James Lankford

I think there is a way to be able to do financial transparency of how it is being spent but understanding the care in the decision making.

I just have the belief that there are people in individual States that actually care for their people, not just the people in Washington, D.C.

Much of what we have talked about today is transparency of information coming back to the Federal Government.

The difficulty is are we getting accurate, matchable data that we can actually line up what is happening in individual locations with what is being paid so we know what a provider is being paid.

To the extent of that these two hospitals received about ten times more in that supplemental than my state did in total for DSH payments.

But an individual hospital may get a much, much higher rate?

If that information is available, that would be very much appreciated.

The issue is, it sat out there for a while. We know the issues on DOD, they can't fulfill an audit.

I actually applaud the high risk list that GAO puts out. We should use it as guidance as we review various agencies.

Our solemn responsibility is to hold government accountable to taxpayers because taxpayers have a right to know what they are get from the government.

Americans deserve an efficient and effective government that works for them.

We exist to secure two fundamental principles. First, Americans have the right to know that the money Washington takes from them is well spent.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made available in this Act…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 40, line 8, insert ``the number of proposals or applications submitted for the award, documentation of the basis for…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 4, line 25, after ``expended,'' insert ``of which such sums as are necessary to carry out the study authorized in…

I don't think that--the remand doesn't predispose it to any sort of disposition when it comes back.

So they're remanded, you got the additional detail, it's now coming back to you.

So is it your assumption it's the slam-dunk cases that are going to come at that settlement process?

You should not have that high of a percentage of overturn getting to you.

They just want an answer. So that's very important.

It's near and dear to a lot of people in our district that not only want to deal with the fraud and waste, and the loss, and the improper payments, which is important to everyone, including everyone on this dais, but also to providers that…

We do know we've been living in challenging budgetary times.

Having said that, though, that appropriation still has to be approved, and it does have to go through our Department's appropriation process.

Okay, then we need to fix that for you, because that is trapping it.