Government Accountability Office Improvement Act

Bill: 113-hr-1162
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49]
Introduced: 2013-03-14
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Civil actions and liability

Congressional agencies

Congressional oversight

Evidence and witnesses

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Trade secrets and economic espionage
Latest action: action_date: 2013-12-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 264.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-03-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Government Accountability Office Improvement Act - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties, including through bringing civil actions under this Act, (2) make and retain copies of agency records, and (3) administer oaths when investigating fraud or federal employee misconduct.</p> <p>States that no provision of the Social Security Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (including any information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for purposes of pre-merger review under the Clayton Act) shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the Comptroller General's authority to obtain any information, inspect, or copy any record under this Act.</p> <p>Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe policies and procedures to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained pursuant to the authority of the Government Accountability Office (GAO).</p> <p>Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by federal and other applicable laws; or (2) affect the applicability of this Act, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure to obtained information.</p> <p>Requires agency statements on actions taken or planned in response to Comptroller General recommendations to be submitted to the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the pertinent agency program or activity and to GAO.<br> </p>

action_date: 2013-04-12
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</b></p> <p>Government Accountability Office Improvement Act - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties, including through bringing civil actions under this Act, (2) make and retain copies of agency records, and (3) administer oaths when investigating fraud or federal employee misconduct.</p> <p>States that no provision of the Social Security Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (including any information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for purposes of pre-merger review under the Clayton Act) shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the Comptroller General's authority to obtain any information, inspect, or copy any record under this Act.</p> <p>Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe policies and procedures to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained pursuant to the authority of the Government Accountability Office (GAO).</p> <p>Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by federal and other applicable laws; or (2) affect the applicability of this Act, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure to obtained information.</p> <p>Requires agency statements on actions taken or planned in response to Comptroller General recommendations to be submitted to the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the pertinent agency program or activity and to GAO.<br> </p>

action_date: 2013-04-15
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>Government Accountability Office Improvement Act - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including through bringing civil actions under this Act, (2) make and retain copies of agency records, and (3) administer oaths when investigating fraud or federal employee misconduct.</p> <p>States that no provision of the Social Security Act or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the Comptroller General's authority to obtain any information, inspect, or copy any record under this Act.</p> <p>Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe policies and procedures to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained pursuant to the authority of the Government Accountability Office (GAO).</p> <p>Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by federal and other applicable laws; or (2) affect the applicability of this Act, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure to obtained information.</p> <p>Requires agency statements on actions taken or planned in response to Comptroller General recommendations to be submitted to the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the pertinent agency program or activity and to GAO.<br> </p>

action_date: 2013-12-17
action_desc: Reported to Senate without amendment
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was&nbsp;passed by the House on April 15, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</b></p> <p>Government Accountability Office Improvement Act - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including through bringing civil actions under this Act, (2) make and retain copies of agency records, and (3) administer oaths when investigating fraud or federal employee misconduct.</p> <p>States that no provision of the Social Security Act or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the Comptroller General's authority to obtain any information, inspect, or copy any record under this Act.</p> <p>Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe policies and procedures to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained pursuant to the authority of the Government Accountability Office (GAO).</p> <p>Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by federal and other applicable laws; or (2) affect the applicability of this Act, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure to obtained information.</p> <p>Requires agency statements on actions taken or planned in response to Comptroller General recommendations to be submitted to the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the pertinent agency program or activity and to GAO.<br /></p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1162 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 14, 2013 Mr. Issa (for himself and Mr. Cummings ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To amend title 31, United States Code, to make improvements in the Government Accountability Office.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Government Accountability Office Improvement Act . 2. Government Accountability Office Improvement (a) Authority To obtain information (1) Authority to obtain records Section 716 of title 31, United States Code, is amended in subsection (a)— (A) by striking (a) and inserting (2) ; and (B) by inserting after the section heading the following: (a) (1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain such agency records as the Comptroller General requires to discharge his duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall recognize the continuing force and effect of the authorization in the preceding sentence until such time as the authorization is repealed pursuant to law. . (2) Copies Section 716(a) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended in the second sentence of paragraph (2) by striking inspect an agency record and inserting inspect, and make and retain copies of, an agency record . (b) Administering oaths Section 711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts and, with the prior express approval of the Comptroller General, when investigating fraud or attempts to defraud the United States, or irregularity or misconduct of an employee or agent of the United States. . (c) Access to certain information (1) Access to certain information Subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Access to certain information (a) No provision of the Social Security Act, including section 453(l) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 653(l)), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (b) No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including section 301(j) of that Act ( 21 U.S.C. 331(j) ), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (c) No provision of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 ( Public Law 94–435 ) and the amendments made by that Act shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title, including with respect to any information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission for purposes of pre-merger review under section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a). (d) (1) The Comptroller General shall prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained consistent with this section. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to— (A) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by section 1905 of title 18 and other applicable laws; or (B) affect the applicability of section 716(e) of this title, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure contained in that section, to information obtained consistent with this section. (e) Specific references to statutes in this section shall not be construed to affect access by the Government Accountability Office to information under statutes that are not so referenced. . (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 720 the following: 721. Access to certain information. . (d) Agency reports Section 720(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or planned after action taken ; and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency program or activity that is the subject of the recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office before the 61st day after the date of the report; and .

tv_txt: IIB 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1162 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 16, 2013 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To amend title 31, United States Code, to make improvements in the Government Accountability Office.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Government Accountability Office Improvement Act . 2. Government Accountability Office Improvement (a) Authority To obtain information (1) Authority to obtain records Section 716 of title 31, United States Code, is amended in subsection (a)— (A) by striking (a) and inserting (2) ; and (B) by inserting after the section heading the following: (a) (1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain such agency records as the Comptroller General requires to discharge his duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall recognize the continuing force and effect of the authorization in the preceding sentence until such time as the authorization is repealed pursuant to law. . (2) Copies Section 716(a) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended in the second sentence of paragraph (2) by striking inspect an agency record and inserting inspect, and make and retain copies of, an agency record . (b) Administering oaths Section 711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts and, with the prior express approval of the Comptroller General, when investigating fraud or attempts to defraud the United States, or irregularity or misconduct of an employee or agent of the United States. . (c) Access to certain information (1) Access to certain information Subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Access to certain information (a) No provision of the Social Security Act, including section 453(l) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 653(l) ), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (b) No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including section 301(j) of that Act (21 U.S.C. 331(j)), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (c) (1) The Comptroller General shall prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained consistent with this section. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to— (A) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by section 1905 of title 18 and other applicable laws; or (B) affect the applicability of section 716(e) of this title, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure contained in that section, to information obtained consistent with this section. (d) Specific references to statutes in this section shall not be construed to affect access by the Government Accountability Office to information under statutes that are not so referenced. . (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 720 the following: 721. Access to certain information. . (d) Agency reports Section 720(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or planned after action taken ; and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency program or activity that is the subject of the recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office before the 61st day after the date of the report; and .

Passed the House of Representatives April 15, 2013. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 22 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1162 [Report No. 113–36] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 14, 2013 Mr. Issa (for himself and Mr. Cummings ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform April 12, 2013 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To amend title 31, United States Code, to make improvements in the Government Accountability Office.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Government Accountability Office Improvement Act . 2. Government Accountability Office Improvement (a) Authority To obtain information (1) Authority to obtain records Section 716 of title 31, United States Code, is amended in subsection (a)— (A) by striking (a) and inserting (2) ; and (B) by inserting after the section heading the following: (a) (1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain such agency records as the Comptroller General requires to discharge his duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall recognize the continuing force and effect of the authorization in the preceding sentence until such time as the authorization is repealed pursuant to law. . (2) Copies Section 716(a) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended in the second sentence of paragraph (2) by striking inspect an agency record and inserting inspect, and make and retain copies of, an agency record . (b) Administering oaths Section 711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts and, with the prior express approval of the Comptroller General, when investigating fraud or attempts to defraud the United States, or irregularity or misconduct of an employee or agent of the United States. . (c) Access to certain information (1) Access to certain information Subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Access to certain information (a) No provision of the Social Security Act, including section 453(l) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 653(l)), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (b) No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including section 301(j) of that Act ( 21 U.S.C. 331(j) ), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (c) No provision of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 ( Public Law 94–435 ) and the amendments made by that Act shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title, including with respect to any information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission for purposes of pre-merger review under section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a). (d) (1) The Comptroller General shall prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained consistent with this section. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to— (A) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by section 1905 of title 18 and other applicable laws; or (B) affect the applicability of section 716(e) of this title, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure contained in that section, to information obtained consistent with this section. (e) Specific references to statutes in this section shall not be construed to affect access by the Government Accountability Office to information under statutes that are not so referenced. . (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 720 the following: 721. Access to certain information. . (d) Agency reports Section 720(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or planned after action taken ; and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency program or activity that is the subject of the recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office before the 61st day after the date of the report; and .

April 12, 2013 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1162 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend title 31, United States Code, to make improvements in the Government Accountability Office.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Government Accountability Office Improvement Act . 2. Government Accountability Office Improvement (a) Authority To obtain information (1) Authority to obtain records Section 716 of title 31, United States Code, is amended in subsection (a)— (A) by striking (a) and inserting (2) ; and (B) by inserting after the section heading the following: (a) (1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain such agency records as the Comptroller General requires to discharge his duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall recognize the continuing force and effect of the authorization in the preceding sentence until such time as the authorization is repealed pursuant to law. . (2) Copies Section 716(a) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended in the second sentence of paragraph (2) by striking inspect an agency record and inserting inspect, and make and retain copies of, an agency record . (b) Administering oaths Section 711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts and, with the prior express approval of the Comptroller General, when investigating fraud or attempts to defraud the United States, or irregularity or misconduct of an employee or agent of the United States. . (c) Access to certain information (1) Access to certain information Subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Access to certain information (a) No provision of the Social Security Act, including section 453(l) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 653(l) ), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (b) No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including section 301(j) of that Act ( 21 U.S.C. 331(j) ), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (c) (1) The Comptroller General shall prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained consistent with this section. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to— (A) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by section 1905 of title 18 and other applicable laws; or (B) affect the applicability of section 716(e) of this title, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure contained in that section, to information obtained consistent with this section. (d) Specific references to statutes in this section shall not be construed to affect access by the Government Accountability Office to information under statutes that are not so referenced. . (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 720 the following: 721. Access to certain information. . (d) Agency reports Section 720(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or planned after action taken ; and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency program or activity that is the subject of the recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office before the 61st day after the date of the report; and .

Passed the House of Representatives April 15, 2013. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 264 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1162 [Report No. 113–128] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 16, 2013 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs December 17, 2013 Reported by Mr. Carper , without amendment AN ACT To amend title 31, United States Code, to make improvements in the Government Accountability Office.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Government Accountability Office Improvement Act . 2. Government Accountability Office Improvement (a) Authority To obtain information (1) Authority to obtain records Section 716 of title 31, United States Code, is amended in subsection (a)— (A) by striking (a) and inserting (2) ; and (B) by inserting after the section heading the following: (a) (1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain such agency records as the Comptroller General requires to discharge his duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall recognize the continuing force and effect of the authorization in the preceding sentence until such time as the authorization is repealed pursuant to law. . (2) Copies Section 716(a) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended in the second sentence of paragraph (2) by striking inspect an agency record and inserting inspect, and make and retain copies of, an agency record . (b) Administering oaths Section 711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts and, with the prior express approval of the Comptroller General, when investigating fraud or attempts to defraud the United States, or irregularity or misconduct of an employee or agent of the United States. . (c) Access to certain information (1) Access to certain information Subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 721. Access to certain information (a) No provision of the Social Security Act, including section 453(l) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 653(l) ), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (b) No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including section 301(j) of that Act (21 U.S.C. 331(j)), shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect or copy any record under section 716 of this title. (c) (1) The Comptroller General shall prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained consistent with this section. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to— (A) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information prohibited by section 1905 of title 18 and other applicable laws; or (B) affect the applicability of section 716(e) of this title, including the protections against unauthorized disclosure contained in that section, to information obtained consistent with this section. (d) Specific references to statutes in this section shall not be construed to affect access by the Government Accountability Office to information under statutes that are not so referenced. . (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 720 the following: 721. Access to certain information. . (d) Agency reports Section 720(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or planned after action taken ; and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency program or activity that is the subject of the recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office before the 61st day after the date of the report; and .

December 17, 2013 Reported without amendment