Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Stop Fraud in Federal Programs Act of 2026”.
Stop Fraud in Federal Programs Act of 2026
A BILL
To amend the title 18, United States Code, to increase the penalties for theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds and to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require audits under the summer food service program.
Sec. 2 Penalties for theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds
Section 666 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both” and inserting “fined a covered amount, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both”; and
in subsection (d)—
in paragraph (4), by striking “and” at the end;
by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
“(5) the term “covered amount” means the greater of—
“(A) $250,000; and
“(B) with respect to a person subject to this section, the amount of value of the property or things of value determined with respect to such person under paragraphs (1)(A)(i), (1)(B), and (2) of subsection (a), multiplied by 2; and”
Sec. 3 Required audits under the summer food service program
Audits— Section 13(m) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(m)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “Each such service institution shall annually have such accounts and records audited by a third-party auditor that shall submit the results of each such audit directly to the Secretary. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a third-party auditor may not include a service institution or sponsor organization.”