Vote Yes, Because Dead People Shouldn’t Receive Checks 

LIBRE Urges House to Vote YES on Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

Arlington, VA (1/12/26) — The LIBRE Initiative is urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote YES on S. 269, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, commonsense legislation that would help protect taxpayers and strengthen accountability in federal programs.

Earlier this week, LIBRE sent a letter to all Members of Congress expressing strong support for the bill, which would make permanent a key data-sharing agreement between the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Do Not Pay system. This coordination helps prevent improper federal payments to individuals who are deceased—payments that cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.

Sandra Benitez, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement: 

“S. 269 is about responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and restoring trust in how government programs are managed. This legislation ensures that federal agencies have the tools they need to prevent waste, reduce fraud, and make sure limited resources are directed to the people who truly need them.

This is a straightforward, bipartisan fix to a well-documented problem. Members of Congress have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and accountability by voting yes.”

The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent, reflecting broad bipartisan agreement that the federal government should not be issuing payments to deceased individuals. States across the country have documented significant instances of improper payments, underscoring the need for a permanent federal solution.

LIBRE encourages the House to act swiftly and pass S. 269 to strengthen program integrity and protect hardworking taxpayers.