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House Majority Leader Calls for Stronger Fraud Crackdown and Border Security Measures
On June 9, 2026, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise took the floor in Washington to launch a Republican push aimed at rooting out fraud in federal programs and tightening national security. Joined by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, Scalise warned that taxpayer dollars must reach the people they’re meant to help and that funding for border and counter‑terrorism initiatives has to be protected.
Scalise’s address spotlighted ongoing fraud in childcare and other welfare programs. He cited Minnesota cases in which so‑called “learning centers” allegedly siphoned funds earmarked for children, including those with autism, to criminal operators. According to the press release, the malfeasance continued because state officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Representative Keith Ellison, “looked the other way.” The leader also referenced broader fraud in hospice and other healthcare programs, claiming that criminal organizations—sometimes linked to foreign entities—have diverted tens of billions of dollars from programs that benefit seniors and people with disabilities.
The House has introduced several bills this week to address these problems. Scalise pointed to a recent measure that would bar individuals convicted of stealing from childcare programs from re‑participating in those programs. The proposal faced overwhelming opposition from Democrats, with 98% of House Democrats voting against it. Scalise described the opposition as a protection of fraudsters and insisted the bill would “root out the fraud that we’re seeing.” The speech underscored the partisan divide over fraud reform, with Republicans framing the issue as a matter of taxpayer protection.
Turning to national security, Scalise announced a forthcoming bill—dubbed “reconciliation 2.0”—that would fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Protection. He criticized Democrats for allegedly wanting to open borders and for opposing the funding. The leader also stressed the importance of renewing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), noting that the current authorization was set to expire on Friday. According to the speech, FISA has historically been used to prevent terrorist attacks on American soil, and the House is prepared to move the renewal bill once Senate negotiations conclude.
Scalise also attacked anti‑business policies he said have driven jobs and investment away from states. He referenced a social media post by Representative Marlin Stutzman that claimed Democratic actions in Illinois had forced the Chicago Bears to consider relocating to Indiana. The leader framed the move as a consequence of “specific actions” taken by Democrats that would cost Illinois significant tax revenue and employment.
The speech closed with a call to support a bipartisan effort to raise money for local charities through the annual Congressional Baseball Game. Scalise announced that 38,000 tickets had already been sold and that more than $3 million had been raised for youth programs in Washington, D.C. He urged Republicans and Democrats to compete in the game while also contributing to charitable causes.
At present, the House is preparing to advance the fraud‑reduction bills and the border‑security funding package. The FISA renewal remains pending in the Senate, and the outcome will determine whether the surveillance program continues without interruption. The issue of the Chicago Bears’ potential relocation is still in the early stages of discussion, and the Congressional Baseball Game is scheduled for the following night. The House’s actions on fraud, national security, and economic policy will likely shape legislative priorities in the coming weeks.
Scalise’s address spotlighted ongoing fraud in childcare and other welfare programs. He cited Minnesota cases in which so‑called “learning centers” allegedly siphoned funds earmarked for children, including those with autism, to criminal operators. According to the press release, the malfeasance continued because state officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Representative Keith Ellison, “looked the other way.” The leader also referenced broader fraud in hospice and other healthcare programs, claiming that criminal organizations—sometimes linked to foreign entities—have diverted tens of billions of dollars from programs that benefit seniors and people with disabilities.
The House has introduced several bills this week to address these problems. Scalise pointed to a recent measure that would bar individuals convicted of stealing from childcare programs from re‑participating in those programs. The proposal faced overwhelming opposition from Democrats, with 98% of House Democrats voting against it. Scalise described the opposition as a protection of fraudsters and insisted the bill would “root out the fraud that we’re seeing.” The speech underscored the partisan divide over fraud reform, with Republicans framing the issue as a matter of taxpayer protection.
Turning to national security, Scalise announced a forthcoming bill—dubbed “reconciliation 2.0”—that would fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Protection. He criticized Democrats for allegedly wanting to open borders and for opposing the funding. The leader also stressed the importance of renewing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), noting that the current authorization was set to expire on Friday. According to the speech, FISA has historically been used to prevent terrorist attacks on American soil, and the House is prepared to move the renewal bill once Senate negotiations conclude.
Scalise also attacked anti‑business policies he said have driven jobs and investment away from states. He referenced a social media post by Representative Marlin Stutzman that claimed Democratic actions in Illinois had forced the Chicago Bears to consider relocating to Indiana. The leader framed the move as a consequence of “specific actions” taken by Democrats that would cost Illinois significant tax revenue and employment.
The speech closed with a call to support a bipartisan effort to raise money for local charities through the annual Congressional Baseball Game. Scalise announced that 38,000 tickets had already been sold and that more than $3 million had been raised for youth programs in Washington, D.C. He urged Republicans and Democrats to compete in the game while also contributing to charitable causes.
At present, the House is preparing to advance the fraud‑reduction bills and the border‑security funding package. The FISA renewal remains pending in the Senate, and the outcome will determine whether the surveillance program continues without interruption. The issue of the Chicago Bears’ potential relocation is still in the early stages of discussion, and the Congressional Baseball Game is scheduled for the following night. The House’s actions on fraud, national security, and economic policy will likely shape legislative priorities in the coming weeks.
