GONE Act

Bill: 114-s-1115
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act or the GONE Act

 
Directs the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to submit to Congress and the head of each federal agency a report that: (1) lists each covered grant account held by the federal government, (2) recommends which of such grants should be immediately closed, and (3) explains why any covered grant account that has been expired for more than 90 days has not been closed out. Requires each federal agency head that manages a covered grant account recommended for closure in such report to close such account not later than 180 days after the report is submitted. 

 
Defines "covered grant account" as a grant account in a federal agency payment management system that has a zero balance for more than 180 days and for which the grant award period has expired. 

action_date: 2015-11-30
text: 

Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act or the GONE Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to instruct each agency, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to submit to Congress and HHS by December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment a report that:
 
 
lists each covered grant held by the federal government;
 
recommends which of such grants should be closed; and
 
explains why any such grant has not been closed out.
 
 
If an agency is unable to submit all of such information, the report shall include an explanation of why the information was not available, including any shortcomings with existing grant data systems. 
 
Each agency: (1) within one year after submitting such report, shall provide notice to HHS specifying whether it has closed out grant awards associated with all covered grants; and (2) within 90 days after providing such notice to HHS, shall provide the same notice to Congress.
 
The term &quot;covered grant&quot; is defined as a grant in a federal agency cash payment management system held by the federal government for which: (1) the grant award period of performance has been expired for at least two years, and (2) close out has not yet occurred.

action_date: 2015-12-18
text: 

Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act or the GONE Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to instruct each agency, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to submit to Congress and HHS by December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment a report that:
 
 
lists each federal grant award held by such agency;
 
provides the total number of federal grant awards, including the number of grants by time period of expiration, the number with zero dollar balances, and the number with undisbursed balances;
 
describes the challenges leading to delays in grant closeout; and
 
explains, for the 30 oldest federal grant awards, why each has not been closed out.
 
 
 If an agency head is unable to submit all of such information, the report shall include an explanation of why the information was not available, including any shortcomings with plans to improve existing grant systems, including data systems. 
 
Each agency, within one year after submitting such report, shall provide notice to HHS specifying: (1) whether it has closed out all of the federal grant awards in the report, and (2) which awards have not been closed out. HHS, within 90 days after all of such notices have been provided or by March 31 of the calendar year following the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment, whichever is sooner, shall compile, and report to Congress on, such notices. 
 
The Inspector General of an agency with more than $500 million in annual grant funding, within one year after such agency has provided such notice, shall conduct a risk assessment to determine if an audit or review of the agency's grant closeout process is warranted.
 
The OMB, within six months after the second such report on notices is submitted, shall report to Congress on recommendations for legislation to improve accountability and oversight in grants management, including the timely closeout of a federal grant award.
 
The bill defines "federal grant award" as a grant, including a cooperative agreement, in an agency cash payment management system held by the U.S. government for which: (1) the grant award period of performance has been expired for more than two years; and (2) closeout has not yet occurred.

action_date: 2016-01-11
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 18, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act or the GONE Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to instruct each agency, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to submit to Congress and HHS by December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment a report that:
 
 
lists each federal grant award held by such agency;
 
provides the total number of federal grant awards, including the number of grants by time period of expiration, the number with zero dollar balances, and the number with undisbursed balances;
 
describes the challenges leading to delays in grant closeout; and
 
explains, for the 30 oldest federal grant awards, why each has not been closed out.
 
 
 If an agency head is unable to submit all of such information, the report shall include an explanation of why the information was not available, including any shortcomings with and plans to improve existing grant systems, including data systems. 
 
Each agency, within one year after submitting such report, shall provide notice to HHS specifying: (1) whether it has closed out all of the federal grant awards in the report, and (2) which awards have not been closed out. HHS, within 90 days after all of such notices have been provided or by March 31 of the calendar year following the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment, whichever is sooner, shall compile, and report to Congress on, such notices. 
 
The Inspector General of an agency with more than $500 million in annual grant funding, within one year after such agency has provided the notice to Congress, shall conduct a risk assessment to determine if an audit or review of the agency's grant closeout process is warranted.
 
The OMB, within six months after the second such report on notices is submitted, shall report to Congress on recommendations for legislation to improve accountability and oversight in grants management, including the timely closeout of a federal grant award.
 
The bill defines "federal grant award" as a grant, including a cooperative agreement, in an agency cash payment management system held by the U.S. government for which: (1) the grant award period of performance has been expired for more than two years, and (2) closeout has not yet occurred.

action_date: 2016-01-28
text:  
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 18, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act or the GONE Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to instruct each agency, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to submit to Congress and HHS by December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment a report that:
 
 
lists each federal grant award held by such agency;
 
provides the total number of federal grant awards, including the number of grants by time period of expiration, the number with zero dollar balances, and the number with undisbursed balances;
 
describes the challenges leading to delays in grant closeout; and
 
explains, for the 30 oldest federal grant awards, why each has not been closed out.
 
 
 If an agency head is unable to submit all of such information, the report shall include an explanation of why the information was not available, including any shortcomings with and plans to improve existing grant systems, including data systems. 
 
Each agency, within one year after submitting such report, shall provide notice to HHS specifying: (1) whether it has closed out all of the federal grant awards in the report, and (2) which awards have not been closed out. HHS, within 90 days after all of such notices have been provided or by March 31 of the calendar year following the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment, whichever is sooner, shall compile, and report to Congress on, such notices. 
 
The Inspector General of an agency with more than $500 million in annual grant funding, within one year after such agency has provided the notice to Congress, shall conduct a risk assessment to determine if an audit or review of the agency's grant closeout process is warranted.
 
The OMB, within six months after the second such report on notices is submitted, shall report to Congress on recommendations for legislation to improve accountability and oversight in grants management, including the timely closeout of a federal grant award.
 
The bill defines "federal grant award" as a grant, including a cooperative agreement, in an agency cash payment management system held by the U.S. government for which: (1) the grant award period of performance has been expired for more than two years, and (2) closeout has not yet occurred.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-28
text: Became Public Law No: 114-117.
action_date: 2016-01-28
text: Became Public Law No: 114-117.
action_date: 2016-01-28
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-01-28
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-01-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-01-11
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H244-245)
action_date: 2016-01-11
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H244-245)
action_date: 2016-01-11
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1115.
action_date: 2016-01-11
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H244-246)
action_date: 2016-01-11
text: Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2016-01-04
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2016-01-04
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8907)
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8906-8907; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S8906-8907)
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 303.
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 114-169.
action_date: 2015-11-30
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 114-169.
action_date: 2015-06-24
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 114-117