The COVID Fraud Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General provide quarterly reports on fraud cases related to specific COVID-19 loans, such as those from the Paycheck Protection Program.
H.R. 826 was introduced in the 119th Congress by Roger Williams (Republican) and is currently listed as “Passed House”. It is classified under the Commerce policy area, one of 134 bills in that area we track this Congress.
Roger Williams is the sponsor of 4 bills in our database this Congress, so H.R. 826 is part of a broader legislative agenda rather than a one-off proposal.
Senate lobbying disclosures list 15 organizations lobbying on this bill’s issue area.
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates H.R. 826 2/10 (low risk), higher than 76% of analyzed bills; the average in Commerce is 2.1/10.
Supporters of the COVID Fraud Transparency Act of 2025 praise it for increasing accountability and transparency in the distribution of COVID-19 relief funds. They argue that regular reporting will help identify and address fraud, ensuring that aid reaches those who genuinely need it.
Critics of the COVID Fraud Transparency Act of 2025 express concerns that the bill may create additional bureaucratic hurdles for small businesses seeking assistance. Some argue that the focus on fraud reporting could divert resources away from supporting businesses recovering from the pandemic.
The COVID Fraud Transparency Act of 2025, sponsored by Roger Williams, does not show any direct industry overlaps with the sponsor's top donor industries, which include Health Professionals and Retired individuals. While the Health Professionals sector has contributed a significant amount of $600 million, it does not directly relate to the bill's focus on COVID fraud transparency. The lack of PAC contributions further indicates that the funding is primarily from individual donors, which may dilute the influence of any single donor. Additionally, the lobbying activity in this policy area is largely undisclosed, making it difficult to ascertain specific conflicts of interest. However, the absence of direct financial ties to the bill's subject matter suggests a low risk of conflict for voters to be concerned about.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DIRSHU INTERNATIONAL | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | $100,000 |
| CEO WORKS | SAUNDERS GLOBAL DIPLOMACY | $45,000 |
| KAZI IG | SAUNDERS GLOBAL DIPLOMACY | $15,000 |
| SOUTHERN FOLGER CONTRACTING | BBT STRATEGIES LLC | $10,000 |
| WATERFRONT GLOBAL | BBT STRATEGIES LLC | $5,200 |
| DIGITALEUROPE | VIVID STRATEGIES LLC | undisclosed |
| INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| DR. STEPHEN SOLOWAY | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| ONE ISRAEL FUND | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| HEMOGLOBIN OXYGEN THERAPEUTICS | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| ATAOLLAH AMINPOUR | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| HERSEL NEMAN | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| MORAD BEN NEMAN | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| MARK SCOTT | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| BORIS MINTS | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Roger Williams, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
What does H.R. 826 do?
The COVID Fraud Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General provide quarterly reports on fraud cases related to specific COVID-19 loans, such as those from the Paycheck Protection Program.
Has H.R. 826 received a floor vote?
No roll-call vote on H.R. 826 is recorded in our database yet. Its current status is “Passed House”.
Does H.R. 826 have a conflict of interest?
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates H.R. 826 2/10 (low risk), higher than 76% of analyzed bills; the average in Commerce is 2.1/10. This score reflects overlap between the sponsor’s campaign funding, lobbying activity, and the industries the bill affects. It is a transparency indicator, not an accusation.
What is the status of H.R. 826?
H.R. 826 is currently “Passed House” as of our last update on June 27, 2026.
Who sponsored H.R. 826?
H.R. 826 was sponsored by Roger Williams (Republican).
