Oversight Committee Passes IG Improvement, “Make It in America” Bills |
For immediate release: Thursday, July 29, 2010 Oversight Committee Passes IG Improvement, “Make It in America” BillsWASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Government favorably forwarded several pieces of good government legislation and two bills included in the “Make It in America” agenda to the House of Representatives. H.R. 5815 would enhance the authority given to Inspectors General (IG’s) was approved unanimously. H.R. 5637 and H.R. 2853 will help boost the American manufacturing sector and create American jobs. H.R. 5815, the “Inspector General Authority Improvement Act of 2010” requires federal agencies to take corrective action to recover potential cost savings identified in the course of IG audits and investigations. The bill also gives Inspectors General the authority to subpoena non-federal witnesses under some circumstances, which will assist IG efforts to investigate procurement fraud and other abuses of tax dollars. The bill makes several other improvements to existing law that will enhance the authority and independence of IGs. Earlier this week, Chairman Towns wrote letters to the Inspectors General for all Federal agencies asking for their assistance in identifying top cost savings and deficit reduction measures in Federal programs. The chairman is asking the IGs to pick from an already established list from FY 2008 where IGs from across the Federal government identified $18.6 billion in savings as well as program efficiencies and enhancements from a range of audits, investigations, evaluations and inspections. To ensure the recommendations are implemented, the chairman wants the IGs to indicate whether agencies are making progress in applying the improvements and whether administrative or legislative action is needed to bring about the savings or efficiencies. “The American people must have confidence that Federal agencies will be held accountable for implementing any reforms or actions identified by Inspectors General that will result in substantial savings of their hard-earned tax dollars,” said Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-NY). “I am pleased that the Committee worked in a bipartisan manner to move this bill forward, and I look forward to seeing it passed quickly by the House.” The Committee also passed H.R. 5366, the “Overseas Contractor Reform Act.” This legislation requires any person convicted of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1997 (FCPA) be prevented from receiving any further Federal government contracts or grants. The bill also makes it federal policy that no contracts or grants should be awarded to any individuals or companies who violate the FCPA. H.R. 5637, the “American Jobs Matter Act” and H.R. 2853, the “All American Flag Act of 2010” will help increase American manufacturing and create new American jobs. The bills were passed in conjunction with other “Make It in America” bills the House is considering this week that will promote American competitiveness, innovation and exports by creating good-paying jobs at home. H.R. 5637 allows government contractors to submit a Jobs Impact Statement with their proposal that demonstrates the net employment effect within the United States. Contracting officers can utilize the Jobs Impact statement along with other criteria in the evaluating the contracting offer. H.R. 2853 requires that all United States flags, regardless of size, acquired by the federal government be 100 percent manufactured in the United States. The bill also stipulates that any articles, materials or supplies used to manufacture the flags must be 100 percent grown, produced, or manufactured in the United States. “Our economy has slowly begun to turn around and these bills will help advance the recovery by creating jobs at home and encourage investment in our manufacturing sector,” said Chairman Towns. “Put together, these initiatives will help restore our nation’s leadership in the global economy.” The committee also approved several commemorative resolutions and postal naming bills listed below en bloc:
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Committee On Oversight and Government Reform
U.S. House of Representatives | 2157 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, D.C. 20515 | (202) 225-5051