Improving Government Accountability Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First, I would like to thank Congressman Cooper for his leadership on this bill and for his constant effort to promote accountability and transparency in the Federal Government. I also want to thank Chairman Towns and Chairman Waxman for moving this legislation through committee and for their support of my amendment.

I rise today to offer an amendment to save the taxpayers money by increasing transparency, accountability and oversight over Federal agencies' spending practices. We all know that the U.S. Government spends too much of our constituents' hard-earned taxes in ways that are not always the most efficient manner.

For too long, Federal agency spending has been left unchecked with little public scrutiny on the findings of the Inspectors General investigations. It is time to shine some light on how the government is spending your money.

When the Inspector General Act of 1978 became law, the Internet did not exist and people did not have personal computers. Now, 30 years later, the Internet has grown into one of the many mediums where Americans receive information, and it is time that we bring this law up to date so the American people and the media will be able to easily find audits and reports that Inspectors General issue, and for Americans to have the ability to anonymously report waste, fraud and abuse that may be occurring in the Federal Government.

Inspectors General are an important part of every Federal agency, and I am pleased that this legislation will decrease the amount of waste of taxpayer dollars. In 2006, the work by Inspectors General resulted in $9.9 billion in potential savings from audit recommendations; $6.8 billion in investigative recoveries; 6,500 indictments and criminal information; 8,400 successful prosecutions; and 7,300 suspensions or debarments. This legislation will yield even more savings to the American people by allowing Inspectors General to be more independent and accountable.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment simply requires Inspectors General to do something that is very commonplace in the 21st century: making information easily accessible online.

My amendment would require the IG of each agency to post, within one day after being made publicly available, all reports and audits on the Web site of the Office of Inspector General. The report or audit must be easily accessible and include a summary of the findings of the IG. The IG of each agency must provide a service on their Web site to allow individuals to receive information when a new audit or report is made available on their Web site. And the IG of each agency must establish a process that allows individuals to anonymously report waste, fraud and abuse that may be occurring in a Federal agency.

It is important to remember that the American people voted for change last November. They voted for more accountability, more fiscal responsibility, and for the new Congress to clean up Washington.

My commitment to my constituents is that I will offer a transparent and accountable office to them. I am one of a handful of Members in the House to post my public schedule online every day and was one of the first, next to Mr. Cooper, to post a list of all earmark requests online. I do this because I have found that it allows my constituents more information which allows me to better represent them here in Washington.

With a $9 trillion debt, it is clear that the Federal Government spends too much. The fiscal year 2008 budget is $2.9 trillion, and if that is indeed what we will spend, then it is important that the money is spent responsibly.

My upstate New York constituents pay too much in taxes to Washington, and it is an insult to them when the Federal Government squanders their hard-earned money. This amendment will save taxpayers money, increase government oversight and accountability, and promote transparency in government. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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