{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-senate-republicans-launch-anti-fraud-task-force/", "Ricketts, Senate Republicans Launch Anti-Fraud Task Force", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) in announcing the launch of a new Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force. The Anti-Fraud Task Force will examine fraud, waste, and abuse across federal programs. It will also identify vulnerabilities in existing systems and strengthen government accountability to ensure the proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars.\n\nThe U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report estimating that the government lost between $233 billion to $521 billion annually to fraud from 2018-2022.\n\n\u201cWe are days away from celebrating America\u2019s 250th birthday. Preserving this great nation for another 250 years will require us to recommit to protecting Americans, our tax dollars, and our values. This includes combatting fraudsters that are stealing from Americans and driving up the cost of living. I am proud to join the Anti-Fraud Task Force and continue my efforts to fight waste, fraud, and abuse across our country,\u201d said Senator Ricketts.\n\n\u201cThe fraud epidemic burdening our country is one of the most pressing issues facing Americans today. It\u2019s organized theft on a national scale, and the Americans paying the price are the ones swinging the hammer and driving the trucks, working their tails off to make ends meet. The fraudsters taking advantage of America\u2019s generosity to the tune of billions and billions of dollars should be exposed and held accountable. Our Task Force will go after the fraud rings and bad actors exploiting our systems and robbing Americans. Following President Trump\u2019s lead, we\u2019re declaring war on fraud,\u201d said Senator Schmitt.\n\nRicketts and Schmitt were joined by Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ron Johnson (R-WI).", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-senate-republicans-launch-anti-fraud-task-force/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.795243937522173, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}