Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5690, the GAO Access and Oversight Act. As stewards of the Federal Government, we have a duty to make sure that taxpayer money is spent appropriately. We also have a duty to make sure our watchdogs have the tools that are necessary to combat waste, fraud, and abuse, especially the Government Accountability Office. The GAO has a proven track record of excellence. In the past 6 years alone, it has identified over 200 areas of duplication, overlap, or fragmentation and has recommended more than 600 corrective actions; however, Congress needs to ensure the GAO has the access necessary to carry out the work we ask of it. Today, we have the opportunity to better arm the GAO by clarifying that it does, indeed, have inherent access to data contained in the National Directory of New Hires. In doing so, we will help the GAO to better investigate potential fraud and improper payments, including those in the disability insurance program. The GAO's objectives are hindered without access to this data, and taxpayer dollars are not as well protected against waste, fraud, and abuse. The language in this bill has been included in bipartisan legislation that was approved unanimously by the full House last Congress. To ensure the GAO has all of the information it needs to perform its critical role for Congress, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5690.…”