Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2662
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
Introduced: 2021-04-19 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Employee performance
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Right of privacy
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: 

IG Independence and Empowerment Act

 
This bill addresses issues regarding inspectors general (IGs) and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Integrity Committee. The committee is charged with investigating allegations of wrongdoing against office of IG officials.
 
The bill allows an IG to be removed only for cause, such as for documented malfeasance. Congress must be notified before an IG is placed on nonduty status. The bill requires the President to explain any failure to nominate an IG and adds provisions regarding acting IGs when an IG position is vacant.
 
The committee must notify Congress when an allegation of wrongdoing made by a Member of Congress is closed without referral for investigation.
 
The bill requires CIGIE to report semiannually to Congress and the President on the activities of the committee. The bill adds provisions regarding appointment of former IGs to the committee. An IG must refer to the committee any allegation of wrongdoing against that IG.
 
The bill grants (1) IGs the authority to subpoena witnesses who are not currently government employees, and (2) the Department of Justice (DOJ) IG the authority to investigate wrongdoing by DOJ attorneys.
 
The bill requires notification to Congress and CIGIE of an IG's ongoing investigations when the IG is placed on nonduty status.
 
IGs must notify Congress if agencies deny access to requested information.

action_date: 2021-06-17
text: 

IG Independence and Empowerment Act

 
This bill addresses issues regarding inspectors general (IGs) and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Integrity Committee. The committee is charged with investigating allegations of wrongdoing against office of IG officials.
 
The bill allows an IG to be removed only for cause, such as for documented malfeasance. Congress must be notified before an IG is placed on nonduty status. The bill requires the President to explain any failure to nominate an IG and adds provisions regarding acting IGs when an IG position is vacant.
 
The committee must notify Congress when an allegation of wrongdoing made by a Member of Congress is closed without referral for investigation.
 
The bill requires CIGIE to report semiannually to Congress and the President on the activities of the committee. The bill adds provisions regarding appointment of former IGs to the committee. An IG must refer to the committee any allegation of wrongdoing against that IG.
 
The bill grants (1) IGs the authority to subpoena witnesses who are not currently government employees, and (2) the Department of Justice (DOJ) IG the authority to investigate wrongdoing by DOJ attorneys. 
 
The bill requires notification to Congress of an IG's ongoing investigations when the IG is placed on nonduty status.
 
IGs must notify Congress if agencies deny access to requested information.
 
The bill requires the establishment of minimum standards and best practices for IG training.

action_date: 2021-06-29
text: 

IG Independence and Empowerment Act
 
 
This bill addresses issues regarding inspectors general (IGs) and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Integrity Committee. The committee is charged with investigating allegations of wrongdoing against office of IG officials.
 
The bill allows an IG to be removed only for cause, such as for documented malfeasance. Congress must be notified before an IG is placed on nonduty status. The bill requires the President to explain any failure to nominate an IG and adds provisions regarding acting IGs when an IG position is vacant.
 
The committee must notify Congress when an allegation of wrongdoing made by a Member of Congress is closed without referral for investigation.
 
The bill requires CIGIE to report semiannually to Congress and the President on the activities of the committee. The bill adds provisions regarding appointment of former IGs to the committee. An IG must refer to the committee any allegation of wrongdoing against that IG.
 
The bill grants (1) IGs the authority to subpoena witnesses who are not currently government employees, and (2) the Department of Justice (DOJ) IG the authority to investigate wrongdoing by DOJ attorneys. 
 
The bill requires notification to Congress of an IG's ongoing investigations when the IG is placed on nonduty status.
 
IGs must notify Congress if agencies deny access to requested information.
 
The bill requires the establishment of minimum standards and best practices for IG training.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall review the effectiveness of the processes of the CIGIE committee and of the offices of IGs for ensuring IG accountability, integrity, and independence.

action_date: 2022-12-05
text: 

Inspector General
 
Independence and Empowerment Act

 of 2021

 
This bill addresses issues regarding inspectors general (IGs).
 
For example, if the President fails to make a formal nomination for a vacant IG position within a certain timeline, the bill requires the President to communicate to Congress the reasons for such a failure and a target date for the nomination.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 585.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-226.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-226.
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-10-21
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-07-12
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 182 (Roll no. 195).
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 182 (Roll no. 195).
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Comer amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Comer demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 504, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Comer amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Carolyn B. Maloney (NY) amendment en bloc No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Comer demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 504, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Carolyn B. Maloney (NY) amendment en bloc No. 1.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2662.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2662, H.R. 3005, H.R. 3684 and H. Res. 503. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 2662, under a structured rule; one hour of general debate on H.R. 3005, under a closed rule; 90 minutes of general debate on H.R. 3684; and one hour of general debate on H. Res. 503, under a closed rule. Resolution provides en bloc suspension authority.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 504. (consideration: CR H3276-3290; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3276-3279)
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 504 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2662, H.R. 3005, H.R. 3684 and H. Res. 503. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 2662, under a structured rule; one hour of general debate on H.R. 3005, under a closed rule; 90 minutes of general debate on H.R. 3684; and one hour of general debate on H. Res. 503, under a closed rule. Resolution provides en bloc suspension authority.
action_date: 2021-06-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 47.
action_date: 2021-06-17
text: Committee on the Budget discharged.
action_date: 2021-06-17
text: Committee on the Budget discharged.
action_date: 2021-06-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 117-66, Part I.
action_date: 2021-06-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 117-66, Part I.
action_date: 2021-05-25
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 18.
action_date: 2021-05-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Introduced in House