Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State- Administered Programs Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8107) to require the establishment of a list identifying program areas and administrative practices presenting the greatest risk to the integrity of Federal funds administered by States and local governments, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 8107

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act''. SEC. 2. FEDERALLY-FUNDED STATE-ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress an assessment of program areas and administrative practices that present the greatest risk to the integrity of Federal funds administered by State and local governments and pass-through entities subject to audit under chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code.

(b) Contents.--Each assessment required by subsection (a) shall--

(1) identify program areas and administrative practices at the Federal, State, and local level that present systematic vulnerabilities in the administration of Federal funds by State and local governments, including practices that are more susceptible to waste, fraud, abuse, and improper payments;

(2) assess evidence-based best practices and strategies that have strengthened the integrity of Federal funds administered by State and local governments and reduced waste, fraud, and abuse in Federally-funded programs;

(3) assess program areas and administrative practices at the Federal, State, and local level that--

(A) have demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating waste, fraud, abuse, and improper payments; or

(B) have shown limited effectiveness in reducing such risks;

(4) identify Federal tools, resources, and technical assistance available to State and local governments and how such tools may be improved to prevent and mitigate the systemic vulnerabilities identified under paragraph (1); and

(5) include recommendations to Federal agencies and matters for consideration to Congress to address and improve the program areas and administrative practices identified under paragraph (1), including recommendations to improve eligibility determination and enrollment processes to mitigate risks.

(c) Sources.--

(1) Audit and related materials.--In carrying out the preparation of the assessment under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall rely, to the extent practicable, on existing oversight, audit, and investigative materials to conduct an analysis of Federal funds administrated by State and local governments, which may include--

(A) any finding of a Federal, State, or local auditor, comptroller, treasurer, inspector general, attorney general, or any other similar official with respect to the administration of such funds;

(B) any audit required under section 7502 of title 31, United States Code; and

(C) any other publicly available Federal, State, or local oversight and program integrity data.

(2) Additional materials.--In preparing each assessment required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General may supplement the materials described in paragraph (1) with additional analysis and new audit work, including by drawing on prior and ongoing work, where such materials are insufficient to assess the program areas and administrative practices identified under subsection (b)(1).

(d) Form and Methodology.--The Comptroller General shall determine the appropriate form and methodology for preparing and submitting each assessment required by subsection (a).

(e) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Improper payment.--The term ``improper payment'' has the meaning given that term in section 3351(4) of title 31, United States Code.

(2) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given that term in section 6720(a)(4) of title 31, United States Code.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8107, the Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act.

The reforms of H.R. 8107 represent a long-overdue step to ensure that Congress is fully informed about fraud risks in Federal programs administered at the State level.

This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to assess program areas and administrative practices that present the greatest risk to the integrity of federally funded programs administered by States and local governments.

This assessment will bring together the typical program-specific assessments to help Congress and other officials better identify common risks. With this information, Congress can bolster its oversight of agencies' and States' efforts to efficiently mitigate fraud risks, including through payment integrity controls.

This legislation will better position Congress to assist Federal agencies and State and local governments to obtain the fraud prevention and investigative resources that they require.

I thank my Oversight and Government Reform Committee colleagues Congressmen Ro Khanna and Tim Burchett for championing this helpful legislation that will help lawmakers understand State-level program risks and inform future fraud prevention reforms.

Mr. Speaker, approximately $1.1 trillion of taxpayer dollars are administered annually by State and local governments with little to no comprehensive and recurring oversight from the Federal Government or Congress.

H.R. 8107 would require the Government Accountability Office to study the specific risks associated with federally funded State-administered programs and enable Congress to track emerging fraud patterns before they become billion-dollar scandals.

Mr. Speaker, I, therefore, encourage my colleagues to support the Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State- Administered Programs Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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