For Immediate Release: April 21, 2009

Contact: Oversight and Government Reform Press Office, (202) 225-5051

Chairman Towns Announces Plan to Help Auditors Meet Demands of Recovery Act

Brooklyn, NY – U.S. Representative Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY), the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, today announced during the first bipartisan Stimulus oversight field hearing in Brooklyn, NY, that he will introduce legislation to increase funding for state auditors who are currently struggling to meet the demands of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Chairman Towns wants to ensure that state auditors have the tools to administer stimulus funds at the state level both efficiently and fairly.

“I am concerned that a very heavy burden is being placed on state auditors who are responsible for monitoring and accounting for the Recovery Act funds they receive,” said Chairman Towns. “Therefore, I plan to introduce legislation that will provide increased funding for state auditors so they will be able to meet the demands placed on them by the Recovery Act.”

The concern for state auditor funding was initially raised last month in Washington, DC, during the Committee’s first bipartisan stimulus oversight hearing. Chairman Towns believes this concern needs to be addressed immediately through legislation.

“Our state and local auditors are on the front lines of this monumental effort to fight waste, fraud and abuse of our stimulus dollars, and their success is vital,” stated Chairman Towns.

Chairman Towns helped draft the strict accountability and oversight language included in the stimulus bill that provides for an unprecedented degree of oversight and accountability. However, he believes Congress must do more to help state and local officials who are responsible for meeting these demands.

“Not initially providing funds for state auditors under the Recovery Act was an omission that should be rectified. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee to pass legislation that addresses this fundamental problem,” added Chairman Towns.

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