Date: 2007-10-03
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. mare this creates rather than any parChairman. I yield myself such time as ticular objection to increased IG indeI may consume. pendence. After all. having 60 separate I again want to thank Mr. COOPER for budgets for individual offices accomintroducing this legislation and work- panying the Presidents annual budget ing with us as it moved its way. submission to Congress will only add through the subcommittee and com- unnecessary confusion to the already mittee process. Mr. TOWNS for his lead- confusing Federal budget process. So ership. and the chairman of the full when Members get the Presidents committee. Mr. WAXMAN. for his lead- budget. under the way the law is curership as well. rently written. they get the Federal Today. we take up H.R. 928. the Im- budget submitted by the President and proving Government Accountability then 60 separate requests from IGs. Act of 2007. This legislation is intended Now. I intend to offer an amendment. to enhance the independence of Inspec- which I am hopeful the other side will tors General throughout the govern- accept. which goes at least part of the ment to improve their ability to mon- way toward addressing the legitimate itor and oversee executive branch oper- concerns raised by the administration ations. but getting to the points that the auSince the enactment of the Inspector thor of this bill wanted to get as well. General Act of 1978. Inspectors General In closing. I believe the underlying throughout the government have legislation improves the laws govplayed an integral role in identifying erning our IGs. I think some additional waste and mismanagement in govern- changes need to be made as it moves ment. IGs have also been instrumental forward. but I very much appreciate in aiding Congress and the executive Mr. COOPERs efforts on this bill and his branch to make government more effi- initiative in trying to identify these cient and effective. problems as we move through. We all agree IGs should operate inoe- Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance pendently. free from political inter- of my time. ference. After all. both agency heads Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman. I yield and Congress often rely on IG reports myself such time as I may consume. to provide frank assessments of the ef- H.R. 928. the Improving Government fectiveness of Federal programs. Accountability Act. focuses on the imHowever. Inspectors General should portant role of the Inspector General in also be part of an agencys manage- providing independent oversight within ment structure. part of a team. albeit Federal agencies. By investigating and with some independence. rather than a reporting waste. fraud and abuse to "fourth branch" of the Federal Govern- both agency leaders and to the Conment. If we separate the IGs from the gress. Inspectors General play a critdaytoday operations of the agencies ical role in maintaining checks and they oversee. IGs will cease to perform balances in the Federal Government. a constructive. integrated role and in- When Congress created the Inspecstead will become Monday morning tors General nearly 30 years ago. the quarterbacks with their function solely idea was that having independent offisecondguessing decisions made by cials inside the Federal agency would agencies. help detect and prevent wasteful spendMany of the provisions in H.R. 928 ing and mismanagement. This concept will help to enhance the effectiveness has been a tremendous success. Invesof the IGs in overseeing Federal agen- tigations by IGs have resulted in the cies and programs. I am concerned that recovery of billions of dollars from certain provisions of the legislation go cbmpanies and individuals who defurther than I would like in isolating frauded the Federal Government. Of course. even the best systems need some improvement from time to time. and that is the reason for this bill today. to effectively carry out that mission. Inspectors General must be independent and objective. which requires that they be insulated from improper management and political pressure. To preserve the credibility of the office. Inspectors General must also perform their duties with integrity and apply the same standards of conduct and accountability to themselves as they apply to the agencies that they audit and investigate. In recent years. there have been several episodes which raised questions about the independence and accountability of IGs. These episodes have been well documented in hearings of the Oversight Committee as well as other standing committees of the House. In some instances. IGs who are seen as too aggressive in pursuing waste at their agencies had their budget cut or were threatened with dismissal. In other cases. IGs who abused their authority remained in office in part because there were no statutory standards or procedures for removal. This bill is designed to address both of those problems. H.R. 928 creates fixed terms of office for Inspectors General and specific reasons for their removal. It allows IGs to submit their budget requests directly to the Congress. The bill establishes an Inspector General council and sets procedures for investigation of potential IG misconduct. And the bill increases the rank and pay of IGs as well. This is a strong bill and a necessary bill. Passing this bill will send a message that Congress values the work of the Inspectors General and the oversight that they provide. Mr. Chairman. I reserve*the balance of my time.