H. Res. 447

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

June 9, 1998.

Whereas financial audits are an essential tool to establish accountable, responsible, and credible use of taxpayer dollars;

Whereas Congress needs such information to accurately

measure performance of Federal agencies and distribute

scarce resources;

Whereas Federal agencies should meet the same audit standards with which such agencies expect State and local governments, the private sector, and Federal contractors

from which such agencies purchase goods and services to

comply;

Whereas sections 331 and 3515 of title 31, United States

Code (as enacted in section 405 of the Government Management Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–356; 108

Stat. 3415)), require that Federal agencies prepare annual financial statements and have them audited, and

that the Secretary of the Treasury prepare a consolidated

financial statement for Federal agencies that is audited

by the Comptroller General;

Whereas the enactment of these provisions resulted in the

first time ever that the financial status of the entire Federal Government was subjected to the same professional
2

•HRES 447 EH

scrutiny to which many who interact with the Federal

Government are subject;

Whereas section 3521 of title 31, United States Code, requires that the audit follow the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, which incorporate the common, private sector guidelines of the American Institute

of Certified Public Accountants Statements on Auditing

Standards;

Whereas Congress intended these audit requirements to provide greater accountability in managing government finances by improving financial systems, strengthening financial personnel qualifications, and generating more reliable, timely information on the costs and financial performance of government operations;

Whereas the data found in the financial reports was not sufficiently reliable to permit the General Accounting Office

to render an opinion on the Government’s financial statements;

Whereas only 2 of the 24 Federal agencies required to submit

reports have reliable financial information, effective internal controls, and complied with applicable laws and regulations;

Whereas the financial statements of the Department of Defense could not be relied on to provide basic information

regarding the existence, location, and value of much of its

$635,000,000,000 in property, plant, and equipment;

Whereas the Department of Defense could not account for 2

utility boats valued at $174,000 each, 2 large harbor tug

boats valued at $875,000 each, 1 floating crane valued

at $468,000, 15 aircraft engines (including 2 F–18 en-
3

•HRES 447 EH

gines valued at $4,000,000 each), and one Avenger Missile Launcher valued at $1,000,000;

Whereas inaccurate or unreliable data, such as the findings

that 220 more tanks, 10 fewer helicopters, 25 fewer aircraft, and 8 fewer cruise missiles existed than those reported in the system of the Department of Defense,

harms deployment activities;

Whereas the Department of Housing and Urban Development spends $18,000,000,000 each year in rent and operating subsidies, with $1 of every $18 being paid out

unjustifiably;

Whereas financial management is so poor within Federal

credit agencies that the true cost of the Federal Government’s loan and guarantee programs cannot be reliably

determined;

Whereas the Federal Aviation Administration’s records regarding $5,500,000,000 in equipment and property are

unreliable, including $198,000,000 in recorded assets

that no longer exist, $245,000,000 in spare parts that

were omitted from the financial statements, and

$3,300,000,000 in works-in-process that could not be

verified;

Whereas the Forest Service lacks a reliable system for tracking its reported 378,000 miles of roads;

Whereas the Medicare program identified an estimated

$20,300,000,000 worth of improper payments in fiscal

year 1997;

Whereas the Social Security Administration has identified

$1,000,000,000 in overpayments for fiscal year 1997;

Whereas the Department of the Treasury recorded a net

$12,000,000,000 ‘‘plug’’ recorded as ‘‘unreconciled trans-
4

•HRES 447 EH

actions’’, made up of over $100,000,000,000 of

unreconciled, unsupported transactions, to make its

books balance; and I27Whereas the disclaimers, mismanagement, and poor recordkeeping in the Federal Government expose taxpayers to continued waste, fraud,

error, and mismanagement, and provide inadequate information to Congress for budget, appropriations, and reauthorization decisions: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that—

(1) the first-ever Governmentwide financial audit

demonstrated serious concerns with financial management by the majority of Federal agencies;

(2) current efforts with respect to financial management by all too many Federal agencies have failed; and

(3) therefore, Congress must impose consequences

on Federal agencies that fail their annual financial audits and conduct more vigorous oversight to ensure that

Federal agencies do not waste the tax dollars of the people of the United States.

Attest:

Clerk.