IIA

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3864

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 5, 1996

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Government Affairs

AN ACT

To amend laws authorizing auditing, reporting, and other

functions by the General Accounting Office.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘General Accounting

5 Office Act of 1996’’.
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1 TITLE I—AMENDMENTS TO LAWS

2 AUTHORIZING AUDITING, RE3 PORTING, AND OTHER FUNC4 TIONS BY THE GENERAL AC5 COUNTING OFFICE

6 SEC. 101. TRANSFERS AND TERMINATIONS OF FUNCTIONS.

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—

8 (1) FUNCTIONS TRANSFERRED.—In any case in

9 which a provision of law authorizing the perform10 ance of a function by the Comptroller General of the

11 United States or the General Accounting Office is

12 amended by this title to substitute another Federal

13 officer, employee, or agency in that authorization,

14 the authority under that provision to perform that

15 function is transferred to the other Federal officer,

16 employee, or agency.

17 (2) FUNCTIONS TERMINATED.—In any case in

18 which a provision of law authorizing the perform19 ance of a function by the Comptroller General of the

20 United States or the General Accounting Office is

21 repealed by this Act, the authority under that provi22 sion to perform that function is terminated.

23 (3) DELEGATION OF FUNCTIONS.—The Direc24 tor of the Office of Management and Budget may

25 delegate, in whole or in part, to any other agency or
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1 agencies any function transferred to or vested in the

2 Director under section 103(d), 105(b), 116, or

3 202(n) of this Act, and may transfer to such agency

4 or agencies any personnel, budget authority, records,

5 and property received by the Director pursuant to

6 subsection (b) of this section that relate to the dele7 gated functions.

8 (b) INCIDENTAL TRANSFERS.—

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Incident to any transfer of

10 authority under subsection (a)(1), there shall be

11 transferred to the recipient Federal officer, em12 ployee, or agency such personnel, records, budget

13 authority, and property of the General Accounting

14 Office as the Comptroller General and the Director

15 of the Office of Management and Budget jointly de16 termine to be necessary to effectuate the transfer.

17 (2) EFFECT ON PERSONNEL.—Personnel trans18 ferred under this section shall not be separated or

19 reduced in classification or compensation for one

20 year after any such transfer, except for cause.

21 (c) REFERENCES.—With respect to any function or

22 authority transferred under this Act and exercised on or

23 after the effective date of that transfer, reference in any

24 Federal law to the Comptroller General or to any officer

25 or employee of the General Accounting Office is deemed
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1 to refer to the Federal officer or agency to which the func2 tion or authority is transferred under this Act.

3 (d) SAVINGS PROVISIONS.—

4 (1) ORDERS AND OTHER OFFICIAL ACTIONS

5 NOT AFFECTED.—All orders, determinations, rules,

6 regulations, permits, grants, contracts, certificates,

7 licenses, and privileges—

8 (A) which have been issued, made, grant9 ed, or allowed to become effective by the Comp10 troller General or any official of the General

11 Accounting Office, or by a court of competent

12 jurisdiction, in the performance of any function

13 or authority transferred under this Act, and

14 (B) which are in effect at the time of the

15 transfer;

16 shall continue in effect according to their terms until

17 modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or re18 voked in accordance with law.

19 (2) PENDING MATTERS AND PROCEEDINGS.—

20 This Act shall not affect any pending matters or

21 proceedings, including notices of proposed rule22 making, relating to a function or authority trans23 ferred under this Act. Such matters or proceedings

24 shall continue under the authority of the agency to
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1 which the function or authority is transferred until

2 completed or terminated in accordance with law.

3 (3) JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS AND CAUSES OF

4 ACTIONS.—No suit, action, or other proceeding or

5 cause of action relating to a function or authority

6 transferred under this Act shall abate by reason of

7 the enactment of this Act. If, before the date on

8 which a transfer of a function or authority this Act

9 takes effect, the Comptroller General of the United

10 States or any officer or employee of the General Ac11 counting Office in their official capacity is party to

12 a suit relating to the function or authority, then

13 such suit shall be continued and the head of the

14 agency to which the function or authority is trans15 ferred, or other appropriate official of that agency,

16 shall be substituted or added as a party.

17 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para19 graph (2), this title shall take effect on the date of

20 enactment of this Act.

21 (2) EXCEPTIONS.—Sections 103(d), 105(b),

22 and 116 shall take effect 60 days after the date of

23 enactment of this Act.
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1 SEC. 102. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 2, UNITED

2 STATES CODE (THE CONGRESS).

3 (a) COMPLIANCE REPORTING ON REDUCTION IN EM4 PLOYEE POSITIONS.—Section 307(c) of the Legislative

5 Branch Appropriations Act, 1994 (Public Law 103–69;

6 107 Stat. 710; 2 U.S.C. 60–1 note) is amended by striking

7 ‘‘shall’’ and inserting ‘‘may’’.

8 (b) WAIVER OF ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS IN THE SEN9 ATE.—Section 2(a) of the Act of July 25, 1974 (Public

10 Law 93–359; 88 Stat. 394; 2 U.S.C. 130c(a)) is amend11 ed—

12 (1) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘, if the

13 claim is not the subject of an exception made by the

14 Comptroller General in the account of any account15 able officer or official’’; and

16 (2) in the third sentence by striking ‘‘shall’’ the

17 first place it appears and inserting ‘‘may’’.

18 (c) WAIVER OF ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS IN THE

19 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—Section 3(a) of the Act

20 of July 25, 1974 (Public Law 93–359; 88 Stat. 395; 2

21 U.S.C. 130d(a)) is amended, in the first sentence, by

22 striking ‘‘, if the claim is not the subject of an exception

23 made by the Comptroller General in the account of any

24 accountable officer or official’’.

25 (d) REPORT ON SEQUESTRATION OF FUNDS TO

26 MEET DEFICIT REDUCTION GOALS.—Section 254 of the
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1 Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of

2 1985 (2 U.S.C. 904) is amended—

3 (1) in subsection (a), by striking:

‘‘30 days later ................................ GAO compliance report.’’; and

4 (2) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘On the date

5 specified in subsection (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘Upon re6 quest of the Committee on the Budget of the House

7 of Representatives or the Senate’’.

8 SEC. 103. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 5, UNITED

9 STATES CODE (GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

10 AND EMPLOYEES).

11 (a) TRANSMITTAL OF REPORTS.—Section 1213(e) of

12 title 5, United States Code, is amended—

13 (1) in paragraph (3) by striking the comma

14 after ‘‘President’’ and inserting ‘‘and’’, and by strik15 ing ‘‘, and the Comptroller General’’; and

16 (2) in paragraph (4) by striking the comma

17 after ‘‘President’’ and inserting ‘‘and’’, and by strik18 ing ‘‘, and the Comptroller General’’.

19 (b) WITHHOLDING OF PAY.—Section 5512(b) of title

20 5, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘General

21 Accounting Office’’ and inserting ‘‘employing agency’’.

22 (c) DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.—Section

23 5582(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by

24 striking the second sentence and inserting the following:
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1 ‘‘An employee may change or revoke a designation at any

2 time under regulations promulgated—

3 ‘‘(1) by the Director of the Office of Personnel

4 Management or his designee, in the case of an em5 ployee of an executive agency;

6 ‘‘(2) jointly by the President pro tempore of the

7 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representa8 tives, or their designee, in the case of an employee

9 of the legislative branch; and

10 ‘‘(3) by the Chief Justice of the United States

11 or his or her designee, in the case of an employee

12 of the judicial branch.’’.

13 (d) WAIVER OF ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS.—Section

14 5584 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

15 (1) in subsection (a)—

16 (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘Comp17 troller General of the United States’’ and in18 serting ‘‘authorized official’’; and

19 (B) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at

20 the end of subparagraph (A), by striking sub21 paragraph (B), by redesignating subparagraph

22 (C) as subparagraph (B), and by striking

23 ‘‘Comptroller General’’ in subparagraph (B) (as

24 so redesignated) and inserting ‘‘authorized offi25 cial’’;
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1 (2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘Comptroller

2 General’’ and inserting ‘‘authorized official’’; and

3 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub4 section:

5 ‘‘(g) For the purpose of this section, the term ‘au6 thorized official’ means—

7 ‘‘(1) the head of an agency, with respect to an

8 agency or employee in the legislative branch; or

9 ‘‘(2) the Director of the Office of Management

10 and Budget, with respect to any other agency or em11 ployee.’’.

12 (e) REGULATIONS AND REPORTS.—Section

13 5707(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code, is amended

14 by striking ‘‘the Comptroller General of the United

15 States,’’.

16 (f) GAO AUDIT OF AGENCY COMPLIANCE.—Section

17 5(b) of the Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 (Pub18 lic Law 101–391; 5 U.S.C. 5707 note) is repealed.

19 (g) PROCEDURES FOR DEPOSIT OF EMPLOYEES’

20 CONTRIBUTIONS TO RETIREMENT FUNDS.—Sections

21 8334(a)(2), 8422(c), and 8432(f) of title 5, United States

22 Code, are each amended by striking ‘‘Comptroller General

23 of the United States’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the

24 Treasury’’.
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1 (h) TRANSMITTAL OF COPY OF REPORT ON THE

2 CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY FUND.—

3 Section 8348(l) of title 5, United States Code, is amended

4 by striking the last sentence in paragraph (1).

5 (i) TRANSMITTAL OF COPY OF REPORT ON THE

6 THRIFT SAVINGS FUND.—Section 8438(h) of title 5,

7 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and the

8 Comptroller General of the United States’’ in the last sen9 tence of paragraph (1).

10 (j) RECEIPT OF COPY OF CPA EXAMINATION OF

11 THRIFT SAVINGS FUND.—Section 8439(b)(3) of title 5,

12 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and the

13 Comptroller General of the United States’’.

14 SEC. 104. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 7, UNITED

15 STATES CODE (AGRICULTURE).

16 (a) AUDIT OF WASHINGTON FAMILY INDEPENDENCE

17 DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.—Section 21(g) of the Food

18 Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2030(g)) is amended by

19 striking ‘‘shall’’ and inserting ‘‘may’’.

20 (b) REPORTS ON AMOUNTS OBLIGATED AND EX21 PENDED BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ADVI22 SORY SERVICES.—Section 641 of the Rural Development,

23 Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,

24 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2207a) is amended—

25 (1) in subsection (a)—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’;

2 (B) by striking ‘‘shall (A) submit’’ and in3 serting ‘‘shall submit’’; and

4 (C) by striking ‘‘, and (B) transmit a copy

5 of such report to the Comptroller General of the

6 United States’’;

7 (2) by striking subsection (b);

8 (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) of sub9 section (a) as subsection (b); and

10 (4) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)—

11 (A) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and in12 serting ‘‘subsection (a)’’; and

13 (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A),

14 (B), and (C) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3),

15 respectively.

16 SEC. 105. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE

17 (ARMED FORCES).

18 (a) WAIVER OF RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUS ANNUITY

19 PAYMENTS.—Sections 1442 and 1453 of title 10, United

20 States Code, are amended by striking ‘‘and the Comptrol21 ler General’’.

22 (b) WAIVER OF RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUS OVER23 PAYMENTS.—Section 2774 of such title is amended—

24 (1) in subsection (a)—
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1 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Comp2 troller General’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the

3 Office of Management and Budget’’; and

4 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘and’’

5 at the end of subparagraph (A), striking sub6 paragraph (B), redesignating subparagraph (C)

7 as subparagraph (B), and in that subparagraph

8 (as so redesignated), striking ‘‘Comptroller

9 General’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the Office

10 of Management and Budget’’; and

11 (2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘The Comp12 troller General’’ and inserting ‘‘The Director of the

13 Office of Management and Budget’’.

14 (c) CERTIFICATION TO COMPTROLLER GENERAL

15 OF UNCOLLECTABILITY OF ADVANCES.—Section

16 2777(b)(2)(B) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘to the

17 Comptroller General’’.

18 (d) MAINTAINING ACCOUNTS OF MILITARY DEPART19 MENTS.—Section 2778 of such title is repealed, and the

20 table of sections at the beginning of chapter 165 of such

21 title is amended by striking the item relating to that sec22 tion.

23 (e) RADIOGRAMS AND TELEGRAMS.—Sections 4592

24 and 9592 of such title are amended by striking ‘‘, or may
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1 file a claim with the General Accounting Office for’’ in

2 the second sentence and inserting ‘‘of’’.

3 SEC. 106. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 12, UNITED

4 STATES CODE (BANKS AND BANKING).

5 (a) REPORT ON PREPURCHASE AND FORECLOSURE6 PREVENTION COUNSELING DEMONSTRATION.—Section

7 106(d) of the Housing and Urban Development Act of

8 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x(d)) is amended—

9 (1) by striking paragraph (9);

10 (2) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ‘‘(10)(K)’’

11 and inserting ‘‘(9)’’;

12 (3) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘(for purposes

13 of the study and report under paragraph (9))’’; and

14 (4) by redesignating paragraphs (10), (11),

15 (12), and (13) as paragraphs (9), (10), (11), and

16 (12), respectively.

17 (b) ANNUAL GAO COMPLIANCE AUDIT.—

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 141(a)(2) of the

19 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement

20 Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 1823 note) is amended by

21 striking ‘‘shall annually audit’’ and inserting ‘‘shall

22 audit, under such conditions as the Comptroller

23 General determines to be appropriate,’’.

24 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading for

25 paragraph (2) of section 141(a) of the Federal De-
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1 posit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of

2 1991 (12 U.S.C. 1823 note) is amended by striking

3 ‘‘ANNUAL GAO’’ and inserting ‘‘GAO’’.

4 (c) QUARTERLY REPORT ON FDIC COMPLIANCE

5 WITH LIMITS ON OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS.—Section

6 102 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Im7 provement Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 1825 note) is amended

8 by striking subsection (b).

9 (d) PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION: GAO REVIEW.—

10 Section 38(k)(5) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12

11 U.S.C. 1831o(k)(5)) is amended to read as follows:

12 ‘‘(5) GAO REVIEW.—The Comptroller General

13 of the United States shall, under such conditions as

14 the Comptroller General determines to be appro15 priate, review reports made under paragraph (1) and

16 recommend improvements in the supervision of in17 sured depository institutions (including the imple18 mentation of this section).’’.

19 (e) GAO REPORTS ON RISK-BASED INSURANCE PRE20 MIUMS, ACCESS TO ASSOCIATION CAPITAL, AND SUPPLE21 MENTAL PREMIUMS.—Section 204(a) of the Farm Credit

22 Banks and Associations Safety and Soundness Act of

23 1992 (Public Law 102–552; 106 Stat. 4106; 12 U.S.C.

24 2277a–4 note) is amended by striking ‘‘shall’’ and insert25 ing ‘‘may’’.
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1 (f) REVIEW OF FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE

2 CORPORATION GUARANTEE FEES.—Section 8.10(b)(4) of

3 the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2279aa–

4 10(b)(4)) is amended—

5 (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘AN6 NUAL REVIEW’’ and inserting ‘‘REVIEW’’; and

7 (2) by striking ‘‘shall annually’’ and inserting

8 ‘‘may’’.

9 (g) GAO STUDIES OF APPRAISALS.—

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1112(c) of the Fi11 nancial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforce12 ment Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 3341) is amended—

13 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘At the

14 end of the 18-month period’’ and all that fol15 lows through ‘‘study’’ and inserting ‘‘The

16 Comptroller General of the United States may

17 conduct, under such conditions as the Comp18 troller General determines appropriate, stud19 ies’’; and

20 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘required

21 under’’ and inserting ‘‘referred to in’’.

22 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading for

23 section 1112(c)(1) of Financial Institutions Reform,

24 Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C.
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1 3341(c)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘STUDY RE2 QUIRED’’ and inserting ‘‘GAO STUDIES’’.

3 (h) AUDIT OF OFFICE OF FEDERAL HOUSING EN4 TERPRISE OVERSIGHT.—Section 1319E of the Housing

5 and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C.

6 4524) is amended—

7 (1) in the first sentence—

8 (A) by striking ‘‘shall’’ and inserting

9 ‘‘may’’; and

10 (B) by inserting ‘‘, and any such audit

11 shall be conducted’’ after ‘‘Office’’; and

12 (2) by striking the last sentence.

13 (i) SHARING OF INFORMATION.—Section 11(t) of the

14 Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(t)) is

15 amended by adding at the end of paragraph (2)(A) the

16 following new clause:

17 ‘‘(vi) The General Accounting Of18 fice.’’.

19 SEC. 107. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 15, UNITED

20 STATES CODE (COMMERCE AND TRADE).

21 Section 31(b)(1)(B) of the Federal Fire Prevention

22 and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2227(b)(1)(B)) is

23 amended by striking clause (iii).
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1 SEC. 108. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 16, UNITED

2 STATES CODE (CONSERVATION).

3 (a) LICENSES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RE4 SOURCES.—Section 6 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C.

5 799) is amended by striking the last sentence.

6 (b) AUDIT OF THE BROWNSVILLE WETLANDS POL7 ICY CENTER.—Section 202(d)(4) of the Brownsville Wet8 lands Policy Act of 1994 (108 Stat. 338) is repealed.

9 (c) AUDIT OF CENTRAL UTAH PROJECT COST ALLO10 CATION.—Section 211 of the Reclamation Projects Au11 thorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–

12 575) is amended—

13 (1) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General of the

14 United States’’ and inserting ‘‘Inspector General of

15 the Department of the Interior’’; and

16 (2) by striking ‘‘in accordance with regulations

17 which the Comptroller General shall prescribe’’.

18 (d) REPORT ON GLEN CANYON COSTS AND BENE19 FITS.—Section 1804 of the Reclamation Projects Author20 ization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–

21 575) is amended—

22 (1) by striking subsection (b); and

23 (2) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and

24 (e) as subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively.
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1 SEC. 109. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 18, UNITED

2 STATES CODE (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PRO3 CEDURE).

4 (a) PRESIDENTIAL PROTECTION ASSISTANCE: DE5 TERMINATION OF FAIR MARKET VALUE OF IMPROVE6 MENTS.—Section 5(b) of the Presidential Protection As7 sistance Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–524; 90 Stat. 2476;

8 18 U.S.C. 3056 note) is amended by striking ‘‘Comptroller

9 General of the United States’’ and inserting ‘‘Director’’.

10 (b) DISPUTES OVER PURCHASE OF PRISON-MADE

11 PRODUCTS BY FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS.—Section

12 4124(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by

13 striking ‘‘Comptroller General of the United States’’ and

14 inserting ‘‘Attorney General’’.

15 SEC. 110. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 19, UNITED

16 STATES CODE (CUSTOMS DUTIES).

17 (a) AUDITS OF THE CUSTOMS FORFEITURE

18 FUND.—Section 613A(e)(2) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19

19 U.S.C. 1613b(e)(2)) is amended—

20 (1) by striking ‘‘annual financial’’; and

21 (2) by inserting before the period the following:

22 ‘‘, under such conditions as the Comptroller General

23 determines appropriate’’.

24 (b) REPORT ON BUSINESSES ESTABLISHED BY CUS25 TOMS SERVICE FOR UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS.—Section

26 3131(b) of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 (19 U.S.C.
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1 2081(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘and the Comptroller

2 General’’.

3 SEC. 111. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 22, UNITED

4 STATES CODE (FOREIGN RELATIONS AND

5 INTERCOURSE).

6 (a) ACCOUNTS OF ADVANCES FOR OPERATIONS OF

7 THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION ON THE U.S.-

8 CANADA BOUNDARY WATERS.—The first section of the

9 Act of March 2, 1921 (chapter 113; 22 U.S.C. 268b) is

10 amended by striking ‘‘chiefs of parties’’ the first place it

11 appears and all that follows through ‘‘chiefs of parties’’

12 the next place it appears and inserting ‘‘chiefs of parties’’.

13 (b) PREPARATION OF SCOPE OF AUDIT AND REVIEW

14 OF AUDITS OF INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT

15 BANK.—Section 14 of the Inter-American Development

16 Bank Act (22 U.S.C. 283j–1) is amended—

17 (1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘Comptroller

18 General of the United States shall prepare for the

19 Secretary of the Treasury’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary

20 of the Treasury shall prepare’’; and

21 (2) in subsection (c), in the second sentence, by

22 striking ‘‘shall periodically’’ and inserting ‘‘may’’.

23 (c) REPORTS BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OF24 FICE.—Section 4 of the Foreign Direct Investment and
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1 International Financial Data Improvements Act of 1990

2 (22 U.S.C. 3143) is amended—

3 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘report re4 quired under’’ and inserting ‘‘reports referred to in’’;

5 and

6 (2) in subsection (b)—

7 (A) by striking ‘‘(b)’’ and all that follows

8 through ‘‘shall submit’’ and inserting ‘‘(b) RE9 PORTS.—Consistent with the provisions of this

10 section, the Comptroller General may submit’’;

11 (B) by striking ‘‘Congress, a report’’ and

12 inserting ‘‘Congress reports’’;

13 (C) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘the re14 port of the Secretary of Commerce’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘reports issued by the Secretary of Com16 merce under section 3’’; and

17 (D) by striking the last sentence of the

18 subsection.

19 SEC. 112. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 25, UNITED

20 STATES CODE (INDIANS).

21 (a) COPIES OF INDIAN SERVICE CONTRACTS.—Sec22 tion 7 of the Act of March 3, 1875 (25 U.S.C. 96), is

23 repealed.

24 (b) COPIES OF INDIAN SERVICE CONTRACT BIDS.—

25 Section 3 of the Act of August 15, 1876 (25 U.S.C. 97),
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1 is amended by striking ‘‘; and an abstract of all bids or

2 proposals received for the supplies or services embraced

3 in any contract shall be attached to, and filed with, the

4 said contract when the same is filed in the office of the

5 Second Comptroller of the Treasury’’ and inserting in lieu

6 thereof a period.

7 SEC. 113. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 26, UNITED

8 STATES CODE (INTERNAL REVENUE CODE).

9 Section 7608(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of

10 1986 (26 U.S.C. 7608(c)(2)), is amended by striking ‘‘and

11 the Comptroller General of the United States’’.

12 SEC. 114. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 28, UNITED

13 STATES CODE (JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL

14 PROCEDURE).

15 Section 2410(e) of title 28, United States Code, is

16 amended by striking, in the second sentence, ‘‘shall so re17 port to the Comptroller General who’’.

18 SEC. 115. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 31, UNITED

19 STATES CODE (MONEY AND FINANCE).

20 (a) TREATMENT OF RECORDS CONTAINING BANKING

21 AGENCY INFORMATION.—Section 714(d) of title 31,

22 United States Code, is amended by striking the last sen23 tence of paragraph (1) and by amending paragraph (2)

24 to read as follows:
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1 ‘‘(2) The Comptroller General shall prevent unau2 thorized access to records or property of or used by an

3 agency that the Comptroller General obtains during an

4 audit.’’.

5 (b) REPORT ON AUDITS AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF

6 TAXPAYER INFORMATION.—Section 719 of title 31, Unit7 ed States Code, is amended—

8 (1) by striking subsection (d); and

9 (2) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g),

10 (h), and (i) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h),

11 respectively.

12 (c) COMPLIANCE REPORTING ON ADMINISTRATIVE

13 EXPENSES.—Section 308(c) of the Legislative Branch Ap14 propriations Act, 1994 (Public Law 103–69; 107 Stat.

15 710; 31 U.S.C. 1105 note) is amended by striking ‘‘shall’’

16 and inserting ‘‘may’’.

17 (d) PAYING CHECKS AND DRAFTS.—Section 3328 of

18 title 31, United States Code, is amended—

19 (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘until the

20 Comptroller General settles the question’’ and in21 serting ‘‘until the question is settled’’;

22 (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘on settle23 ment by the Comptroller General’’; and
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1 (3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘With the ap2 proval of the Comptroller General, the’’ and insert3 ing ‘‘The’’.

4 (e) WITHHOLDING CHECKS TO BE SENT TO FOR5 EIGN COUNTRIES.—Section 3329(b)(4) of title 31, United

6 States Code, is amended by striking the last two sentences

7 and inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall credit the accounts of

8 the drawer and drawee.’’.

9 (f) PROPERTY RETURNS.—

10 (1) REPEAL.—Section 3531 of title 31, United

11 States Code, is repealed.

12 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec13 tions at the beginning of chapter 35 of title 31,

14 United States Code, is amended by striking the item

15 relating to section 3531.

16 (g) CLAIMS COLLECTION AND COMPROMISE.—

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3711 of title 31,

18 United States Code, is amended—

19 (A) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting be20 fore the semicolon the following: ‘‘, except that

21 only the Comptroller General may compromise

22 a claim arising out of an exception the Comp23 troller General makes in the account of an ac24 countable official’’;

25 (B) by striking subsection (b);
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1 (C) by redesignating subsections (c), (d),

2 (e), and (f) and the first subsection (g) in order

3 as subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f); and

4 (D) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated),

5 by striking ‘‘and the Comptroller General’’ and

6 by striking ‘‘jointly’’ from paragraph (2).

7 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

8 (A) Section 3701(d) of title 31, United

9 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘3711(f)’’

10 and inserting ‘‘3711(e)’’.

11 (B) Section 552a of title 5, United States

12 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘3711(f)’’ each

13 place it appears and inserting ‘‘3711(e)’’.

14 (C) Section 2780(b) of title 10, United

15 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘3711(f)’’

16 and inserting ‘‘3711(e)’’.

17 (D) Section 4(d)(6) of the State Depart18 ment Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (Chapter

19 841; 22 U.S.C. 2671(d)(6)) is amended by

20 striking ‘‘3711(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘3711(e)’’.

21 (E) Section 204(f)(1) of the Social Secu22 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 404(f)(1)) is amended by

23 striking ‘‘3711(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘3711(e)’’.
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1 (h) AUDIT OF PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF COM2 MEMORATIVE COINS.—Section 303 of Public Law 103–

3 186 (31 U.S.C. 5112 note) is amended—

4 (1) by striking ‘‘Before the end of the 1-year

5 period’’ and all that follows through ‘‘the Comptrol6 ler General of the United States shall’’ and inserting

7 ‘‘The Comptroller General of the United States

8 may’’; and

9 (2) by striking ‘‘sale of such coins’’ and insert10 ing ‘‘sale of commemorative coins’’.

11 (i) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERGOVERN12 MENTAL FINANCING.—Section 6 of the Cash Management

13 Improvement Act of 1990 (31 U.S.C. 6503 note) is re14 pealed.

15 (j) CONSULTATION ON ACCOUNTING, AUDIT AND

16 FISCAL PROCEDURES.—Section 6703(d)(6) of title 31,

17 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘after con18 sultation with the Comptroller General of the United

19 States’’.

20 (k) REVIEWS OF LOCAL PARTNERSHIP ACT PRO21 GRAM.—Section 6718(b) of title 31, United States Code,

22 is amended by striking ‘‘shall’’ each place it appears and

23 inserting ‘‘may’’.
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1 SEC. 116. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 32, UNITED STATES CODE

2 (NATIONAL GUARD).

3 Section 716 of title 32, United States Code, is

4 amended—

5 (1) in subsection (a)—

6 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Comp7 troller General’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the

8 Office of Management and Budget’’; and

9 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘and’’

10 at the end of subparagraph (A), striking sub11 paragraph (B), redesignating subparagraph (C)

12 as subparagraph (B), and in that subparagraph

13 (as so redesignated), striking ‘‘Comptroller

14 General’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the Office

15 of Management and Budget’’; and

16 (2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘The Comp17 troller General’’ and inserting ‘‘The Director of the

18 Office of Management and Budget’’.

19 SEC. 117. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 33, UNITED

20 STATES CODE (NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE

21 WATERS).

22 Section 214 of the Water Resources Development Act

23 of 1992 (106 Stat. 4831–4832; 33 U.S.C. 2281 note) is

24 repealed.
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1 SEC. 118. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 37, UNITED STATES CODE

2 (PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED

3 SERVICES).

4 Section 902(b) of title 37, United States Code, is

5 amended by striking ‘‘the General Accounting Office,

6 under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, may’’

7 and inserting ‘‘the Secretary of the Navy may’’.

8 SEC. 119. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE

9 (VETERANS’ BENEFITS).

10 Section 711(d) of title 38, United States Code, is

11 amended by inserting ‘‘, upon request of either of such

12 Committees,’’ in the first sentence after ‘‘the Comptroller

13 General shall’’.

14 SEC. 120. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 40, UNITED

15 STATES CODE (PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROP16 ERTY, AND WORKS).

17 (a) PAYMENT OF EXPENSES OF SALES FROM PRO18 CEEDS.—Section 1 of the Act of June 8, 1896 (29 Stat.

19 268; 40 U.S.C. 485a) is amended by striking ‘‘, as ap20 proved by the accounting officers of the Treasury,’’.

21 (b) FURNISHING DETERMINATIONS TO THE GEN22 ERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE.—Section 210(a)(8) of the

23 Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949

24 (40 U.S.C. 490(a)(8)) is amended by striking ‘‘. A copy

25 of every such determination so made shall be furnished

26 to the General Accounting Office’’.
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1 SEC. 121. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 41, UNITED

2 STATES CODE (PUBLIC CONTRACTS).

3 (a) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF FRAUDU4 LENT WAR CONTRACT SETTLEMENTS.—Section 16 of the

5 Contract Settlement Act of 1944 (41 U.S.C. 116) is re6 pealed.

7 (b) RECORDS OF WAR CONTRACT FINANCING AND

8 TERMINATIONS.—Section 18(a) of the Contract Settle9 ment Act of 1944 (41 U.S.C. 118(a)) is amended—

10 (1) by striking ‘‘(1)’’; and

11 (2) by striking ‘‘; and (2) the records in connec12 tion therewith to be transmitted to the General Ac13 counting Office’’.

14 (c) COPIES OF CONTRACTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE

15 DETERMINATIONS.—Section 307(b) of the Federal Prop16 erty and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C.

17 257(b)) is amended by striking the second sentence.

18 SEC. 122. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 42, UNITED

19 STATES CODE (PUBLIC HEALTH AND WEL20 FARE).

21 (a) CONSULTATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

22 OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.—Section

23 408(a)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.

24 284c(a)(3)) is amended by striking the last sentence.
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1 (b) AUDIT OF NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR BIO2 MEDICAL RESEARCH.—Section 499(n) of the Public

3 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290b(n)) is repealed.

4 (c) CONSULTATION AND REPORTS ON GRANTS FOR

5 TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS.—Section 528 of the

6 Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290cc-28) is amend7 ed—

8 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘the Comp9 troller General of the United States, and’’; and

10 (2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘Comptroller

11 General of the United States in cooperation with

12 the’’ and by striking the comma after ‘‘Administra13 tion’’.

14 (d) CONSULTATION AND REPORT ON TRAUMA CARE

15 GRANTS.—Section 1216(a) of the Public Health Service

16 Act (42 U.S.C. 300d–16(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘and

17 the Comptroller General of the United States’’.

18 (e) CONSULTATION ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUB19 STANCE ABUSE BLOCK GRANTS.—Section 1942(a) of the

20 Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–52(a)) is

21 amended by striking ‘‘and the Comptroller General’’.

22 (f) STATE REPORTS ON MATERNAL AND CHILD

23 HEALTH PROGRAMS.—Section 506(a)(1) of the Act of Au24 gust 14, 1935, ch. 531 (42 U.S.C. 706(a)(1)) is amended

25 by striking ‘‘and the Comptroller General’’.
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1 (g) REVIEW HHS CALCULATION OF REIMBURSE2 MENT RATE.—Section 4204(b) of the Omnibus Budget

3 Reconciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 1395mm note) is

4 amended—

5 (1) by striking paragraph (4);

6 (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘Taking into

7 account the recommendations made pursuant to

8 paragraph (4), on’’ and inserting ‘‘On’’; and

9 (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para10 graph (4).

11 (h) STUDY OF OWNERSHIP OF PROVIDERS OF MEDI12 CARE SERVICES BY REFERRING PHYSICIANS.—

13 (1) Section 6204(e) of the Omnibus Budget

14 Reconciliation Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 1395nn note)

15 is repealed.

16 (2) Section 6204(f) of the Omnibus Budget

17 Reconciliation Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 1395nn note)

18 is amended by striking ‘‘and the Comptroller Gen19 eral’’.

20 (i) REPORTS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICING.—

21 Section 4401(d) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation

22 Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 1396r–8 note) is amended—

23 (1) in paragraph (2), by—

24 (A) striking ‘‘By not later than May 1 of

25 each year, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’;
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1 (B) striking ‘‘an annual’’ and inserting

2 ‘‘a’’; and

3 (C) striking ‘‘retail and’’; and

4 (2) by striking paragraph (6).

5 (j) STUDY OF DEMONSTRATION TO ATTRACT PEN6 SION FUND INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.—

7 Section 6 of the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 (42

8 U.S.C. 1437f) is amended by—

9 (1) striking subsection (i); and

10 (2) redesignating subsection (j) as subsection

11 (i).

12 (k) AUDIT OF HUD LOW-INCOME HOUSING AC13 COUNTS.—Section 10(a)(2) of the United States Housing

14 Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437h) is amended by—

15 (1) striking ‘‘annually’’;

16 (2) striking, after ‘‘accounts which’’, ‘‘shall’’,

17 and inserting ‘‘may’’;

18 (3) striking ‘‘in accordance with the principles

19 and procedures applicable to commercial trans20 actions’’; and

21 (4) striking ‘‘, and no other audit shall be re22 quired’’.

23 (l) REPORT ON THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY

24 PROGRAM.—Section 23(m) of the United States Housing

25 Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437u(m)) is amended—
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1 (1) in paragraph (1)—

2 (A) by striking ‘‘shall’’, and inserting

3 ‘‘may’’; and

4 (B) by striking ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—’’; and

5 (2) by striking paragraph (2).

6 (m) METHODOLOGY OF STUDY.—Section

7 211(B)(f)(2) of Public Law 101–515, as amended by the

8 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994,

9 is amended by striking ‘‘shall serve’’ and all that follows

10 through ‘‘approve’’ and inserting ‘‘may serve in an advi11 sory capacity, may oversee the methodology, and may ap12 prove’’.

13 (n) STUDIES OF INCENTIVE GRANTS FOR LOCAL DE14 LINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS.—Section 5(b) of

15 the Act of November 4, 1992 (42 U.S.C. 5781 note, Public

16 Law 102–586), is amended to read as follows:

17 ‘‘(b) GAO STUDIES AND REPORTS.—Under such

18 conditions as the Comptroller General of the United States

19 determines appropriate, the General Accounting Office

20 may conduct studies and report to Congress on the effects

21 of the program established by subsection (a) in encourag22 ing States and units of general local government to comply

23 with the requirements of part B of title II of the Juvenile

24 Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (42

25 U.S.C. 5631–5633).’’.
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1 (o) AUDITS OF RECIPIENTS OF LOAN GUARANTEES

2 FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL DEMONSTRATION FACILI3 TIES.—Section 19(x)(1) of the Federal Nonnuclear En4 ergy Research and Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.

5 5919(x)(1)) is amended—

6 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘(A)’’; and

7 (2) by striking subparagraph (B).

8 (p) REPORT ON USE OF SUBPOENA AUTHORITY TO

9 GET ENERGY INFORMATION.—Section 502(f) of the En10 ergy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6382(f)) is

11 repealed.

12 (q) CONSULTATION WITH THE SECRETARY OF EN13 ERGY CONCERNING TERMINATION OF LOAN GUARAN14 TEES.—Section 451 of the Energy Conservation in Exist15 ing Buildings Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6881) is amended,

16 in subsection (d) and in the first sentence of subsection

17 (e)(1), by striking ‘‘and the Comptroller General’’.

18 (r) REPORT ON POLLUTION CONTROL STRATEGIES

19 AND EMPLOYMENT EFFECTS OF CLEAN AIR ACT AMEND20 MENTS OF 1990.—Section 812(b) of the Clean Air Act

21 Amendments of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 7612 note) is repealed.

22 (s) REPORT ON ENERGY CONSERVATION BY FED23 ERAL AGENCIES.—Section 801(c) of the National Energy

24 Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287(c)) is amend25 ed—
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1 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1)’’; and

2 (2) by striking paragraph (2).

3 (t) EVALUATION OF HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PRO4 GRAMS.—Section 105 of the Stewart B. McKinney Home5 less Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11304) is amended—

6 (1) by striking ‘‘shall annually’’ and inserting

7 ‘‘may’’; and

8 (2) by striking ‘‘, and submit to the Congress

9 an annual summary of the status of each program

10 authorized under this Act’’.

11 (u) CONSULTATION ON ACCOUNTING, AUDIT AND

12 FISCAL PROCEDURES.—Section 30203(b)(5) of the Vio13 lent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42

14 U.S.C. 13753(b)(5)) is amended by striking ‘‘after con15 sultation with the Comptroller General of the United

16 States’’.

17 (v) STUDY OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.—Sec18 tion 6026 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of

19 1989 (Public Law 101–239) is repealed.

20 (w) REPORT ON GEOGRAPHIC COST ADJUSTMENT

21 FOR DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.—Section 135(c)(2)

22 of the Social Security Act Amendments of 1994 (Public

23 Law 103–432) is amended—

24 (1) by striking the dash and ‘‘(A)’’ and insert25 ing a comma, and
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1 (2) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and all that follows and

2 inserting a period.

3 SEC. 123. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 44, UNITED

4 STATES CODE (PUBLIC PRINTING AND DOCU5 MENTS).

6 (a) AUDIT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.—

7 Section 309 of title 44, United States Code, is amended—

8 (1) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol9 lows:

10 ‘‘(d) The Inspector General of the Government Print11 ing Office shall audit the financial and operational activi12 ties of the Government Printing Office each year. The au13 dits shall be conducted under the direction of the Joint

14 Committee on Printing. For purposes of the audits, the

15 Inspector General shall have such access to the records,

16 files, personnel, and facilities of the Government Printing

17 Office as the Inspector General considers appropriate. The

18 Inspector General shall furnish reports of the audits to

19 the Congress and the Public Printer.’’; and

20 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub21 sections:

22 ‘‘(e) The Public Printer shall prepare an annual fi23 nancial statement meeting the requirements of section

24 3515(b) of title 31, United States Code. Each financial
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1 statement shall be audited in accordance with applicable

2 generally accepted Government auditing standards—

3 ‘‘(1) by an independent external auditor se4 lected by the Public Printer, or

5 ‘‘(2) at the request of the Joint Committee on

6 Printing, by the Inspector General of the Govern7 ment Printing Office.

8 ‘‘(f) The Comptroller General of the United States

9 may audit the financial statement prepared under sub10 section (e) at his or her discretion or at the request of

11 the Joint Committee on Printing. An audit by the Comp12 troller General shall be in lieu of the audit otherwise re13 quired by that subsection.’’.

14 (b) PUBLICATION OF DECISIONS OF THE COMPTROL15 LER GENERAL.—

16 (1) Section 1311 of title 44, United States

17 Code, is repealed.

18 (2) The table of sections for chapter 13 of title

19 44, United States Code, is amended by striking out

20 the item relating to section 1311.

21 SEC. 124. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 45, UNITED

22 STATES CODE (RAILROADS).

23 Section 1036(f) of the Intermodal Surface Transpor24 tation Efficiency Act of 1991 (45 U.S.C. 831 note) is

25 amended by striking ‘‘and annually thereafter,’’.
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1 SEC. 125. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 46, UNITED

2 STATES CODE (SHIPPING).

3 Section 901(a) of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936

4 (46 U.S.C. App. 1241(a)) is amended—

5 (1) by striking ‘‘: Provided, That the Comptrol6 ler General of the United States’’ and inserting

7 ‘‘. The Administrator of General Services shall pre8 scribe regulations under which agencies’’; and

9 (2) by striking ‘‘credit any allowance’’ and in10 serting ‘‘pay for or reimburse officers or employees’’.

11 SEC. 126. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 47, UNITED

12 STATES CODE (TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES,

13 AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS).

14 (a) APPROVE STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE COR15 PORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING FOR VALUING

16 VOLUNTEER SERVICES.—Section 397(9) of the Commu17 nications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 397(9)) is amended, in

18 the last sentence—

19 (1) by striking ‘‘and approved by the Comptrol20 ler General pursuant to section 396(g)(5)’’; and

21 (2) by striking ‘‘with respect to such services

22 provided to public telecommunications entities after

23 such standards are approved by the Comptroller

24 General and only’’.
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1 (b) REPORT ON PAYMENTS BY ATTORNEY GENERAL

2 TO CARRIERS FOR INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICA3 TIONS.—

4 (1) Section 112(b)(1) of the Communications

5 Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (47 U.S.C.

6 1010(b)(1)) is amended by amending the matter

7 preceding subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

8 ‘‘(1) On or before April 1, 1996, the Comptrol9 ler General of the United States, and every two

10 years thereafter, the Inspector General of the De11 partment of Justice, shall submit to the Congress a

12 report, after consultation with the Attorney General

13 and the telecommunications industry—’’.

14 (2) Section 112(b)(2) of the Communications

15 Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (47 U.S.C.

16 1010(b)(2)) is amended—

17 (A) after ‘‘include’’, by striking ‘‘the’’; and

18 (B) by striking ‘‘of the Comptroller Gen19 eral’’.

20 SEC. 127. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 49, UNITED

21 STATES CODE (TRANSPORTATION).

22 (a) AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS OF DEPARTMENT OF

23 TRANSPORTATION.—Section 5334(c)(2) of title 49, Unit24 ed States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the Comptroller

25 General shall’’ and inserting ‘‘for’’.
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1 (b) REPORT ON MASS TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.—

2 Sections 5335(c) and 5335(d) of title 49, United States

3 Code, are each amended by striking ‘‘and in January of

4 every 2d year after 1993’’.

5 (c) AUDIT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOCAL

6 RAIL FREIGHT SERVICE.—Section 22107(b) of title 49,

7 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and the

8 Comptroller General’’.

9 (d) TRANSPORTATION BY FOREIGN AIR CARRIERS.—

10 Section 40118(c) of title 49, United States Code, is

11 amended by striking ‘‘Comptroller General shall’’ and in12 serting ‘‘Administrator of General Services shall prescribe

13 regulations under which agencies may’’.

14 (e) AUDIT OF AVIATION INSURANCE OFFERED BY

15 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.—Section 44308(e)

16 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking

17 ‘‘. The Comptroller General shall audit those accounts’’

18 and inserting ‘‘for audit’’.

19 (f) AUDIT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR AIRPORT

20 AND AIRWAY DEVELOPMENT.—Section 47121(c) of title

21 49, United States Code, is amended—

22 (1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘Comptrol23 ler General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary’’;

24 (2) in the second sentence—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘Not later than April 15 of

2 each year, the’’, and inserting ‘‘The’’; and

3 (B) by striking ‘‘shall’’ and inserting

4 ‘‘may’’; and

5 (3) by striking the third sentence.

6 (g) STUDY OF ENHANCED PROCUREMENT AUTHOR7 ITY FOR FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.—Section

8 9206 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990

9 (Public Law 101–508) is repealed.

10 SEC. 128. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 50, UNITED

11 STATES CODE (WAR AND NATIONAL DE12 FENSE).

13 (a) AUDIT OF TERMINATION PAYMENTS ON CON14 TRACTS FOR CERTAIN AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS.—Section

15 1 of the Act of March 30, 1949 (62 Stat. 17; 50 U.S.C.

16 491), is amended in the third sentence of the second para17 graph—

18 (1) by striking ‘‘no termination payment shall

19 be final until audited and approved by’’;

20 (2) by striking ‘‘which’’ after ‘‘General Ac21 counting Office’’; and

22 (3) by inserting ‘‘of audit’’ after ‘‘purpose’’.

23 (b) DETERMINATIONS OF ENTITLEMENT TO WAR

24 CLAIM AWARDS.—Section 213(d) of the War Claims Act

25 of 1948 (50 U.S.C. App. 2017l(d)) is amended by striking
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1 ‘‘Comptroller General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the

2 Treasury’’.

3 (c) FOREIGN POLICY CONTROLS: CONSULTATION

4 WITH CONGRESS.—Section 6(f)(3) of the Export Adminis5 tration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2405(f)(3)) is amend6 ed by striking the second sentence.

7 SEC. 129. AMENDMENT RELATING TO THE DISTRICT OF CO8 LUMBIA

9 Section 145 of the District of Columbia Retirement

10 Reform Act (sec. 1–725, D.C. Code) is amended as fol11 lows:

12 (1) In subsection (b)—

13 (A) in paragraph (1)—

14 (i) by striking ‘‘(1)’’,

15 (ii) by striking ‘‘and the Comptroller

16 General’’, and

17 (iii) by striking ‘‘each’’ the first and

18 third places it appears; and

19 (B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3).

20 (2) In subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘Comptrol21 ler General pursuant to subsection (b)’’ and insert22 ing ‘‘enrolled actuary pursuant to subsection (a)’’.

23 (3) In subsection (c)(3)(A)—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General pur2 suant to subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘enrolled

3 actuary pursuant to subsection (a)’’;

4 (B) by striking ‘‘and the Comptroller Gen5 eral’’; and

6 (C) by striking ‘‘of the Comptroller Gen7 eral’’.

8 (4) In subsection (c)(3)(B), by striking ‘‘the

9 Comptroller General, the Board,’’ and inserting ‘‘the

10 Board’’.

11 (5) In subsection (c)(3)(C)(1)—

12 (A) by striking ‘‘The Comptroller General,

13 on the basis of such reports from the Board

14 and’’ and inserting ‘‘The Board, on the basis of

15 such reports from’’;

16 (B) by striking ‘‘The Comptroller General

17 shall report the amount of such reduction so

18 caused to the Board and’’ and inserting ‘‘The

19 Board shall report the amount of such reduc20 tion so caused’’; and

21 (C) by striking ‘‘he receives’’ and inserting

22 ‘‘the Board receives’’.

23 (6) In subsection (c)(3)(C)(2), by striking ‘‘by

24 the Comptroller General’’.
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1 TITLE II—CONFORMING AMEND2 MENTS TO ENACT TRANS3 FERS AND DELEGATIONS OF

4 FUNCTIONS UNDER OTHER

5 LAWS

6 SEC. 201. PURPOSE.

7 The purpose of this title is to amend provisions of

8 law to reflect, update, and enact transfers and subsequent

9 delegations of functions made under section 211 of the

10 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1996 (Public Law

11 104–53, 109 Stat. 535), as in effect immediately before

12 this title takes effect.

13 SEC. 202. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

14 (a) CLAIMS FOR PROCEEDS FROM SALE OF HOUSE15 HOLD AND PERSONAL EFFECTS.—Section 5564(h) of title

16 5, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘General

17 Accounting Office’’ each place it appears and inserting

18 ‘‘Administrator of General Services’’.

19 (b) SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS OF DECEASED EM20 PLOYEES.—Section 5583 of title 5, United States Code,

21 is amended—

22 (1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘Comptroller

23 General of the United States’’ and inserting ‘‘Direc24 tor of the Office of Personnel Management’’; and
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1 (2) in subsection (b) by striking the first sen2 tence and inserting: ‘‘The Director may by regula3 tion prescribe the method for settlement of accounts

4 payable under subsection (a) of this section.’’.

5 (c) REMISSION OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.—Section

6 2312 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by strik7 ing ‘‘Comptroller General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the

8 Treasury’’.

9 (d) DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY.—Sec10 tion 2575(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended

11 by striking ‘‘Comptroller General of the United States’’

12 both places it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of De13 fense’’.

14 (e) PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.—Sections 2733(d) and

15 2734(d) of title 10, United States Code, are amended by

16 striking ‘‘Comptroller General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary

17 of the Treasury’’.

18 (f) SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS OF DECEASED MEM19 BERS.—Section 2771(c) of title 10, United States Code,

20 is amended to read as follows:

21 ‘‘(c) Payments under subsection (a) shall be made by

22 the Secretary of Defense.’’.

23 (g) DISPOSITION OF EFFECTS OF DECEASED MEM24 BERS.—Sections 4712 and 9712 of title 10, United States

25 Code, are amended by striking subsection (g).
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1 (h) SETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS.—Sec2 tion 7 of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949

3 (22 U.S.C. 1626) is amended—

4 (1) in subsection (c)—

5 (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘Comp6 troller General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the

7 Treasury’’; and

8 (B) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘Comp9 troller General of the United States’’ and in10 serting ‘‘Secretary of the Treasury’’; and

11 (2) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘, or the

12 Comptroller General of the United States, as the

13 case may be,’’.

14 (i) ESTATES OF DECEDENTS.—Section 1709 of the

15 Revised Statutes (22 U.S.C. 4195) is amended—

16 (1) by striking ‘‘General Accounting Office’’

17 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Department of

18 State’’;

19 (2) in the penultimate paragraph—

20 (A) in the first sentence, by striking

21 ‘‘Comptroller General of the United States, or

22 such member of the General Accounting Office

23 as he may duly empower to act as his rep24 resentative for the purpose,’’ and inserting
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1 ‘‘Secretary of State or the Secretary’s rep2 resentative’’; and

3 (B) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General’’ and

4 inserting ‘‘Secretary of State’’; and

5 (3) in the last paragraph—

6 (A) by striking ‘‘office’’ and inserting ‘‘de7 partment’’; and

8 (B) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General’’ and

9 inserting ‘‘Secretary of State’’.

10 (j) DISPOSITION OF EFFECTS OF DECEASED ARMED

11 FORCES RETIREMENT HOME RESIDENTS.—Section 1520

12 of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act of 1991 (24

13 U.S.C. 420) is amended—

14 (1) in subsection (b)(1)(C)—

15 (A) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General of

16 the United States’’ in the second sentence and

17 inserting ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; and

18 (B) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General’’ in

19 the third sentence and inserting ‘‘Secretary’’;

20 and

21 (2) in subsection (d)—

22 (A) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General of

23 the United States’’ in paragraph (1) and insert24 ing ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; and
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1 (B) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General’’ in

2 paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting ‘‘Sec3 retary’’.

4 (k) PAYMENT OF JUDGMENTS AND COMPROMISE

5 SETTLEMENTS.—Section 2414 of title 28, United States

6 Code, is amended in the first paragraph by striking ‘‘Gen7 eral Accounting Office’’ each place it appears and insert8 ing ‘‘Secretary of the Treasury’’.

9 (l) PAYMENT OF JUDGMENTS.—Section 2517(a) of

10 title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Gen11 eral Accounting Office’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the

12 Treasury’’.

13 (m) JUDGMENT FUND CERTIFICATIONS.—Section

14 1304 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by strik15 ing ‘‘Comptroller General’’ each place it appears and in16 serting ‘‘Secretary of the Treasury’’.

17 (n) CLAIMS SETTLEMENT.—

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3702 of title 31,

19 United States Code, is amended—

20 (A) in the heading by striking ‘‘of the

21 Comptroller General’’;

22 (B) by amending subsection (a) to read as

23 follows:
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1 ‘‘(a) Except as provided in this chapter or another

2 law, all claims of or against the United States Government

3 shall be settled as follows:

4 ‘‘(1) The Secretary of Defense shall settle—

5 ‘‘(A) claims involving uniformed service

6 members’ pay, allowances, travel, transpor7 tation, retired pay, and survivor benefits; and

8 ‘‘(B) claims by transportation carriers in9 volving amounts collected from them for loss or

10 damage incurred to property incident to ship11 ment at Government expense.

12 ‘‘(2) The Director of the Office of Personnel

13 Management shall settle claims involving Federal ci14 vilian employees’ compensation and leave.

15 ‘‘(3) The Administrator of General Services

16 shall settle claims involving expenses incurred by

17 Federal civilian employees for official travel and

18 transportation, and for relocation expenses incident

19 to transfers of official duty station.

20 ‘‘(4) The Director of the Office of Management

21 and Budget shall settle claims not otherwise pro22 vided for by this subsection or another provision of

23 law.’’;

24 (C) in subsection (b)(1), by amending that

25 portion of the second sentence preceding sub-
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1 paragraph (A) to read ‘‘The claim must be re2 ceived by the official responsible under sub3 section (a) for settling the claim or by the agen4 cy that conducts the activity from which the

5 claim arises within 6 years after the claim ac6 crues except—’’;

7 (D) in subsection (b)(2) by striking ‘‘pre8 sented to the Comptroller General’’ and insert9 ing ‘‘received’’, and by striking ‘‘clause’’ and in10 serting ‘‘paragraph’’;

11 (E) by amending subsection (b)(3) to read

12 as follows:

13 ‘‘(3) A claim that is not received in the time required

14 under this subsection shall be returned with a copy of this

15 subsection, and no further communication is required.’’;

16 and

17 (F) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘Comp18 troller General’’ the first place it appears and

19 inserting ‘‘official responsible under subsection

20 (a) for settling the claim’’; and by striking

21 ‘‘Comptroller General’’ every other place it ap22 pears and inserting ‘‘official’’.

23 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—Chapter 37 of

24 title 31, United States Code, is amended in the table

25 of sections at the beginning of the chapter, by
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1 amending the item relating to section 3702 to read

2 as follows:

‘‘3702. Authority to settle claims.’’.

3 (o) TRANSPORTATION CLAIMS.—Section 3726 of title

4 31, United States Code, is amended—

5 (1) in subsection (f) by striking ‘‘and the

6 Comptroller General prescribe jointly’’ and inserting

7 ‘‘prescribes’’; and

8 (2) in subsection (g)(1) by striking ‘‘Comptrol9 ler General’’ and inserting ‘‘Administrator of Gen10 eral Services’’.

11 (p) SETOFF AGAINST JUDGMENTS.—Section 3728 of

12 title 31, United States Code, is amended—

13 (1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘Comptroller

14 General’’ the first place it appears and inserting

15 ‘‘Secretary of the Treasury’’; and

16 (2) by striking ‘‘Comptroller General’’ each

17 place it appears thereafter and inserting ‘‘Sec18 retary’’.

19 (q) SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS OF DECEASED MEM20 BERS.—Section 714(c) of title 32, United States Code, is

21 amended—

22 (1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘Comptrol23 ler General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary concerned’’;

24 and

25 (2) by striking the second sentence.
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1 (r) PAYMENT OF CLAIMS RELATING TO NATIONAL

2 GUARD ACTIVITIES.—Section 715(d) of title 32, United

3 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Comptroller Gen4 eral’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the Treasury’’.

5 (s) CLAIMS FOR NET PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF

6 HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL EFFECTS.—Section 554(h)

7 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking

8 ‘‘General Accounting Office’’ each place it appears and in9 serting ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’.

10 (t) CANCELLATION OF CHECKS MAILED TO DE11 CEASED PAYEES.—Section 5122 of title 38, United States

12 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘upon settlement by the

13 General Accounting Office’’.

14 (u) WAIVER OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.—Section

15 10(a) of the Act of September 5, 1950 (64 Stat. 591; 41

16 U.S.C. 256a), is amended by striking ‘‘Comptroller Gen17 eral’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of the Treasury’’.

18 SEC. 203. REPEAL.

19 Section 211 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations

20 Act, 1996 (Public Law 104–53; 109 Stat. 535) is amend21 ed to read as follows:

22 ‘‘SEC. 211. Personnel transferred pursuant to this

23 section, as in effect immediately before the effective date

24 of section 303 of the General Accounting Office Act of

25 1996, shall not be separated or reduced in classification
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1 or compensation for one year after any such transfer, ex2 cept for cause.’’.

3 SEC. 204. AUTHORITY TO RENDER DECISIONS.

4 Section 3529(b) of title 31, United States Code, is

5 amended—

6 (1) by striking ‘‘The Comptroller General shall’’

7 and inserting ‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph

8 (2), the Comptroller General shall’’; and

9 (2) by adding at the end the following new

10 paragraph:

11 ‘‘(2) A decision requested under this section concern12 ing a function transferred to or vested in the Director of

13 the Office of Management and Budget under section

14 211(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act,

15 1996 (109 Stat. 535), as in effect immediately before the

16 effective date of title II of the General Accounting Office

17 Act of 1996, or under this Act, shall be issued—

18 ‘‘(A) by the Director of the Office of Manage19 ment and Budget, except as provided in subpara20 graph (B); or
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1 ‘‘(B) in the case of a function delegated by the

2 Director to another agency, by the head of the agen3 cy to which the function was delegated.’’.

Passed the House of Representatives September 4,

1996.

Attest: ROBIN H. CARLE,

Clerk.