The Department of the Treasury’s FY 2014 Conference Spending Report

In FY 2014, the Treasury Department continued initiatives to reduce conference spending and to
ensure that appropriate policies, procedures, and controls were in place to that end. The
Department revised and supplemented its Treasury-wide Directive that consolidates and
streamlines the conference approval process and establishes consistent policy for all conference-
related activities. The Assistant Secretary for Management, Deputy Secretary, and Secretary
reviewed conference-related spending as appropriate per policy, and all bureaus followed
established internal policies to work to ensure that all conference-related activity adhered to
appropriate guidelines. In addition, a Treasury-wide working group on conferences continued to
provide guidance and share best practices in conference planning and identify ways to reduce
conference-related spending across the Department.

Treasury Department policy allows expenses for conferences only if they are necessary to carry
out Treasury’s mission and are consistent with specific approval guidelines. In FY 2014, the
Treasury Department sponsored domestic and international meetings and events to promote
economic stability and growth, to strengthen and protect the integrity of the financial system, and
to manage the U.S. government’s finances.

In accordance with OMB Memorandum 12-12, below is detail on the Treasury-sponsored
conferences in FY 2014 where the net expenses to the Department exceeded $100,000. This
report does not cover conferences sponsored by the Treasury Office of the Inspector General, the
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Special Inspector General for the
Treasury Asset Relief Program, or the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.



DATE(S) OF CONFERENCE NUMBER OF |TOTAL
CONFERENCE BUREAU NAME LOCATION PURPOSE ATTENDEES |COST
2/10/14 - IRS |IRS - Congressional |Washington, |The Congressional Affairs Program Conference allows the Local |100 $111,971
2/13/14 Affairs Program DC Taxpayer Advocates (LTAs) and Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)
Conference senior leadership to be able to satisfy its statutory requirements

of IRC §§ 7803(c)(2)(A) and 7803(c)({2){B)(ii). This event consists

of organizational and educational sessions (core technical

training) followed by scheduled LTA meetings on Capitol Hill

with the Senators and Representatives from the LTAs’ home

states.
7/8/14 - DO U.S. - China Beijing, China |Established by President Obama and then Chinese President Hu |25 $173,152
7/10/14 Strategic & in 2009, the S&ED is a Presidential initiative that serves as a

Economic Dialogue
(SED)

mechanism for ongoing engagement with China throughout the
year. The Dialogue addresses U.S. and Chinese issues of concern,
as well as shared opportunities, and includes an annual two-day
high-level meeting that draws participants from across the U.S.
and Chinese governments. The S&ED consists of two "tracks,"
an Economic track, chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury, and
a Strategic track, chaired by the Secretary of State. As the
President's Special Representative for the Economic Track, the
Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for taking the leading
role in developing and driving U.S.-China economic policy for the
U.S. government and is responsible for all Economic track-
related preparations associated with the S&ED.



18/11/14 - BFS |Bureau of Fiscal Washington, The Financial Management Conference is an educational and 710 $104,577
8/13/14 Service - 24th Dc training event, providing up-to-date and expert information on
Annual Government improvements, advancements, and developments in federal
Financial financial management. Educating customers to better manage
Management financial systems and comply with accounting requirements
Conference furthers Fiscal Service's mission, and the Department's, to
transform financial management in the federal government.
18/18/14 - IRS |IRS - Identity Theft |Franklin, TN Identity Theft Refund Fraud is a major concern to taxpayers, 112 $108,786
8/20/14 Operational businesses, and government. Investigations into such crimes are
Training an integral part of the Criminal Investigation Annual Business
Plan. In order to successfully facilitate this investigative
program it is important to educate Identity Theft Coordinators
who take on the critical role of assisting field offices with these
types of schemes.
9/8/14 - IRS |IRS - Tax Exempt Covington, KY | This training is in response to Treasury Inspector General for Tax |95 $109,376
9/12/14 and Government Administration recommendations. The training will cover
Entities (TEGE) change management skills for all levels of managers within the
Exempt Exempt Organizations function.
Organizations
9/15/14 - IRS {IRS - Special Agent {Kansas City, The purpose of this meeting is to provide operational guidance |125 $119,911
9/17/14 in Charge (SAC) MO and direction to Criminal Investigation's Senior Leadership
Operational (Executives, Special Agents in Charge, Assistant Special Agents in
Meeting Charge, Headquarters Directors). Asset Forfeiture overview and

updates will be discussed. Other critical items to be discussed
are the IRS Strategic plan, FY 2015 goals and strategies,
budget/funding, succession planning, Criminal Tax Counsel, and
other critical senior leadership topics.