III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 282 

Recognizing July 1, 2021, as the 100th anniversary of the Government 

Accountability Office and commending the service of the Government 

Accountability Office to Congress and the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 22, 2021 

Ms. HASSAN (for herself, Mr. PAUL, Mr. CARPER, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. 

PADILLA, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. PETERS, Mr. LANKFORD, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. 

BRAUN, Ms. WARREN, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. SCOTT of 

Florida, Mr. CARDIN, and Mr. ROMNEY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing July 1, 2021, as the 100th anniversary of the 

Government Accountability Office and commending the 

service of the Government Accountability Office to Congress and the United States. 

Whereas the General Accounting Office, predecessor to the 

Government Accountability Office (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘GAO’’), opened its doors on July 1, 1921, 

following the enactment of the Budget and Accounting 

Act, 1921 (Public Law 67–13; 42 Stat. 20); 

Whereas the need, identified by Congress following World 

War I, for more information and better control of exVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:57 Jun 23, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR282.ATS SR282

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•SRES 282 ATS 

penditures made by the Federal Government was filled by 

the creation of the independent GAO; 

Whereas Congress provided the GAO with a broad mandate— 

(1) to investigate how Federal dollars are spent; and 

(2) to review all Federal expenditures; 

Whereas, as the size and expenditures of the Federal Government grew during the Great Depression and World War 

II, the GAO became overwhelmed with fiscal audits, 

which pushed Congress to amend the authority of the 

GAO to enable it to assist Federal agencies with improving their accounting and spending controls; 

Whereas Congress amended the authority of the GAO to expand its work beyond financial audits to performance audits to determine how Federal agencies and programs 

performed and met their objectives in the wake of the 

Great Society programs of the late 1960s; 

Whereas the GAO shifted its priorities in the late 1900s and 

early 2000s— 

(1) to highlight high risk areas for Federal Government waste and operation failures; and 

(2) to work to improve Federal financial management and budgeting; 

Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, the 

GAO is known around the world as a leader and source 

of objective, nonpartisan information on government operations through its work examining cost, effectiveness, 

and other factors related to the success of Federal programs; 

Whereas, in addition to its field offices across the United 

States, the GAO operates field offices around the world 


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to make it easier to access and monitor Federal Government operations that extend across the globe; 

Whereas the GAO employs approximately 3,200 people and 

has been recognized as being one of the top workplaces 

in the Federal Government for several years by its multidisciplinary workforce, which includes analysts, auditors, 

lawyers, economists, scientists, actuaries, law enforcement and security personnel, healthcare experts, and education, public policy, computer science, and cybersecurity 

personnel, among others; 

Whereas the GAO averaged a $165 return on every $1 invested in the GAO between fiscal years 2016 and 2020 

as a result of Federal agencies and Congress acting on 

recommendations made by the GAO; 

Whereas the financial benefit to the Federal Government resulting from the work of the GAO totaled— 

(1) in fiscal year 2020, $77,600,000,000; and 

(2) in the past 20 years combined, over 

$1,200,000,000,000; and 

Whereas, in addition to serving as the preeminent independent government watchdog agency in the world, the 

GAO provides additional services, which include— 

(1) writing legal opinions at the request of Congress 

or in response to a bid protest; 

(2) authoring resources and standards for auditors 

around the world; 

(3) operating a hotline for the public to report 

waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement of government 

funds; and 

(4) providing testimony before Congress on a multitude of topics: Now, therefore, be it 


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1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the 

3 Government Accountability Office (referred to in 

4 this resolution as the ‘‘GAO’’) on July 1, 2021; 

5 (2) commends the GAO for 100 years of service 

6 to Congress and the United States as the pre7 eminent independent government watchdog agency 

8 in the world; 

9 (3) offers its continued support to allow the 

10 GAO— 

11 (A) to fulfill its mandates as required by 

12 law; 

13 (B) to respond to requests made by Mem14 bers of Congress; and 

15 (C) to aid the Federal Government in im16 proving its stewardship of taxpayer dollars; 

17 (4) recognizes Eugene Dodaro, the Comptroller 

18 General and head of the GAO as of the date of 

19 adoption of this resolution, and the dedicated and 

20 professional staff of the GAO who work diligently to 

21 produce fact-based reports, thoughtful recommenda22 tions, and sound legal decisions; and 

23 (5) will continue to partner with the GAO in 

24 the pursuit of its mission— 


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1 (A) to support Congress in meeting its 

2 constitutional responsibilities; and 

3 (B) to help improve the performance and 

4 accountability of the Federal Government for 

5 the benefit of the people of the United States. 

Æ 


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