Jason Chaffetz: “Federal agencies made an estimated $108 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2012, and that is the estimate from…”

“Federal agencies made an estimated $108 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2012, and that is the estimate from the Office of Management and Budget. Many programs maintain an alarming rate of improper payments--some programs above 8 percent. This is an unacceptable waste of taxpayer dollars. I appreciate my colleague, the departing gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns), for sponsoring this piece of legislation because here we are fighting for fiscal sanity in this country, and we have $108 billion estimated in improper payments. These improper payments occur when Federal funds are paid out that should not be paid out. In many instances, Federal funds are going out to ineligible recipients. Last year, the Inspector General of the Office of Personnel Management found that Federal retirement and disability benefits totaling $600 million were paid out to deceased individuals over a 5-year period. The Oversight Committee and its subcommittees have held a series of hearings in this Congress on the issuance of improper payments, and I thank Chairman Issa for his leadership in holding these hearings and in encouraging this piece of legislation to be brought to the floor. The legislation introduced by Mr. Towns will help to address the concerns identified at those hearings. H.R. 4053 builds on prior legislation to reduce and prevent improper payments.…”