit www.datafoundation.org. (LEI: 254900I43CTC59RFW495)

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