H.R. 8822

119 HR 8822 IH: Federal Workers’ Compensation Integrity and Care Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-05-14
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8822  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Federal Workers’ Compensation Integrity and Care Act  .
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:
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:
§ 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.