H.R. 8822

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8822 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8822

To amend the Federal Employees' Compensation Act to permit the 
Secretary of Labor to obtain certain information relating to earnings 
and employment.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 14, 2026

Mr. Mackenzie introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Federal Employees' Compensation Act to permit the 
Secretary of Labor to obtain certain information relating to earnings 
and employment.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Workers' Compensation 
Integrity and Care Act''.

SEC. 2. DATA ACCESS.

(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 8153. Data access
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) FECA program.--The term `FECA program' means the 
program that administers the compensation, benefits, and 
services under this subchapter.
``(2) Improper payment.--The term `improper payment' has 
the meaning given that term in section 3351 of title 31, United 
States Code.
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
of Labor.
``(b) Improvements to Access of Federal Databases.--
``(1) In general.--To improve compliance with the 
requirements under, and the integrity of, the FECA program, and 
to detect and prevent improper payments under such program, 
upon receiving a written request from the Secretary of Labor 
with respect to one or more employees, and in accordance with 
paragraph (2)--
``(A) the Commissioner of Social Security shall 
make available to the Secretary of Labor--
``(i) earnings information of the employee 
or employees; and
``(ii) information on monthly benefit 
payments under title II of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) received by the 
employee or employees; and
``(B) the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall make available to the Secretary of Labor the 
information in the National Directory of New Hires with 
respect to the employee or employees.
``(2) Provision of information.--
``(A) In general.--Information requested by the 
Secretary of Labor under this section--
``(i) may be so requested without 
authorization from, or notice to, the employee 
with respect to whom such information pertains; 
and
``(ii) shall be provided--
``(I) in a timely manner;
``(II) at no cost to the Secretary; 
and
``(III) in accordance with the 
manner, frequency, and form specified 
in the applicable memorandum of 
understanding entered into under 
subparagraph (B).
``(B) Memorandum of understanding.--Not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of the Federal 
Workers' Compensation Integrity and Care Act, the 
Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of 
understanding--
``(i) with the Commissioner of Social 
Security that shall specify the manner, 
frequency, and form in which the information 
requested pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) shall be 
provided to the Secretary of Labor; and
``(ii) with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services that shall specify the manner, 
frequency, and form in which the information 
requested pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) shall be 
provided to the Secretary of Labor.
``(3) Procedures.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of the Federal Workers' Compensation Integrity and 
Care Act, the Secretary shall establish procedures for 
correlating the identity and employment status of a recipient 
of compensation, benefits, or services under this subchapter 
with the information of such recipient obtained under this 
section.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 8152 the following:

``Sec. 8153. Data access.''.
(c) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
with respect to payments made under subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 
5, United States Code, on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
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