Davis Applauds GAO Report On Grants.gov

Press Release

Davis Applauds GAO Report On Grants.gov

U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis Applauds the Recommendations to Ensure Smooth Processing of Recovery Grants Released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office

On Wednesday, April 29, Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) applauded the recommendations released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to ensure a smooth application process for the grants available under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Mr. Davis said, "Grants.gov is the central resource for identifying and applying for federal grants. After hearing multiple concerns from Chicagoans over the last few years about the functioning of Grants.gov, I led the Congressional effort to ask the GAO to investigate the strengths and limitations of the electronic system and to identify recommendations to improve its operation. These recommendations will help protect the distribution of Recovery Act grants to communities around the nation."

Davis continued, "Federal grant-making agencies have worked together since the passage of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act in 1999 to develop common, electronic systems for grant procedures. Grants.gov serves as the portal for over 1,000 federal grant programs offered by 26 federal grant-making entities. Given the time-sensitive nature of grant applications and the potential financial consequences to applicants and communities, it is important that we anticipate any system limitations to ensure a fair applications process. The GAO report documents potential limitations in the Grants.gov application system related to the complexity of the registration process, the technological capacity of the Grants.gov system, and consistency among agencies in dealing with any technological problems that arise. Each of these problems can affect the ability of applicants to be submitted. Whether applicants win a grant is not a theoretical issue; receiving a federal grant provides very tangible assistance to local families and businesses. It is vital that applicants - be they from Chicago, Dallas, or Tulsa - have the assurance that their applications will be processed fairly, whether they apply to the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, or the National Institutes of Health."

Davis elaborated, "The GAO recommendations provide suggestions to the Administration on ways to strengthen the grant application system, especially in the next few months during the peak application filing period for Recovery Act grants. The recommendations center on communicating the application requirements clearly and establishing consistent guidelines for submission across agencies. The Administration has already taken multiple steps to ensure that the Recovery grants are processed smoothly. I have complete confidence that the Administration will draw on the expertise of the GAO to make the system even better."

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