WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Hermantown, introduced legislation Thursday, March 12, aimed at preventing fraud in child care assistance programs.
Stauber called the bill the Stop Fraud by SOMALIA Act in a news release. He said widespread child care fraud in Minnesota was primarily perpetrated by Somalis, and state leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, failed to act.
The bill would bar people convicted of fraud from the child care assistance program for life, require states to reimburse the federal government for fraudulently obtained funds, refer fraud to the Department of Justice for prosecution and allow non-citizens to be deported for committing fraud, according to the release.
"Taxpayers in Minnesota and across the country deserve to know their hard-earned dollars are supporting legitimate services and not lining the pockets of Somali fraudsters," Stauber stated. "My bill imposes tough penalties for those who exploit our public programs, including serious immigration consequences for non-citizens."
A bill with the same name and provisions was introduced by Senate Republicans in January. In the Senate bill, SOMALIA stands for "Strengthening Oversight and More Accountability for Lying and Illegal Activity."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Minnesota says fraud should be prosecuted, but calling the bill’s name and framing discriminatory and deeply irresponsible.
"You cannot name a federal bill after a nationality or ethnic group and claim it is about accountability,” stated Suleiman Adan, deputy executive director, in a news release. “Fraud is a crime committed by individuals, not by entire communities. Public policy should be grounded in evidence and due process, not collective blame.”
The whirlwind of fraud concerns in Minnesota has been primarily driven by providers billing for services that weren’t provided. The fraud was enabled by a long-documented lack of oversight in the state’s largely federally funded Department of Human Services programs, including child care assistance.
Stauber invited right-wing influencer Nick Shirley to the State of the Union last month. A video by Shirley went viral in December and brought national attention to Minnesota. In it, he visited 10 Minneapolis day cares run by Somali residents that he said were not caring for children and were misappropriating funds.
The Minnesota Star Tribune found children inside four of the day cares and had previously reported on issues with the assistance program. Many other local media outlets have for years reported on various aspects of social services fraud in the state.
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