GAO-IG Act

Bill: 115-hr-5415
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Walker, Mark [R-NC-6]
Introduced: 2018-03-26
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Executive agency funding and structure

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Government studies and investigations
Latest action: action_date: 2018-07-17
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-03-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Good Accounting Obligation in Government Act or the GAO-IG Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires each federal agency, in its annual budget justification, to include a report on: (1) each public recommendation of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that is classified as &quot;open&quot; or &quot;closed, unimplemented&quot;; (2) each public recommendation for corrective action from the agency's office of the inspector general (OIG) for which no final action has been taken; and (3) the implementation status of each such recommendation. </p> <p>Each agency shall also provide a copy of this information to its OIG and to the GAO.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5415 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 26, 2018 Mr. Walker introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Accounting Obligation in Government Act or the GAO–IG Act . 2. Reports on outstanding Government Accountability Office and Inspector General recommendations (a) Definition In this section, the term agency means— (1) a designated Federal entity, as defined in section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.); and (2) an establishment, as defined in section 12(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). (b) Required reports In the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, each agency shall include— (1) a report listing each public recommendation of the Government Accountability Office that is classified by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented as of the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted; (2) a report listing each public recommendation for corrective action from the Office of Inspector General of the agency for which no final action has been taken as of the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted; and (3) a report on the implementation status of each public recommendation described in paragraphs (1) and (2), which shall include— (A) with respect to a public recommendation that is classified by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented — (i) that the agency has decided not to implement, a detailed justification for the decision; or (ii) that the agency has decided to adopt, a timeline for full implementation; (B) with respect to a public recommendation for corrective action from the Office of Inspector General of the agency for which no final action or action not recommended has been taken, an explanation of the reasons why no final action or action not recommended was taken with respect to each audit report to which the public recommendation for corrective action pertains; (C) with respect to an outstanding unimplemented public recommendation from the Office of Inspector General of the agency that the agency has decided to adopt, a timeline for implementation; and (D) an explanation for any discrepancy between— (i) the reports submitted under paragraphs (1) and (2); (ii) the semiannual reports submitted by the Office of Inspector General of the agency under section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.); and (iii) reports submitted by the Government Accountability Office relating to public recommendations that are classified by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented . (c) Copies of submissions Each agency shall provide a copy of the information submitted under subsection (b) to the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Inspector General of the agency.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5415 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 17, 2018 Received; read twice andreferred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Accounting Obligation in Government Act or the GAO–IG Act . 2. Reports on outstanding government accountability office and inspector general recommendations (a) Required reports In the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the head of each agency shall include the following: (1) A report listing each public recommendation of the Government Accountability Office that is designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented as of the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted. (2) A report listing each public recommendation for corrective action from the Office of Inspector General of the agency for which no final action has been taken as of the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted. (3) A report on the implementation status of each public recommendation described in paragraphs (1) and (2), which shall include the following: (A) With respect to a public recommendation that is designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented — (i) that the agency has decided not to implement, a detailed justification for the decision; or (ii) that the agency has decided to adopt, a timeline for full implementation. (B) With respect to a public recommendation for corrective action from the Office of Inspector General of the agency— (i) for which the agency has taken action not recommended and considers closed, an explanation of the reason why the agency took different action with respect to each audit report to which the public recommendation for corrective action pertains; and (ii) for which no final action has been taken, an explanation of the reasons why no final action was taken with respect to each audit report to which the public recommendation for corrective action pertains. (C) With respect to an outstanding unimplemented public recommendation from the Office of Inspector General of the agency that the agency has decided to adopt, a timeline for implementation. (4) An explanation for any discrepancy between— (A) the most recent semiannual report submitted by the Inspector General of the agency and the report submitted under paragraphs (2) and (3); and (B) any report submitted by the Government Accountability Office relating to public recommendations that are designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented and any report submitted under paragraph (1) and (2). (b) Additional report requirements for certain agencies The head of a covered agency shall include in the annual budget justification described in subsection (a) a written response to each recommendation designated by the Comptroller in the annual priority recommendation letter sent to such head as high priority for attention by that head. (c) Copies of submissions The head of each agency or covered agency, as applicable, shall provide a copy of the information submitted under subsections (a) and (b) to the Comptroller General and the Inspector General of the agency. (d) Rule of Construction Nothing in this bill may be construed to affect an authority provided to an Inspector General of an agency under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), including the authority of such Inspector General to identify each recommendation on which final action has not been taken. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency the term agency means— (A) a designated Federal entity, as defined in section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.); and (B) an establishment, as defined in section 12(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). (2) Covered agency The term covered agency means the following: (A) Each agency described in section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code. (B) The Internal Revenue Service. (C) The Securities and the Security and Exchange Commission. (D) Any additional agency determined by the Comptroller General. (3) Semiannual report The term semiannual report means the semiannual report submitted to Congress by each Inspector General under section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). 3. No additional funds authorized No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.

Passed the House of Representatives July 16, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5415 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Accounting Obligation in Government Act or the GAO–IG Act . 2. Reports on outstanding government accountability office and inspector general recommendations (a) Required reports In the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the head of each agency shall include the following: (1) A report listing each public recommendation of the Government Accountability Office that is designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented as of the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted. (2) A report listing each public recommendation for corrective action from the Office of Inspector General of the agency for which no final action has been taken as of the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted. (3) A report on the implementation status of each public recommendation described in paragraphs (1) and (2), which shall include the following: (A) With respect to a public recommendation that is designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented — (i) that the agency has decided not to implement, a detailed justification for the decision; or (ii) that the agency has decided to adopt, a timeline for full implementation. (B) With respect to a public recommendation for corrective action from the Office of Inspector General of the agency— (i) for which the agency has taken action not recommended and considers closed, an explanation of the reason why the agency took different action with respect to each audit report to which the public recommendation for corrective action pertains; and (ii) for which no final action has been taken, an explanation of the reasons why no final action was taken with respect to each audit report to which the public recommendation for corrective action pertains. (C) With respect to an outstanding unimplemented public recommendation from the Office of Inspector General of the agency that the agency has decided to adopt, a timeline for implementation. (4) An explanation for any discrepancy between— (A) the most recent semiannual report submitted by the Inspector General of the agency and the report submitted under paragraphs (2) and (3); and (B) any report submitted by the Government Accountability Office relating to public recommendations that are designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented and any report submitted under paragraph (1) and (2). (b) Additional report requirements for certain agencies The head of a covered agency shall include in the annual budget justification described in subsection (a) a written response to each recommendation designated by the Comptroller in the annual priority recommendation letter sent to such head as high priority for attention by that head. (c) Copies of submissions The head of each agency or covered agency, as applicable, shall provide a copy of the information submitted under subsections (a) and (b) to the Comptroller General and the Inspector General of the agency. (d) Rule of Construction Nothing in this bill may be construed to affect an authority provided to an Inspector General of an agency under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), including the authority of such Inspector General to identify each recommendation on which final action has not been taken. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency the term agency means— (A) a designated Federal entity, as defined in section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.); and (B) an establishment, as defined in section 12(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). (2) Covered agency The term covered agency means the following: (A) Each agency described in section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code. (B) The Internal Revenue Service. (C) The Securities and the Security and Exchange Commission. (D) Any additional agency determined by the Comptroller General. (3) Semiannual report The term semiannual report means the semiannual report submitted to Congress by each Inspector General under section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). 3. No additional funds authorized No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.

Passed the House of Representatives July 16, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 637 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5415 [Report No. 115–823] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 26, 2018 Mr. Walker introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform July 16, 2018 Additional sponsors: Mr. Palmer , Mr. Fitzpatrick , Mr. Bishop of Michigan , and Mr. Duncan of Tennessee July 16, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 26, 2018 A BILL To require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Accounting Obligation in Government Act or the GAO–IG Act . 2. Reports on outstanding government accountability office and inspector general recommendations (a) Required reports In the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the head of each agency shall include the following: (1) A report listing each public recommendation of the Government Accountability Office that is designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented as of the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted. (2) A report listing each public recommendation for corrective action from the Office of Inspector General of the agency for which no final action has been taken as of the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted. (3) A report on the implementation status of each public recommendation described in paragraphs (1) and (2), which shall include the following: (A) With respect to a public recommendation that is designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented — (i) that the agency has decided not to implement, a detailed justification for the decision; or (ii) that the agency has decided to adopt, a timeline for full implementation. (B) With respect to a public recommendation for corrective action from the Office of Inspector General of the agency— (i) for which the agency has taken action not recommended and considers closed, an explanation of the reason why the agency took different action with respect to each audit report to which the public recommendation for corrective action pertains; and (ii) for which no final action has been taken, an explanation of the reasons why no final action was taken with respect to each audit report to which the public recommendation for corrective action pertains. (C) With respect to an outstanding unimplemented public recommendation from the Office of Inspector General of the agency that the agency has decided to adopt, a timeline for implementation. (4) An explanation for any discrepancy between— (A) the most recent semiannual report submitted by the Inspector General of the agency and the report submitted under paragraphs (2) and (3); and (B) any report submitted by the Government Accountability Office relating to public recommendations that are designated by the Government Accountability Office as open or closed, unimplemented and any report submitted under paragraph (1) and (2). (b) Additional report requirements for certain agencies The head of a covered agency shall include in the annual budget justification described in subsection (a) a written response to each recommendation designated by the Comptroller in the annual priority recommendation letter sent to such head as high priority for attention by that head. (c) Copies of submissions The head of each agency or covered agency, as applicable, shall provide a copy of the information submitted under subsections (a) and (b) to the Comptroller General and the Inspector General of the agency. (d) Rule of Construction Nothing in this bill may be construed to affect an authority provided to an Inspector General of an agency under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), including the authority of such Inspector General to identify each recommendation on which final action has not been taken. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency the term agency means— (A) a designated Federal entity, as defined in section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.); and (B) an establishment, as defined in section 12(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). (2) Covered agency The term covered agency means the following: (A) Each agency described in section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code. (B) The Internal Revenue Service. (C) The Securities and the Security and Exchange Commission. (D) Any additional agency determined by the Comptroller General. (3) Semiannual report The term semiannual report means the semiannual report submitted to Congress by each Inspector General under section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).

July 16, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed