USTR Inspector General Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1489
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-04-29
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Executive agency funding and structure

Federal officials

Government studies and investigations

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Trade agreements and negotiations
Latest action: action_date: 2021-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-04-29
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>USTR Inspector General Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill requires the President to appoint an Inspector General of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). </p> <p>Among other responsibilities, the Inspector General shall (1) conduct and supervise audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations of the USTR, (2) recommend policies for preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in those programs, and (3) provide a means for keeping the USTR and Congress informed about problems and deficiencies in those programs and operations.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1489 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Toomey , Mr. Brown , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Whitehouse , and Mr. Carper ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to establish an Inspector General of the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the USTR Inspector General Act of 2021 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States provides that Congress has the sole power to regulate international trade. (2) Congress established the Office of the United States Trade Representative in the Executive Office of the President under section 141 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2171 ) with the primary responsibility for developing, and coordinating implementation of, the international trade policy of the United States. (3) The United States Trade Representative has primary responsibility for administering a variety of trade statutes and for monitoring the implementation and enforcement of trade agreements. (4) Section 141(c)(1)(F) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2171(c)(1)(F) ) states that the United States Trade Representative shall report directly to the President and the Congress regarding, and be responsible to the President and the Congress for the administration of, trade agreements programs . 3. Establishment of Inspector General of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (a) Definitions Section 12 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking or the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office; and inserting the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office; or the United States Trade Representative; and (2) in paragraph (2), by striking or the National Reconnaissance Office, and inserting the National Reconnaissance Office, or the Office of the United States Trade Representative, . (b) Appointment of Inspector General Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint an individual to serve as the Inspector General of the Office for the United States Trade Representative in accordance with section 3(a) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).