Arrington, Jodey RSS Articles

Arrington calls 2026 midterms a 'woodshed moment' for Texas Republicans

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

OPINION: Arrington calls 2026 midterms a 'woodshed moment' for Texas Republicans

By Rep. Jodey Arrington
November 5, 2026
AS SEEN IN THE LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

This midterm election was a woodshed moment for Texas Republicans.

The voters of Texas have spoken - including those who stayed home. The question is, will Republicans listen?

If we do, we can return to leadership that not only resonates with Texans, but better reflects the values of Texas.

If we don’t, this election will be the first of many in Democrats’ march to make Texas like California.

It’s not just the future of Texas on the line; the preservation of our Republic hangs in the balance. If we lose Texas, we lose the country.

This election was a wake-up call.

Now is our opportunity to answer it. Let’s respond like Texans - no fear, no excuses, and no surrender. God bless Texas!

Jodey

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington is a Republican from Lubbock serving the 19th Congressional District of Texas and chairman of the House Budget Committee. His district covers Lubbock and Abilene as well as much of the South Plains, Big Country and surrounding region

Arrington Fights to End Illegal Immigrant Exploitation of Federal Housing Program

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) introduced his LIHTC Security Act, legislation to prevent illegal immigrants from exploiting the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, which provides nearly $15 billion annually in federal tax incentives to support affordable rental housing. The bill would establish citizenship and immigration-status eligibility requirements for tenants in qualifying low-income housing units and require states to enforce those standards or accept a 5% reduction in their annual housing tax credit allocation.

“Securing the border and stopping illegal immigration are fundamentally about addressing the perverse incentives that encourage people to cut the line and break our laws,” said Chairman Jodey Arrington. “Every year, Washington provides nearly $15 billion through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to support the development of affordable rental housing, with no requirement to verify tenants’ citizenship or legal status. That loophole allows illegal immigrants to exploit the program at the expense of low-income American families struggling to find affordable housing. Hardworking American taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for housing people who are in this country illegally. My LIHTC Security Act closes this loophole by establishing commonsense eligibility standards and holding states accountable for ensuring these tax credits benefit American citizens, not illegal immigrants.”

“With the national debt having recently surpassed the $40 trillion mark, Washington must do everything it can to ensure that taxpayer-funded programs benefit only U.S. citizens and legal residents,” said Alexander Ciccone, the Policy and Government Affairs Manager at the National Taxpayers Union. “By setting clear eligibility standards for federally subsidized housing, Representative Arrington’s commonsense legislation is exactly the kind of good-government measure that promotes accountability for taxpayer dollars and helps restore public trust in government.”

“Housing affordability is a top issue for Americans right now, and Congress needs to ensure it is doing its part to protect existing housing options, especially for young families,” said Terry Schilling, the President of the American Principles Project. “This bill ensures that only Americans who need the most help getting on their feet are eligible for American housing assistance. It's a no-brainer, and APP is proud to support it.”

Background:

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program provides federal tax incentives to state housing authorities to help developers build affordable rental housing, costing taxpayers approximately $15 billion annually.
There is no current federal requirement that tenants living in LIHTC-subsidized housing be U.S. citizens or legal residents, leaving the door open for illegal aliens to take advantage of federal subsidies meant to benefit low-income Americans.
Chairman Arrington’s LIHTC Security Act would establish a requirement for tenants living in qualifying housing projects to be U.S. citizens or legal residents in order for housing developers to receive federal tax credits.
If a state chooses not to comply, it will be penalized with a reduction of its housing tax credit allocation.

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Arrington Celebrates Additional $8 Million Rural Health Investment, Including Support for West Texas

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has announced an additional $8 million in funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, established by Arrington's One Big Beautiful Bill, to strengthen rural health care across Texas.

The funding will support 28 rural health care providers, including Sudan Medical Clinic in Lamb County, through Texas' Rural Texas Strong initiative. These investments will help rural providers recruit and retain health care professionals, modernize medical equipment and facilities, and expand access to quality care while improving the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

In December, Arrington announced Texas had received the largest allocation of any state under the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program. As the author of the One Big Beautiful Bill, Arrington secured a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas. This latest announcement builds on the $51 million awarded in September to support 68 rural hospital districts and authorities through Texas' Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative.

"We won’t have the next generation of agriculture and energy producers providing America with food security and energy independence without access to basic health care in rural communities,” said Chairman Arrington. “That’s why we established the Rural Health Transformation Program through the One Big Beautiful Bill, securing a historic $1.4 billion investment for Texas. I’m proud to see the Trump Administration continuing to deliver through this program, now with $8 million for 28 rural health care providers across our state, including Sudan Medical Clinic in Lamb County. By strengthening our rural health care workforce, modernizing facilities and equipment, and expanding access to care, we’re securing a healthier, stronger future for Rural Texas.”

"President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live," said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again."

"President Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Texas," said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home."

"Your address should not determine the quality of care you receive," said Gov. Greg Abbott. "Rural Texas will not be left behind. This more than $8 million investment will expand access to care, strengthen facilities across Texas communities, and help to recruit and retain the next generation of healthcare professionals."

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Riley Gaines Endorses Arrington Bill to Protect Women’s Sports

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) announced that he is teaming up with 12-time NCAA All-American and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines to pass his Title IX Clarification Act, legislation to codify that Title IX nondiscrimination requirements tied to federal education funding are based on the biological reality of sex.

“Riley Gaines is one of the most impactful voices in the fight to protect women’s sports, which is why I’m thrilled to have her as a champion for my Title IX Clarification Act,” said Chairman Arrington. “Title IX was created to provide equal opportunity for our daughters, not to push a radical gender ideology that jeopardizes their safety, and taxpayer dollars should not be used to advance extreme social policies. My legislation stops the abuse of Title IX by affirming a simple truth: there are only two sexes — male and female — and we cannot allow protections for our daughters to be erased the next time a Democrat administration takes control of the White House. I’m proud to stand with Riley in this fight and grateful to have her support as we work together to get this bill across the finish line.”

“Title IX was created to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities in education and athletics,” said Riley Gaines. “That promise only means something if the word ‘sex’ actually means sex. I support Congressman Jodey Arrington’s Title IX Clarification Act because Americans should not have to wonder what protections under Title IX mean from one administration to the next. The law should be clear, consistent, and grounded in biological reality as it was intended in 1972. The American people have had enough of the attacks on women and the truth. We are desperate for clarity, honesty, and accountability. Thanks to Congressman Arrington for leading the charge.”

Background:

Chairman Arrington introduced the Title IX Clarification Act (H.R. 8781) on May 13, 2026. The legislation defines “sex” under Title IX as an individual’s biologically determined sex, either male or female, for education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
The bill advanced out of the House Committee on Education and Workforce on July 21, 2026.
The bill establishes statutory definitions for “male” and “female” under Title IX and would apply those definitions to education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance after enactment.
On October 1, 2026, Chairman Arrington published an opinion in the Daily Caller calling on Congress to define biological sex in Title IX and establish a statutory standard that does not depend on changing administrative interpretations.

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REP. JODEY ARRINGTON: Women’s Sports Are One Election Away From Extinction

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

REP. JODEY ARRINGTON: Women’s Sports Are One Election Away From Extinction

By Rep. Jodey Arrington
October 1, 2026
AS SEEN IN THE DAILY CALLER

Under President Trump’s leadership, Title IX protects women and girls from discrimination based on biological sex.

As obvious as that may sound, it represents a complete reversal of the Biden administration’s radical weaponization of federal education funding to force schools to ignore biological reality. That agenda began on President Biden’s first day in office, when he directed federal agencies to treat gender identity the same as sex. His administration then used that interpretation to attack the fairness of women’s sports, undermine the privacy of women’s locker rooms, and steal hard-earned opportunities from female athletes.

This should not be a political issue. But the Democrat Party has normalized an ideology so radical that basic biological reality is now treated as controversial.

President Trump has since restored the biological-sex standard at the federal level, while the Supreme Court has affirmed that states may keep men out of women’s sports. Together, those actions represent major progress in restoring common sense and common decency, but the fight isn’t over.

The Court’s decision rightfully recognized a seminal law of nature: Men and women are biologically different, and those differences matter in athletic competition. Yet its ruling only confirmed that states may enact laws protecting women’s sports. It did not establish a nationwide prohibition on men competing against women.

That means girls in states that bar males from women’s sports can compete on a level playing field, while female athletes elsewhere will still be forced to compete against them.

A girl’s safety, privacy, and athletic opportunities should not depend on her ZIP code or which political party is in power.

Fifty-four years ago, Congress passed Title IX to prohibit sex discrimination in schools receiving federal funding. In the decades that followed, generations of women and girls gained opportunities to learn, compete, and succeed.

In 1972, no one thought it necessary to explain that “sex” referred to whether someone was biologically male or female. Everyone understood what those words meant, so Congress never expressly defined “sex” in the law.

Nevertheless, here we are.

Justice Neil Gorsuch highlighted the problem in the Supreme Court’s recent decision. Because Title IX imposes conditions on federal education funding, schools must be clearly informed of what the law requires. Congress never defined “sex” in the statute, leaving room for future administrations to impose their own meaning.

That ambiguity gave the Biden administration an opening to substitute its radical ideology. Unless Congress closes that loophole, future Democrat administrations will exploit it again.

The question is straightforward: Should protections for our daughters change every time a new administration takes control of the White House?

The answer must be no.

That’s why Congress must pass my Title IX Clarification Act.

The bill defines “sex” under Title IX as biologically male or female. It gives schools, states, parents, and students a clear federal standard and prevents future administrations from reinterpreting the law around gender identity.

Put plainly, the Title IX Clarification Act makes biological sex the nationwide standard for schools receiving federal money. In fact, schools that deny women equal opportunities by ignoring this standard could lose federal funding.

We should be grateful for President Trump’s bold leadership in reversing the Biden administration’s harmful policies and standing up for female athletes. But executive orders are temporary. Any future Democrat president will easily revoke those protections with the stroke of a pen unless Congress acts.

Nearly 80 percent of Americans oppose males competing in women’s sports. Congress has a responsibility to our daughters to turn that overwhelming consensus into a lasting federal standard.

There are two sexes: male and female. It’s time our laws clearly reflect that reality.

Women’s sports must remain for women, and federal education funding should never be used to force schools to deny biological reality. Title IX gave generations of girls the opportunity to thrive. It is now our responsibility to protect that promise for every girl who comes next.

It is time for Congress to pass the Title IX Clarification Act.

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington is a Republican serving the 19th Congressional District of Texas. He is the Chairman of the House Budget Committee and a Senior Member of the House Ways & Means Committee.

Arrington Celebrates $51 Million Rural Health Investment, With More to Come for Texas

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Trump Administration announced that it will be investing $51 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program, created by House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington’s One Big Beautiful Bill, into Texas’s Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative.

The funding will support 68 rural hospital districts and authorities as they develop and expand community-based prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs to improve health outcomes and prevent and manage chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and obesity.

In December, Arrington announced that Texas had received the largest allocation of any state under the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program. As the author of the One Big Beautiful Bill, Arrington secured a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas – the most of any state. Texas is receiving $281 million in the program’s first year, with today’s $51 million announcement representing one part of that broader investment.

“We won’t have the next generation of agriculture and energy producers providing America with food security and energy independence without access to basic health care in rural communities. Yet for years, Rural America has faced a growing health care crisis marked by fewer providers, reduced services, and limited access to quality care,” said Chairman Arrington. “To combat this crisis, the One Big Beautiful Bill established the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas, to strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes. In the first year alone, Texas is receiving $281 million to advance state-led solutions to our rural health care challenges. Today, I am proud to see the Trump Administration and Governor Abbott put this investment to work through Texas’ Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative, with $51 million supporting 68 rural hospital districts and authorities as they work to prevent and manage diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and obesity. This is another major win for rural America and a Texas-sized investment in a healthier, stronger future for Rural Texas.”

“President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”

“President Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Texas,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.”

“Rural Texans deserve quality health care in their own communities,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “This $51 million will aid 68 rural hospital districts and authorities with prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that keep Texans healthy and strong. I thank President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Administrator Oz for this investment in rural Texas.”

Background:

The Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill, provides $50 billion over five years to strengthen rural health care and expand access to services. Texas is receiving $1.4 billion over that timeframe, the largest allocation of any state.
Texas is receiving $281 million in FY2026, with today’s $51 million investment representing one part of the state’s broader first-year award.
The $51 million will support 68 rural hospital districts and authorities through Texas’ Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative, focused on prevention, wellness, nutrition, and chronic disease management.
Texas’ broader Rural Health Transformation strategy also includes expanding telehealth and digital health tools, strengthening the rural health workforce, and modernizing rural health infrastructure, equipment, and cybersecurity.

For more information about the RHTP, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/rural-health.

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OPINION: Mexico’s USMCA violations threaten American energy

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

MEXICO'S USMCA VIOLATIONS THREATEN AMERICAN ENERGY

By Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Amy Andryszak, and Jason Grumet
September 24, 2026
AS SEEN IN THE HILL

When U.S. and Mexican trade officials meet in Washington this month to continue the joint review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), one unresolved trade issue should be at the top of the agenda: Mexico’s discriminatory treatment of American energy companies.

In his first term, President Trump secured historic commitments from Mexico in USMCA to open its energy markets to American investment and guarantee fair treatment for U.S. producers, but a deal is only as good as our willingness to enforce it. Although USMCA includes a clear dispute settlement chapter to resolve infractions, Mexico’s government has repeatedly violated the agreement since 2021 by enacting policies that gave its state-owned industries an unfair advantage over U.S. companies and undermined existing investments.

In 2021, the Mexican government enacted reforms that forced the country’s grid to prioritize electricity generated by its state-owned electric utility over private power generation. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative challenged those policies in 2022 by opening consultations with Mexico — the first step in USMCA’s dispute process — but the administration stopped there. It never took the next step of requesting a formal dispute panel that could lead to meaningful enforcement.

In the meantime, Mexico went even further.

Changes to Mexico’s constitution in 2024 and new energy laws enacted in early 2025 expanded government control of the energy sector. Under the new framework, the state must account for at least 54 percent of the average electricity injected into the national grid each year, while greater regulatory authority has been consolidated under executive control.

By rigging the system in favor of its state-owned companies, Mexico is violating the fair-treatment commitments it made under USMCA and putting American energy companies at a competitive disadvantage. Oil and natural gas companies face new barriers involving exploration, drilling, refining, transportation, and market access. Wind and solar companies now face restrictions that limit their ability to generate and dispatch power. The result is less access for American energy companies, new barriers for U.S. energy exports, and fewer opportunities for our nation’s companies to invest, compete and grow.

Whatever the energy source, American companies cannot compete on a level playing field when a foreign government owns their competitor and writes the rules in its favor.

We come at energy policy from different perspectives and do not agree on every issue. But it’s our shared consensus that American companies should be able to invest and compete under clear, predictable rules — and that Mexico must live up to the commitments it made under USMCA.

The ongoing joint review gives the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative the opportunity to finally resolve this dispute, whether by ending Mexico’s discriminatory energy policies through negotiations or moving to formal dispute settlement. Congress should provide the administration every resource it needs to achieve this mission.

The bipartisan Mexican Energy Trade Enforcement Act would give the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative additional support to reverse Mexico’s energy investment barriers now entrenched in their law. The legislation gives the Trump administration the full backing of Congress to hold Mexico accountable and eliminate its USMCA violations in the energy sector.

Mexico is one of America’s most important economic partners, and we want more North American energy trade and investment, not less. Partnership cannot mean enjoying the benefits of USMCA while ignoring the commitments that come with them.

The future of North American energy trade — and the credibility of USMCA itself — depend on whether we are willing to enforce the deal we made.

Jodey Arrington is serving the 19th District of Texas in Congress. He is the chairman of the House Budget Committee and a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee.

Amy Andryszak is president and CEO of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the leading trade association representing America’s natural gas pipeline industry.

Jason Grumet is CEO of the American Clean Power Association, the leading trade association representing the U.S. clean energy industry.

Arrington Celebrates Federal Reimbursement for Texas Border Security Costs

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement after Texas received confirmation of federal reimbursement through the One Big Beautiful Bill's State Border Security Reimbursement Fund (SBSRF) for border security costs paid by the state during the Biden Administration:

"The first and most important responsibility of the federal government is to provide for the common defense. For four years, the Biden Administration abdicated that responsibility, failed to secure our sovereign border, and forced Texas to step up and spend more than $11 billion in state taxpayer dollars doing the job Washington refused to do.

"As Budget Chairman, I worked with my fellow Texans to make it a priority in the One Big Beautiful Bill to right this wrong and ensure Texas taxpayers were reimbursed for the significant financial harm inflicted upon our citizens. Today, I’m proud to announce that Texas has received the restitution it is owed.

"I want to thank President Trump for always making good on his promises including to remedy the injustice done to Texas taxpayers by making our state whole for holding the line when the Biden Administration failed to secure our border. This is a tremendous victory for the Lone Star State and the hardworking Texans who were double taxed to foot the bill for Biden’s dereliction of duty.” - Chairman Jodey Arrington.

Background:

The Biden Administration’s failure to secure the southern border forced Texas to spend billions in state taxpayer dollars on border security instead of priorities like education and infrastructure. This effort by the State of Texas was known as “Operation Lone Star."
Chairman Arrington’s One Big Beautiful Bill created the $10 billion State Border Security Reimbursement Fund (SBSRF) to reimburse states like Texas for border security costs.
Today, Governor Abbott announced the Trump Administration has confirmed that $7.5 billion of the SBSRF will be sent to the State of Texas as reimbursement for Operation Lone Star.

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Arrington Commemorates the 25th Anniversary of September 11th

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks:

"Twenty-five years ago, America suffered the deadliest foreign attack on American soil in our nation’s history.

"I, like most Americans who lived through that day, remember it like it was yesterday. I remember the horror, helplessness, and anger of watching our country come under attack. But I also remember the tremendous pride and gratitude I felt as an American witnessing the courage, selflessness, and resolve shown by our fellow countrymen.

"At the time, I was working for President Bush in the White House, and I remember watching him meet that horrific moment with tremendous compassion, decisiveness, and resolve.

"I remember running out of the White House amid reports of a plane heading toward us. I remember the surreal feeling of being under siege as I watched smoke billowing from the Pentagon and fighter jets scrambling overhead.

"I remember gathering with White House staff on the South Lawn to pray for our country. In the aftermath, I remember lining the hallway outside the Oval Office as victims’ families walked out of a meeting with the President, everyone in tears.

"I remember watching the footage and listening to the voicemails of those who lost their lives that day.

"I remember our country uniting in grief and with a oneness of purpose. I remember people turning to God for comfort and strength. I remember Americans, regardless of their politics, standing proud of our country.

"More than anything, I remember feeling like we were truly one nation, under God, and indivisible. And it was powerful beyond words.

"Never forget." - Chairman Jodey Arrington.

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We’re being defrauded out of $1 million every single minute. It’s time to stop the bleeding

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

We’re being defrauded out of $1 million every single minute. It’s time to stop the bleeding

By Rep. Jodey Arrington & Rep. Blake Moore
September 1, 2026
AS SEEN IN THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

In South Florida, there are 20 times as many durable medical equipment suppliers as McDonald’s franchises. Federal officials recently halted payments to 900 suspicious hospice providers in Los Angeles, more than all hospice operations in the state of Texas. In Columbus, Ohio, there were 94 home-health companies operating out of a single building, bilking Medicaid for tens of millions of dollars.

Medicare and Medicaid have become open cash registers for criminal enterprises. As we speak, taxpayers are being charged for equipment never delivered, services never performed, and treatments patients never needed.

According to the Government Accountability Office, the federal government may be losing upwards of $500 billion a year to fraud. That’s nearly two months of mortgage payments for every American household and roughly the state budgets of California and Texas combined.

It’s $1 million, every minute of every hour, of every day, for an entire year.

This is organized, systematic theft, and it is happening on an industrial scale.

That is why we introduced the Anti-Fraud Fund Act, which will empower the most comprehensive and aggressive healthcare fraud prevention and enforcement campaign in history.

The bill marks a clean break from Washington’s failed “pay and chase” model. Under that model, the government pays a claim and investigates it later. Only after the fraud is discovered do investigators attempt to find the criminals and recover the money. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials say that this current fraud control system only recovers about ten cents of every dollar it chases.

Our plan establishes a prevention-first approach to tackling fraud. Dr. Mehmet Oz and his “fraud czar,” Kim Brandt, have already successfully used this method to return tens of billions of dollars otherwise stolen by criminals by identifying suspicious providers and flagging unusual billing patterns before taxpayer money ever leaves the treasury. These Medicaid Fraud War Rooms, which use data analysts to review fraud claims in real time, have saved $200 million in their first 90 days.

The return on investment for taxpayers is massive. Preliminary modeling from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicates this $28 billion investment would prevent or recover at least $196 billion over the next decade, leaving taxpayers at least $168 billion in tangible savings, a 7-to-1 net return on investment. Every dollar invested would prevent or recover at least seven dollars in fraudulent and improper payments. This is a commitment to fiscal discipline with concrete resourcing, something that has been sorely lacking for decades.

President Donald Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud has shown that this approach works. Last year, CMS’s program integrity efforts saved $42 billion in Medicare. That $42 billion is enough to cover three million knee replacements, seven million cataract removals, or 37.5 million routine colonoscopies for Medicare beneficiaries.

The administration’s recent nationwide healthcare fraud takedown resulted in charges against 455 defendants in schemes involving $6.5 billion. Yet CMS estimates Medicare and Medicaid still lose approximately $100 billion every year to waste, fraud, and abuse. Per Dr. Oz, returning that amount could double the life of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, which faces looming insolvency and automatic benefit cuts within the next decade.

We cannot keep up with fraudsters using yesterday’s tools. The fight starts with modern technology capable of analyzing claims in real time, identifying abnormal billing, and preventing suspicious payments.

It also means more boots on the ground: Investigators to follow the money, reviewers to scrutinize questionable claims, data analysts to connect the dots, and prosecutors to put fraudsters behind bars.

Finally, it means better coordination among federal agencies, law enforcement, and state officials. Criminals exploit the gaps between agencies, programs, and jurisdictions. Better information sharing will help close those gaps and ensure that no credible lead falls through the cracks.

We can do this without creating new bureaucracy, wrapping patients and honest providers in red tape, or expanding the government’s authority. We would not alter anyone’s eligibility or reduce a single legitimate benefit. This is all about adding more horsepower to go after criminals.

With our national debt approaching $40 trillion, this is what good fiscal stewardship looks like. We will come back to honoring our commitment to the people Medicare and Medicaid were created to serve. Every dollar stolen by a fraudster is a dollar unavailable to care for a senior, a child, or a person with a disability. Every criminal provider allowed to remain in the system undermines confidence in the honest doctors, nurses, and caregivers serving patients every day.

There can be no safe harbor for anyone who steals from American taxpayers, and no excuse for continuing to pay fraudulent claims when we have the tools to stop them. Congress must provide the resources to finish the fight.

House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Texas’s 19th Congressional District. Healthcare Task Force Chair Blake Moore is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Utah’s 1st Congressional District.