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[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3864 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``General Accounting Office Act of 
1996''.

TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO LAWS AUTHORIZING AUDITING, REPORTING, AND OTHER 
               FUNCTIONS BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE

SEC. 101. TRANSFERS AND TERMINATIONS OF FUNCTIONS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Functions transferred.--In any case in which a 
        provision of law authorizing the performance of a function by 
        the Comptroller General of the United States or the General 
        Accounting Office is amended by this title to substitute 
        another Federal officer, employee, or agency in that 
        authorization, the authority under that provision to perform 
        that function is transferred to the other Federal officer, 
        employee, or agency.
            (2) Functions terminated.--In any case in which a provision 
        of law authorizing the performance of a function by the 
        Comptroller General of the United States or the General 
        Accounting Office is repealed by this Act, the authority under 
        that provision to perform that function is terminated.
            (3) Delegation of functions.--The Director of the Office of 
        Management and Budget may delegate, in whole or in part, to any 
        other agency or agencies any function transferred to or vested 
        in the Director under section 103(d), 105(b), 116, or 202(n) of 
        this Act, and may transfer to such agency or agencies any 
        personnel, budget authority, records, and property received by 
        the Director pursuant to subsection (b) of this section that 
        relate to the delegated functions.
    (b) Incidental Transfers.--
            (1) In general.--Incident to any transfer of authority 
        under subsection (a)(1), there shall be transferred to the 
        recipient Federal officer, employee, or agency such personnel, 
        records, budget authority, and property of the General 
        Accounting Office as the Comptroller General and the Director 
        of the Office of Management and Budget jointly determine to be 
        necessary to effectuate the transfer.
            (2) Effect on personnel.--Personnel transferred under this 
        section shall not be separated or reduced in classification or 
        compensation for one year after any such transfer, except for 
        cause.
    (c) References.--With respect to any function or authority 
transferred under this Act and exercised on or after the effective date 
of that transfer, reference in any Federal law to the Comptroller 
General or to any officer or employee of the General Accounting Office 
is deemed to refer to the Federal officer or agency to which the 
function or authority is transferred under this Act.
    (d) Savings Provisions.--
            (1) Orders and other official actions not affected.--All 
        orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, grants, 
        contracts, certificates, licenses, and privileges--
                    (A) which have been issued, made, granted, or 
                allowed to become effective by the Comptroller General 
                or any official of the General Accounting Office, or by 
                a court of competent jurisdiction, in the performance 
                of any function or authority transferred under this 
                Act, and
                    (B) which are in effect at the time of the 
                transfer;
        shall continue in effect according to their terms until 
        modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked in 
        accordance with law.
            (2) Pending matters and proceedings.--This Act shall not 
        affect any pending matters or proceedings, including notices of 
        proposed rulemaking, relating to a function or authority 
        transferred under this Act. Such matters or proceedings shall 
        continue under the authority of the agency to which the 
        function or authority is transferred until completed or 
        terminated in accordance with law.
            (3) Judicial proceedings and causes of actions.--No suit, 
        action, or other proceeding or cause of action relating to a 
        function or authority transferred under this Act shall abate by 
        reason of the enactment of this Act. If, before the date on 
        which a transfer of a function or authority this Act takes 
        effect, the Comptroller General of the United States or any 
        officer or employee of the General Accounting Office in their 
        official capacity is party to a suit relating to the function 
        or authority, then such suit shall be continued and the head of 
        the agency to which the function or authority is transferred, 
        or other appropriate official of that agency, shall be 
        substituted or added as a party.
    (e) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), this 
        title shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Exceptions.--Sections 103(d), 105(b), and 116 shall 
        take effect 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 102. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 2, UNITED STATES CODE (THE 
              CONGRESS).

    (a) Compliance Reporting on Reduction in Employee Positions.--
Section 307(c) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1994 
(Public Law 103-69; 107 Stat. 710; 2 U.S.C. 60-1 note) is amended by 
striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may''.
    (b) Waiver of Erroneous Payments in the Senate.--Section 2(a) of 
the Act of July 25, 1974 (Public Law 93-359; 88 Stat. 394; 2 U.S.C. 
130c(a)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence by striking ``, if the claim is 
        not the subject of an exception made by the Comptroller General 
        in the account of any accountable officer or official''; and
            (2) in the third sentence by striking ``shall'' the first 
        place it appears and inserting ``may''.
    (c) Waiver of Erroneous Payments in the House of Representatives.--
Section 3(a) of the Act of July 25, 1974 (Public Law 93-359; 88 Stat. 
395; 2 U.S.C. 130d(a)) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking 
``, if the claim is not the subject of an exception made by the 
Comptroller General in the account of any accountable officer or 
official''.
    (d) Report on Sequestration of Funds to Meet Deficit Reduction 
Goals.--Section 254 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 904) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking:

    ``30 days later................
                                        GAO compliance report.''; and
            (2) in subsection (i), by striking ``On the date specified 
        in subsection (a)'' and inserting ``Upon request of the 
        Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives or the 
        Senate''.

SEC. 103. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES).

    (a) Transmittal of Reports.--Section 1213(e) of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3) by striking the comma after 
        ``President'' and inserting ``and'', and by striking ``, and 
        the Comptroller General''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4) by striking the comma after 
        ``President'' and inserting ``and'', and by striking ``, and 
        the Comptroller General''.
    (b) Withholding of Pay.--Section 5512(b) of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``General Accounting Office'' and 
inserting ``employing agency''.
    (c) Designation of Beneficiary.--Section 5582(a) of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting 
the following: ``An employee may change or revoke a designation at any 
time under regulations promulgated--
            ``(1) by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
        or his designee, in the case of an employee of an executive 
        agency;
            ``(2) jointly by the President pro tempore of the Senate 
        and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or their 
        designee, in the case of an employee of the legislative branch; 
        and
            ``(3) by the Chief Justice of the United States or his or 
        her designee, in the case of an employee of the judicial 
        branch.''.
    (d) Waiver of Erroneous Payments.--Section 5584 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``Comptroller 
                General of the United States'' and inserting 
                ``authorized official''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``and'' at the 
                end of subparagraph (A), by striking subparagraph (B), 
                by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B), 
                and by striking ``Comptroller General'' in subparagraph 
                (B) (as so redesignated) and inserting ``authorized 
                official'';
            (2) in subsection (b) by striking ``Comptroller General'' 
        and inserting ``authorized official''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) For the purpose of this section, the term `authorized 
official' means--
            ``(1) the head of an agency, with respect to an agency or 
        employee in the legislative branch; or
            ``(2) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 
        with respect to any other agency or employee.''.
    (e) Regulations and Reports.--Section 5707(b)(1)(A) of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``the Comptroller General of 
the United States,''.
    (f) GAO Audit of Agency Compliance.--Section 5(b) of the Hotel and 
Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-391; 5 U.S.C. 5707 note) 
is repealed.
    (g) Procedures for Deposit of Employees' Contributions to 
Retirement Funds.--Sections 8334(a)(2), 8422(c), and 8432(f) of title 
5, United States Code, are each amended by striking ``Comptroller 
General of the United States'' and inserting ``Secretary of the 
Treasury''.
    (h) Transmittal of Copy of Report on the Civil Service Retirement 
and Disability Fund.--Section 8348(l) of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended by striking the last sentence in paragraph (1).
    (i) Transmittal of Copy of Report on the Thrift Savings Fund.--
Section 8438(h) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``and the Comptroller General of the United States'' in the last 
sentence of paragraph (1).
    (j) Receipt of Copy of CPA Examination of Thrift Savings Fund.--
Section 8439(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``and the Comptroller General of the United States''.

SEC. 104. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 7, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (AGRICULTURE).

    (a) Audit of Washington Family Independence Demonstration 
Project.--Section 21(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2030(g)) is amended by striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may''.
    (b) Reports on Amounts Obligated and Expended by Department of 
Agriculture for Advisory Services.--Section 641 of the Rural 
Development, Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 2207a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(1)'' after ``(a)'';
                    (B) by striking ``shall (A) submit'' and inserting 
                ``shall submit''; and
                    (C) by striking ``, and (B) transmit a copy of such 
                report to the Comptroller General of the United 
                States'';
            (2) by striking subsection (b);
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) of subsection (a) as 
        subsection (b); and
            (4) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) by striking ``paragraph (1)'' and inserting 
                ``subsection (a)''; and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and 
                (C) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.

SEC. 105. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE (ARMED FORCES).

    (a) Waiver of Recovery of Erroneous Annuity Payments.--Sections 
1442 and 1453 of title 10, United States Code, are amended by striking 
``and the Comptroller General''.
    (b) Waiver of Recovery of Erroneous Overpayments.--Section 2774 of 
such title is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Comptroller 
                General'' and inserting ``Director of the Office of 
                Management and Budget''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and'' at the 
                end of subparagraph (A), striking subparagraph (B), 
                redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B), and 
                in that subparagraph (as so redesignated), striking 
                ``Comptroller General'' and inserting ``Director of the 
                Office of Management and Budget''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``The Comptroller 
        General'' and inserting ``The Director of the Office of 
        Management and Budget''.
    (c) Certification to Comptroller General of Uncollectability of 
Advances.--Section 2777(b)(2)(B) of such title is amended by striking 
``to the Comptroller General''.
    (d) Maintaining Accounts of Military Departments.--Section 2778 of 
such title is repealed, and the table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 165 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
that section.
    (e) Radiograms and Telegrams.--Sections 4592 and 9592 of such title 
are amended by striking ``, or may file a claim with the General 
Accounting Office for'' in the second sentence and inserting ``of''.

SEC. 106. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 12, UNITED STATES CODE (BANKS 
              AND BANKING).

    (a) Report on Prepurchase and Foreclosure-Prevention Counseling 
Demonstration.--Section 106(d) of the Housing and Urban Development Act 
of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (9);
            (2) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ``(10)(K)'' and 
        inserting ``(9)'';
            (3) in paragraph (8), by striking ``(for purposes of the 
        study and report under paragraph (9))''; and
            (4) by redesignating paragraphs (10), (11), (12), and (13) 
        as paragraphs (9), (10), (11), and (12), respectively.
    (b) Annual GAO Compliance Audit.--
            (1) In general.--Section 141(a)(2) of the Federal Deposit 
        Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 1823 
        note) is amended by striking ``shall annually audit'' and 
        inserting ``shall audit, under such conditions as the 
        Comptroller General determines to be appropriate,''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The heading for paragraph (2) of 
        section 141(a) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
        Improvement Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 1823 note) is amended by 
        striking ``Annual gao'' and inserting ``GAO''.
    (c) Quarterly Report on FDIC Compliance with Limits on Outstanding 
Obligations.--Section 102 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
Improvement Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 1825 note) is amended by striking 
subsection (b).
    (d) Prompt Corrective Action: GAO Review.--Section 38(k)(5) of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1831o(k)(5)) is amended to 
read as follows:
            ``(5) GAO review.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall, under such conditions as the Comptroller General 
        determines to be appropriate, review reports made under 
        paragraph (1) and recommend improvements in the supervision of 
        insured depository institutions (including the implementation 
        of this section).''.
    (e) GAO Reports on Risk-based Insurance Premiums, Access to 
Association Capital, and Supplemental Premiums.--Section 204(a) of the 
Farm Credit Banks and Associations Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 
(Public Law 102-552; 106 Stat. 4106; 12 U.S.C. 2277a-4 note) is amended 
by striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may''.
    (f) Review of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Guarantee 
Fees.--Section 8.10(b)(4) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 
2279aa-10(b)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Annual review'' 
        and inserting ``Review''; and
            (2) by striking ``shall annually'' and inserting ``may''.
    (g) GAO Studies of Appraisals.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1112(c) of the Financial 
        Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 
        U.S.C. 3341) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``At the end of 
                the 18-month period'' and all that follows through 
                ``study'' and inserting ``The Comptroller General of 
                the United States may conduct, under such conditions as 
                the Comptroller General determines appropriate, 
                studies''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``required 
                under'' and inserting ``referred to in''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The heading for section 1112(c)(1) 
        of Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act 
        of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 3341(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``Study 
        required'' and inserting ``GAO studies''.
    (h) Audit of Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.--
Section 1319E of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 
U.S.C. 4524) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may''; 
                and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and any such audit shall be 
                conducted'' after ``Office''; and
            (2) by striking the last sentence.
    (i) Sharing of Information.--Section 11(t) of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(t)) is amended by adding at the end of 
paragraph (2)(A) the following new clause:
                            ``(vi) The General Accounting Office.''.

SEC. 107. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 15, UNITED STATES CODE (COMMERCE 
              AND TRADE).

    Section 31(b)(1)(B) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act 
of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2227(b)(1)(B)) is amended by striking clause (iii).

SEC. 108. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 16, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (CONSERVATION).

    (a) Licenses for Development of Water Resources.--Section 6 of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 799) is amended by striking the last 
sentence.
    (b) Audit of the Brownsville Wetlands Policy Center.--Section 
202(d)(4) of the Brownsville Wetlands Policy Act of 1994 (108 Stat. 
338) is repealed.
    (c) Audit of Central Utah Project Cost Allocation.--Section 211 of 
the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 
(Public Law 102-575) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Comptroller General of the United 
        States'' and inserting ``Inspector General of the Department of 
        the Interior''; and
            (2) by striking ``in accordance with regulations which the 
        Comptroller General shall prescribe''.
    (d) Report on Glen Canyon Costs and Benefits.--Section 1804 of the 
Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public 
Law 102-575) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b); and
            (2) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as 
        subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively.

SEC. 109. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE (CRIMES 
              AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE).

    (a) Presidential Protection Assistance: Determination of Fair 
Market Value of Improvements.--Section 5(b) of the Presidential 
Protection Assistance Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-524; 90 Stat. 2476; 18 
U.S.C. 3056 note) is amended by striking ``Comptroller General of the 
United States'' and inserting ``Director''.
    (b) Disputes over Purchase of Prison-Made Products by Federal 
Departments.--Section 4124(b) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``Comptroller General of the United States'' and 
inserting ``Attorney General''.

SEC. 110. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 19, UNITED STATES CODE (CUSTOMS 
              DUTIES).

    (a) Audits Of the Customs Forfeiture Fund.--Section 613A(e)(2) of 
the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1613b(e)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``annual financial''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period the following: ``, under 
        such conditions as the Comptroller General determines 
        appropriate''.
    (b) Report on Businesses Established by Customs Service for 
Undercover Operations.--Section 3131(b) of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 
1986 (19 U.S.C. 2081(b)) is amended by striking ``and the Comptroller 
General''.

SEC. 111. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 22, UNITED STATES CODE (FOREIGN 
              RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE).

    (a) Accounts of Advances for Operations of the International Joint 
Commission on the U.S.-Canada Boundary Waters.--The first section of 
the Act of March 2, 1921 (chapter 113; 22 U.S.C. 268b) is amended by 
striking ``chiefs of parties'' the first place it appears and all that 
follows through ``chiefs of parties'' the next place it appears and 
inserting ``chiefs of parties''.
    (b) Preparation of Scope of Audit and Review of Audits of Inter-
American Development Bank.--Section 14 of the Inter-American 
Development Bank Act (22 U.S.C. 283j-1) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``Comptroller General of 
        the United States shall prepare for the Secretary of the 
        Treasury'' and inserting ``Secretary of the Treasury shall 
        prepare''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), in the second sentence, by striking 
        ``shall periodically'' and inserting ``may''.
    (c) Reports by the General Accounting Office.--Section 4 of the 
Foreign Direct Investment and International Financial Data Improvements 
Act of 1990 (22 U.S.C. 3143) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``report required 
        under'' and inserting ``reports referred to in''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``(b)'' and all that follows 
                through ``shall submit'' and inserting ``(b) Reports.--
                Consistent with the provisions of this section, the 
                Comptroller General may submit'';
                    (B) by striking ``Congress, a report'' and 
                inserting ``Congress reports'';
                    (C) in paragraph (1) by striking ``the report of 
                the Secretary of Commerce'' and inserting ``reports 
                issued by the Secretary of Commerce under section 3''; 
                and
                    (D) by striking the last sentence of the 
                subsection.

SEC. 112. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 25, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (INDIANS).

    (a) Copies of Indian Service Contracts.--Section 7 of the Act of 
March 3, 1875 (25 U.S.C. 96), is repealed.
    (b) Copies of Indian Service Contract Bids.--Section 3 of the Act 
of August 15, 1876 (25 U.S.C. 97), is amended by striking ``; and an 
abstract of all bids or proposals received for the supplies or services 
embraced in any contract shall be attached to, and filed with, the said 
contract when the same is filed in the office of the Second Comptroller 
of the Treasury'' and inserting in lieu thereof a period.

SEC. 113. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 26, UNITED STATES CODE (INTERNAL 
              REVENUE CODE).

    Section 7608(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 
7608(c)(2)), is amended by striking ``and the Comptroller General of 
the United States''.

SEC. 114. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE (JUDICIARY 
              AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE).

    Section 2410(e) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
striking, in the second sentence, ``shall so report to the Comptroller 
General who''.

SEC. 115. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE (MONEY 
              AND FINANCE).

    (a) Treatment of Records Containing Banking Agency Information.--
Section 714(d) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the last sentence of paragraph (1) and by amending paragraph (2) to 
read as follows:
    ``(2) The Comptroller General shall prevent unauthorized access to 
records or property of or used by an agency that the Comptroller 
General obtains during an audit.''.
    (b) Report on Audits and Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information.--
Section 719 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (d); and
            (2) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), and 
        (i) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively.
    (c) Compliance Reporting on Administrative Expenses.--Section 
308(c) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1994 (Public Law 
103-69; 107 Stat. 710; 31 U.S.C. 1105 note) is amended by striking 
``shall'' and inserting ``may''.
    (d) Paying Checks and Drafts.--Section 3328 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``until the 
        Comptroller General settles the question'' and inserting 
        ``until the question is settled'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``on settlement by 
        the Comptroller General''; and
            (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``With the approval of 
        the Comptroller General, the'' and inserting ``The''.
    (e) Withholding Checks To Be Sent to Foreign Countries.--Section 
3329(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
last two sentences and inserting ``The Secretary shall credit the 
accounts of the drawer and drawee.''.
    (f) Property Returns.--
            (1) Repeal.--Section 3531 of title 31, United States Code, 
        is repealed.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking the item relating to section 3531.
    (g) Claims Collection and Compromise.--
            (1) In general.--Section 3711 of title 31, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting before the 
                semicolon the following: ``, except that only the 
                Comptroller General may compromise a claim arising out 
                of an exception the Comptroller General makes in the 
                account of an accountable official'';
                    (B) by striking subsection (b);
                    (C) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), and 
                (f) and the first subsection (g) in order as 
                subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f); and
                    (D) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``and the Comptroller General'' and by 
                striking ``jointly'' from paragraph (2).
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 3701(d) of title 31, United States 
                Code, is amended by striking ``3711(f)'' and inserting 
                ``3711(e)''.
                    (B) Section 552a of title 5, United States Code, is 
                amended by striking ``3711(f)'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``3711(e)''.
                    (C) Section 2780(b) of title 10, United States 
                Code, is amended by striking ``3711(f)'' and inserting 
                ``3711(e)''.
                    (D) Section 4(d)(6) of the State Department Basic 
                Authorities Act of 1956 (Chapter 841; 22 U.S.C. 
                2671(d)(6)) is amended by striking ``3711(f)'' and 
                inserting ``3711(e)''.
                    (E) Section 204(f)(1) of the Social Security Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 404(f)(1)) is amended by striking 
                ``3711(f)'' and inserting ``3711(e)''.
    (h) Audit of Proceeds from Sales of Commemorative Coins.--Section 
303 of Public Law 103-186 (31 U.S.C. 5112 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Before the end of the 1-year period'' and 
        all that follows through ``the Comptroller General of the 
        United States shall'' and inserting ``The Comptroller General 
        of the United States may''; and
            (2) by striking ``sale of such coins'' and inserting ``sale 
        of commemorative coins''.
    (i) Report on Implementation of Intergovernmental Financing.--
Section 6 of the Cash Management Improvement Act of 1990 (31 U.S.C. 
6503 note) is repealed.
    (j) Consultation on Accounting, Audit and Fiscal Procedures.--
Section 6703(d)(6) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``after consultation with the Comptroller General of the 
United States''.
    (k) Reviews of Local Partnership Act Program.--Section 6718(b) of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ``shall'' each 
place it appears and inserting ``may''.

SEC. 116. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 32, UNITED STATES CODE (NATIONAL GUARD).

    Section 716 of title 32, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Comptroller 
                General'' and inserting ``Director of the Office of 
                Management and Budget''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and'' at the 
                end of subparagraph (A), striking subparagraph (B), 
                redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B), and 
                in that subparagraph (as so redesignated), striking 
                ``Comptroller General'' and inserting ``Director of the 
                Office of Management and Budget''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``The Comptroller 
        General'' and inserting ``The Director of the Office of 
        Management and Budget''.

SEC. 117. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 33, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS).

    Section 214 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (106 
Stat. 4831-4832; 33 U.S.C. 2281 note) is repealed.

SEC. 118. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 37, UNITED STATES CODE (PAY AND ALLOWANCES 
              OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES).

    Section 902(b) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``the General Accounting Office, under the direction of the 
Secretary of the Navy, may'' and inserting ``the Secretary of the Navy 
may''.

SEC. 119. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE (VETERANS' 
              BENEFITS).

    Section 711(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``, upon request of either of such Committees,'' in the first 
sentence after ``the Comptroller General shall''.

SEC. 120. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 40, UNITED STATES CODE (PUBLIC 
              BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS).

    (a) Payment of Expenses of Sales from Proceeds.--Section 1 of the 
Act of June 8, 1896 (29 Stat. 268; 40 U.S.C. 485a) is amended by 
striking ``, as approved by the accounting officers of the Treasury,''.
    (b) Furnishing Determinations to the General Accounting Office.--
Section 210(a)(8) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services 
Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 490(a)(8)) is amended by striking ``. A copy of 
every such determination so made shall be furnished to the General 
Accounting Office''.

SEC. 121. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 41, UNITED STATES CODE (PUBLIC 
              CONTRACTS).

    (a) Comptroller General Review of Fraudulent War Contract 
Settlements.--Section 16 of the Contract Settlement Act of 1944 (41 
U.S.C. 116) is repealed.
    (b) Records of War Contract Financing and Terminations.--Section 
18(a) of the Contract Settlement Act of 1944 (41 U.S.C. 118(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``(1)''; and
            (2) by striking ``; and (2) the records in connection 
        therewith to be transmitted to the General Accounting Office''.
    (c) Copies of Contracts and Administrative Determinations.--Section 
307(b) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 
(41 U.S.C. 257(b)) is amended by striking the second sentence.

SEC. 122. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 42, UNITED STATES CODE (PUBLIC 
              HEALTH AND WELFARE).

    (a) Consultation on Administrative Expenses of the National 
Institutes of Health.--Section 408(a)(3) of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 284c(a)(3)) is amended by striking the last sentence.
    (b) Audit of National Foundation for Biomedical Research.--Section 
499(n) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290b(n)) is 
repealed.
    (c) Consultation and Reports on Grants for Transition from 
Homelessness.--Section 528 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
290cc-28) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``the Comptroller 
        General of the United States, and''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``Comptroller General of 
        the United States in cooperation with the'' and by striking the 
        comma after ``Administration''.
    (d) Consultation and Report on Trauma Care Grants.--Section 1216(a) 
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-16(a)) is amended by 
striking ``and the Comptroller General of the United States''.
    (e) Consultation on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block 
Grants.--Section 1942(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
300x-52(a)) is amended by striking ``and the Comptroller General''.
    (f) State Reports on Maternal and Child Health Programs.--Section 
506(a)(1) of the Act of August 14, 1935, ch. 531 (42 U.S.C. 706(a)(1)) 
is amended by striking ``and the Comptroller General''.
    (g) Review HHS Calculation of Reimbursement Rate.--Section 4204(b) 
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 1395mm 
note) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (4);
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``Taking into account the 
        recommendations made pursuant to paragraph (4), on'' and 
        inserting ``On''; and
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).
    (h) Study of Ownership of Providers of Medicare Services by 
Referring Physicians.--
            (1) Section 6204(e) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
        Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 1395nn note) is repealed.
            (2) Section 6204(f) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
        Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 1395nn note) is amended by striking 
        ``and the Comptroller General''.
    (i) Reports on Prescription Drug Pricing.--Section 4401(d) of the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 1396r-8 note) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by--
                    (A) striking ``By not later than May 1 of each 
                year, the'' and inserting ``The'';
                    (B) striking ``an annual'' and inserting ``a''; and
                    (C) striking ``retail and''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (6).
    (j) Study of Demonstration To Attract Pension Fund Investment in 
Affordable Housing.--Section 6 of the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f) is amended by--
            (1) striking subsection (i); and
            (2) redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (i).
    (k) Audit of HUD Low-Income Housing Accounts.--Section 10(a)(2) of 
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437h) is amended by--
            (1) striking ``annually'';
            (2) striking, after ``accounts which'', ``shall'', and 
        inserting ``may'';
            (3) striking ``in accordance with the principles and 
        procedures applicable to commercial transactions''; and
            (4) striking ``, and no other audit shall be required''.
    (l) Report on the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.--Section 23(m) 
of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437u(m)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``shall'', and inserting ``may''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``(1) In general.--''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2).
    (m) Methodology of Study.--Section 211(B)(f)(2) of Public Law 101-
515, as amended by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 
1994, is amended by striking ``shall serve'' and all that follows 
through ``approve'' and inserting ``may serve in an advisory capacity, 
may oversee the methodology, and may approve''.
    (n) Studies of Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention 
Programs.--Section 5(b) of the Act of November 4, 1992 (42 U.S.C. 5781 
note, Public Law 102-586), is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) GAO Studies and Reports.--Under such conditions as the 
Comptroller General of the United States determines appropriate, the 
General Accounting Office may conduct studies and report to Congress on 
the effects of the program established by subsection (a) in encouraging 
States and units of general local government to comply with the 
requirements of part B of title II of the Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5631-5633).''.
    (o) Audits of Recipients of Loan Guarantees for Alternative Fuel 
Demonstration Facilities.--Section 19(x)(1) of the Federal Nonnuclear 
Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5919(x)(1)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``(A)''; and
            (2) by striking subparagraph (B).
    (p) Report on Use of Subpoena Authority To Get Energy 
Information.--Section 502(f) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act 
(42 U.S.C. 6382(f)) is repealed.
    (q) Consultation with the Secretary of Energy concerning 
Termination of Loan Guarantees.--Section 451 of the Energy Conservation 
in Existing Buildings Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6881) is amended, in 
subsection (d) and in the first sentence of subsection (e)(1), by 
striking ``and the Comptroller General''.
    (r) Report on Pollution Control Strategies and Employment Effects 
of Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.--Section 812(b) of the Clean Air 
Act Amendments of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 7612 note) is repealed.
    (s) Report on Energy Conservation by Federal Agencies.--Section 
801(c) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
8287(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1)''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2).
    (t) Evaluation of Homeless Assistance Programs.--Section 105 of the 
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11304) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``shall annually'' and inserting ``may''; 
        and
            (2) by striking ``, and submit to the Congress an annual 
        summary of the status of each program authorized under this 
        Act''.
    (u) Consultation on Accounting, Audit and Fiscal Procedures.--
Section 30203(b)(5) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement 
Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13753(b)(5)) is amended by striking ``after 
consultation with the Comptroller General of the United States''.
    (v) Study of Skilled Nursing Facilities.--Section 6026 of the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-239) is 
repealed.
    (w) Report on Geographic Cost Adjustment for Durable Medical 
Equipment.--Section 135(c)(2) of the Social Security Act Amendments of 
1994 (Public Law 103-432) is amended--
            (1) by striking the dash and ``(A)'' and inserting a comma, 
        and
            (2) by striking ``; and'' and all that follows and 
        inserting a period.

SEC. 123. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 44, UNITED STATES CODE (PUBLIC 
              PRINTING AND DOCUMENTS).

    (a) Audit of Government Printing Office.--Section 309 of title 44, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) The Inspector General of the Government Printing Office shall 
audit the financial and operational activities of the Government 
Printing Office each year. The audits shall be conducted under the 
direction of the Joint Committee on Printing. For purposes of the 
audits, the Inspector General shall have such access to the records, 
files, personnel, and facilities of the Government Printing Office as 
the Inspector General considers appropriate. The Inspector General 
shall furnish reports of the audits to the Congress and the Public 
Printer.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(e) The Public Printer shall prepare an annual financial 
statement meeting the requirements of section 3515(b) of title 31, 
United States Code. Each financial statement shall be audited in 
accordance with applicable generally accepted Government auditing 
standards--
            ``(1) by an independent external auditor selected by the 
        Public Printer, or
            ``(2) at the request of the Joint Committee on Printing, by 
        the Inspector General of the Government Printing Office.
    ``(f) The Comptroller General of the United States may audit the 
financial statement prepared under subsection (e) at his or her 
discretion or at the request of the Joint Committee on Printing. An 
audit by the Comptroller General shall be in lieu of the audit 
otherwise required by that subsection.''.
    (b) Publication of Decisions of the Comptroller General.--
            (1) Section 1311 of title 44, United States Code, is 
        repealed.
            (2) The table of sections for chapter 13 of title 44, 
        United States Code, is amended by striking out the item 
        relating to section 1311.

SEC. 124. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 45, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (RAILROADS).

    Section 1036(f) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
Act of 1991 (45 U.S.C. 831 note) is amended by striking ``and annually 
thereafter,''.

SEC. 125. AMENDMENT RELATING TO TITLE 46, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (SHIPPING).

    Section 901(a) of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 (46 U.S.C. App. 
1241(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``: Provided, That the Comptroller General 
        of the United States'' and inserting ``. The Administrator of 
        General Services shall prescribe regulations under which 
        agencies''; and
            (2) by striking ``credit any allowance'' and inserting 
        ``pay for or reimburse officers or employees''.

SEC. 126. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 47, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS).

    (a) Approve Standards Adopted by the Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting for Valuing Volunteer Services.--Section 397(9) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 397(9)) is amended, in the last 
sentence--
            (1) by striking ``and approved by the Comptroller General 
        pursuant to section 396(g)(5)''; and
            (2) by striking ``with respect to such services provided to 
        public telecommunications entities after such standards are 
        approved by the Comptroller General and only''.
    (b) Report on Payments by Attorney General to Carriers for 
Interception of Communications.--
            (1) Section 112(b)(1) of the Communications Assistance for 
        Law Enforcement Act (47 U.S.C. 1010(b)(1)) is amended by 
        amending the matter preceding subparagraph (A) to read as 
        follows:
            ``(1) On or before April 1, 1996, the Comptroller General 
        of the United States, and every two years thereafter, the 
        Inspector General of the Department of Justice, shall submit to 
        the Congress a report, after consultation with the Attorney 
        General and the telecommunications industry--''.
            (2) Section 112(b)(2) of the Communications Assistance for 
        Law Enforcement Act (47 U.S.C. 1010(b)(2)) is amended--
                    (A) after ``include'', by striking ``the''; and
                    (B) by striking ``of the Comptroller General''.

SEC. 127. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE 
              (TRANSPORTATION).

    (a) Audit of Accounts of Department of Transportation.--Section 
5334(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``the Comptroller General shall'' and inserting ``for''.
    (b) Report on Mass Transportation Needs.--Sections 5335(c) and 
5335(d) of title 49, United States Code, are each amended by striking 
``and in January of every 2d year after 1993''.
    (c) Audit of Financial Assistance for Local Rail Freight Service.--
Section 22107(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``and the Comptroller General''.
    (d) Transportation by Foreign Air Carriers.--Section 40118(c) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Comptroller 
General shall'' and inserting ``Administrator of General Services shall 
prescribe regulations under which agencies may''.
    (e) Audit of Aviation Insurance Offered by Department of 
Transportation.--Section 44308(e) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``. The Comptroller General shall audit those 
accounts'' and inserting ``for audit''.
    (f) Audit of Financial Assistance for Airport and Airway 
Development.--Section 47121(c) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``Comptroller 
        General'' and inserting ``Secretary'';
            (2) in the second sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``Not later than April 15 of each 
                year, the'', and inserting ``The''; and
                    (B) by striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may''; 
                and
            (3) by striking the third sentence.
    (g) Study of Enhanced Procurement Authority for Federal Aviation 
Administration.--Section 9206 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 
of 1990 (Public Law 101-508) is repealed.

SEC. 128. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TITLE 50, UNITED STATES CODE (WAR AND 
              NATIONAL DEFENSE).

    (a) Audit of Termination Payments on Contracts for Certain Air 
Defense Systems.--Section 1 of the Act of March 30, 1949 (62 Stat. 17; 
50 U.S.C. 491), is amended in the third sentence of the second 
paragraph--
            (1) by striking ``no termination payment shall be final 
        until audited and approved by'';
            (2) by striking ``which'' after ``General Accounting 
        Office''; and
            (3) by inserting ``of audit'' after ``purpose''.
    (b) Determinations of Entitlement to War Claim Awards.--Section 
213(d) of the War Claims Act of 1948 (50 U.S.C. App. 2017l(d)) is 
amended by striking ``Comptroller General'' and inserting ``Secretary 
of the Treasury''.
    (c) Foreign Policy Controls: Consultation with Congress.--Section 
6(f)(3) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 
2405(f)(3)) is amended by striking the second sentence.

SEC. 129. AMENDMENT RELATING TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

    Section 145 of the District of Columbia Retirement Reform Act (sec. 
1-725, D.C. Code) is amended as follows:
            (1) In subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``(1)'',
                            (ii) by striking ``and the Comptroller 
                        General'', and
                            (iii) by striking ``each'' the first and 
                        third places it appears; and
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3).
            (2) In subsection (c)(1), by striking ``Comptroller General 
        pursuant to subsection (b)'' and inserting ``enrolled actuary 
        pursuant to subsection (a)''.
            (3) In subsection (c)(3)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``Comptroller General pursuant to 
                subsection (b)'' and inserting ``enrolled actuary 
                pursuant to subsection (a)'';
                    (B) by striking ``and the Comptroller General''; 
                and
                    (C) by striking ``of the Comptroller General''.
            (4) In subsection (c)(3)(B), by striking ``the Comptroller 
        General, the Board,'' and inserting ``the Board''.
            (5) In subsection (c)(3)(C)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``The Comptroller General, on the 
                basis of such reports from the Board and'' and 
                inserting ``The Board, on the basis of such reports 
                from'';
                    (B) by striking ``The Comptroller General shall 
                report the amount of such reduction so caused to the 
                Board and'' and inserting ``The Board shall report the 
                amount of such reduction so caused''; and
                    (C) by striking ``he receives'' and inserting ``the 
                Board receives''.
            (6) In subsection (c)(3)(C)(2), by striking ``by the 
        Comptroller General''.

TITLE II--CONFORMING AMEND- MENTS TO ENACT TRANSFERS AND DELEGATIONS OF 
                       FUNCTIONS UNDER OTHER LAWS

SEC. 201. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this title is to amend provisions of law to reflect, 
update, and enact transfers and subsequent delegations of functions 
made under section 211 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 
1996 (Public Law 104-53, 109 Stat. 535), as in effect immediately 
before this title takes effect.

SEC. 202. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Claims for Proceeds From Sale of Household and Personal 
Effects.--Section 5564(h) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``General Accounting Office'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``Administrator of General Services''.
    (b) Settlement of Accounts of Deceased Employees.--Section 5583 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``Comptroller General of 
        the United States'' and inserting ``Director of the Office of 
        Personnel Management''; and
            (2) in subsection (b) by striking the first sentence and 
        inserting: ``The Director may by regulation prescribe the 
        method for settlement of accounts payable under subsection (a) 
        of this section.''.
    (c) Remission of Liquidated Damages.--Section 2312 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``Comptroller General'' and 
inserting ``Secretary of the Treasury''.
    (d) Disposition of Unclaimed Property.--Section 2575(d) of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Comptroller General of 
the United States'' both places it appears and inserting ``Secretary of 
Defense''.
    (e) Payment of Claims.--Sections 2733(d) and 2734(d) of title 10, 
United States Code, are amended by striking ``Comptroller General'' and 
inserting ``Secretary of the Treasury''.
    (f) Settlement of Accounts of Deceased Members.--Section 2771(c) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Payments under subsection (a) shall be made by the Secretary 
of Defense.''.
    (g) Disposition of Effects of Deceased Members.--Sections 4712 and 
9712 of title 10, United States Code, are amended by striking 
subsection (g).
    (h) Settlement of International Claims.--Section 7 of the 
International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1626) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``Comptroller 
                General'' and inserting ``Secretary of the Treasury''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2) by striking ``Comptroller 
                General of the United States'' and inserting 
                ``Secretary of the Treasury''; and
            (2) in subsection (d) by striking ``, or the Comptroller 
        General of the United States, as the case may be,''.
    (i) Estates of Decedents.--Section 1709 of the Revised Statutes (22 
U.S.C. 4195) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``General Accounting Office'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``Department of State'';
            (2) in the penultimate paragraph--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking 
                ``Comptroller General of the United States, or such 
                member of the General Accounting Office as he may duly 
                empower to act as his representative for the purpose,'' 
                and inserting ``Secretary of State or the Secretary's 
                representative''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Comptroller General'' and 
                inserting ``Secretary of State''; and
            (3) in the last paragraph--
                    (A) by striking ``office'' and inserting 
                ``department''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Comptroller General'' and 
                inserting ``Secretary of State''.
    (j) Disposition of Effects of Deceased Armed Forces Retirement Home 
Residents.--Section 1520 of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act of 
1991 (24 U.S.C. 420) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(C)--
                    (A) by striking ``Comptroller General of the United 
                States'' in the second sentence and inserting 
                ``Secretary of Defense''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Comptroller General'' in the 
                third sentence and inserting ``Secretary''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) by striking ``Comptroller General of the United 
                States'' in paragraph (1) and inserting ``Secretary of 
                Defense''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Comptroller General'' in 
                paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting ``Secretary''.
    (k) Payment of Judgments and Compromise Settlements.--Section 2414 
of title 28, United States Code, is amended in the first paragraph by 
striking ``General Accounting Office'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``Secretary of the Treasury''.
    (l) Payment of Judgments.--Section 2517(a) of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``General Accounting Office'' and 
inserting ``Secretary of the Treasury''.
    (m) Judgment Fund Certifications.--Section 1304 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``Comptroller General'' each place 
it appears and inserting ``Secretary of the Treasury''.
    (n) Claims Settlement.--
            (1) In general.--Section 3702 of title 31, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in the heading by striking ``of the Comptroller 
                General'';
                    (B) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Except as provided in this chapter or another law, all claims 
of or against the United States Government shall be settled as follows:
            ``(1) The Secretary of Defense shall settle--
                    ``(A) claims involving uniformed service members' 
                pay, allowances, travel, transportation, retired pay, 
                and survivor benefits; and
                    ``(B) claims by transportation carriers involving 
                amounts collected from them for loss or damage incurred 
                to property incident to shipment at Government expense.
            ``(2) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
        shall settle claims involving Federal civilian employees' 
        compensation and leave.
            ``(3) The Administrator of General Services shall settle 
        claims involving expenses incurred by Federal civilian 
        employees for official travel and transportation, and for 
        relocation expenses incident to transfers of official duty 
        station.
            ``(4) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
        shall settle claims not otherwise provided for by this 
        subsection or another provision of law.'';
                    (C) in subsection (b)(1), by amending that portion 
                of the second sentence preceding subparagraph (A) to 
                read ``The claim must be received by the official 
                responsible under subsection (a) for settling the claim 
                or by the agency that conducts the activity from which 
                the claim arises within 6 years after the claim accrues 
                except--'';
                    (D) in subsection (b)(2) by striking ``presented to 
                the Comptroller General'' and inserting ``received'', 
                and by striking ``clause'' and inserting ``paragraph'';
                    (E) by amending subsection (b)(3) to read as 
                follows:
    ``(3) A claim that is not received in the time required under this 
subsection shall be returned with a copy of this subsection, and no 
further communication is required.''; and
                    (F) in subsection (d), by striking ``Comptroller 
                General'' the first place it appears and inserting 
                ``official responsible under subsection (a) for 
                settling the claim''; and by striking ``Comptroller 
                General'' every other place it appears and inserting 
                ``official''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--Chapter 37 of title 31, United 
        States Code, is amended in the table of sections at the 
        beginning of the chapter, by amending the item relating to 
        section 3702 to read as follows:

``3702. Authority to settle claims.''.
    (o) Transportation Claims.--Section 3726 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (f) by striking ``and the Comptroller 
        General prescribe jointly'' and inserting ``prescribes''; and
            (2) in subsection (g)(1) by striking ``Comptroller 
        General'' and inserting ``Administrator of General Services''.
    (p) Setoff Against Judgments.--Section 3728 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``Comptroller General'' 
        the first place it appears and inserting ``Secretary of the 
        Treasury''; and
            (2) by striking ``Comptroller General'' each place it 
        appears thereafter and inserting ``Secretary''.
    (q) Settlement of Accounts of Deceased Members.--Section 714(c) of 
title 32, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``Comptroller 
        General'' and inserting ``Secretary concerned''; and
            (2) by striking the second sentence.
    (r) Payment of Claims Relating to National Guard Activities.--
Section 715(d) of title 32, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``Comptroller General'' and inserting ``Secretary of the Treasury''.
    (s) Claims for Net Proceeds from Sales of Household and Personal 
Effects.--Section 554(h) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``General Accounting Office'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``Secretary of Defense''.
    (t) Cancellation of Checks Mailed to Deceased Payees.--Section 5122 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``upon 
settlement by the General Accounting Office''.
    (u) Waiver of Liquidated Damages.--Section 10(a) of the Act of 
September 5, 1950 (64 Stat. 591; 41 U.S.C. 256a), is amended by 
striking ``Comptroller General'' and inserting ``Secretary of the 
Treasury''.

SEC. 203. REPEAL.

    Section 211 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1996 
(Public Law 104-53; 109 Stat. 535) is amended to read as follows:
    ``Sec. 211. Personnel transferred pursuant to this section, as in 
effect immediately before the effective date of section 303 of the 
General Accounting Office Act of 1996, shall not be separated or 
reduced in classification or compensation for one year after any such 
transfer, except for cause.''.

SEC. 204. AUTHORITY TO RENDER DECISIONS.

    Section 3529(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Comptroller General shall'' and 
        inserting ``(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Comptroller General shall''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) A decision requested under this section concerning a function 
transferred to or vested in the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget under section 211(a) of the Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Act, 1996 (109 Stat. 535), as in effect immediately 
before the effective date of title II of the General Accounting Office 
Act of 1996, or under this Act, shall be issued--
            ``(A) by the Director of the Office of Management and 
        Budget, except as provided in subparagraph (B); or
            ``(B) in the case of a function delegated by the Director 
        to another agency, by the head of the agency to which the 
        function was delegated.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 4, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.
```