FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In light of Vice President JD Vance's Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud, Senate President Pro Tem-Elect Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) made the following statement today to announce his signing of the pledge and highlighting how Indiana continues to lead the nation in protecting Hoosier taxpayers from waste, fraud and abuse:
STATEHOUSE (Oct. 15, 2026) — "Respecting our taxpayers means ensuring the welfare programs they pay for help only the neediest Hoosiers, and I applaud the Vice President for shining more light on the alarming level of fraud taking place across our country.
“Senate Republicans have been working aggressively to dismantle waste, fraud and abuse within Indiana's Medicaid and SNAP programs for the last several years because we know every dollar awarded to a fraudster is a dollar that doesn't make it to a Hoosier who truly needs it.
"We take reform seriously – and we prove it with the legislation we prioritize. Senate Enrolled Act 2 (2025) laid the groundwork for reform by requiring the Family and Social Services Administration to rigorously verify Medicaid recipients' income, routinely check their eligibility, track improper payments and end the "no-questions-asked" Medicaid enrollment in hospitals – all no brainers when it comes to program integrity.
"Building on that momentum, Senate Enrolled Act 1 (2026) establishes zero tolerance for illegal benefit access – if an applicant is unable to verify legal residency, that person will be barred from receiving benefits and face immediate referral to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for investigation. The new law also codifies Indiana's ban on using SNAP for junk food, returning the program to its intended purpose of providing nutritional food for needy families.
"Some might think these programs are too big for meaningful reform, but that's not how Indiana does business. Senate Republicans know we were elected to have hard conversations and enact bold policy that ensures our state finances operate with integrity, efficiency and transparency, and that's what we will continue to do."
-30-
Senate President Pro Tem-Elect Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) represents Senate District 45,
which includes Clark County and a portion of Floyd County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
Contact: Molly Swigart, Communications Director
Molly.Swigart@iga.in.gov
317-232-9521
