SR0804 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0804 LRB104 21906 RMO 37795 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The people of Illinois and the United States of America deserve a government that exercises responsible stewardship over taxpayer dollars and ensures that public funds are used only for their lawful and intended purposes; and

WHEREAS, Fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption in government spending undermine public trust, divert resources away from vulnerable populations, and place unnecessary burdens on hardworking taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, The Medicaid program exists to provide critical healthcare services to eligible low-income individuals, seniors, people with disabilities, and vulnerable families, and any fraudulent misuse of Medicaid resources directly harms those who rely upon these essential services; and

WHEREAS, Improper payments and fraudulent activity within Medicaid have cost taxpayers billions of dollars nationally, demonstrating the need for strong oversight, robust enforcement mechanisms, and aggressive antifraud initiatives at every level of government; and

WHEREAS, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have taken decisive action to strengthen oversight, restore accountability, and aggressively pursue fraud and abuse within federal benefit programs, including renewed efforts to identify and eliminate Medicaid fraud; and

WHEREAS, These actions represent an important step toward restoring integrity in government spending and ensuring that taxpayer-funded assistance programs serve their intended purpose; and

WHEREAS, The previous administration under President Joe Biden weakened antifraud enforcement by rolling back key accountability measures, reducing the effectiveness of oversight tools, and diminishing federal efforts designed to detect and prevent fraud in government benefit programs; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a responsibility to fully cooperate with federal antifraud initiatives and to ensure the strongest possible oversight of Medicaid expenditures and all taxpayer-funded programs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we express our strong support for ongoing federal efforts to eliminate fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption in government spending, including targeted efforts to identify and eliminate fraud within the Medicaid program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their leadership and commitment to restoring transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline in the administration of public benefit programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon Governor JB Pritzker, all relevant state agencies, and the State of Illinois to fully comply with all federal antifraud reviews, audits, and enforcement initiatives related to Medicaid and other taxpayer-funded programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage the State of Illinois to strengthen its own antifraud oversight tools, improve accountability mechanisms, and fully cooperate with efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars are protected from misuse; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to Governor JB Pritzker, the Director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance.