Does the Government Accountability Office Need More Power to Investigate Fraud? (H.R. 72)

What is H.R. 72?

(Updated March 22, 2018)

This bill was enacted on January 31, 2017

This bill would authorize the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to obtain federal agency records and potentially bring a civil action against an agency to force compliance so that it can perform its audit, evaluation, and investigative duties for Congress. It would clarify that the GAO can access the National Directory of New Hires database in order to investigate potential fraud or improper payments in unemployment insurance programs.

Agency statements on actions taken or planned in response to GAO recommendations would be provided to relevant congressional committees and the GAO.

The GAO is the federal government’s supreme auditing entity and is directed by the Comptroller General.

Argument in favor

The Government Accountability Office shouldn’t be stonewalled by federal agencies that don’t want potential fraud revealed, and this bill clarifies that they have the authority to carry out their investigations.

Argument opposed

The Government Accountability Office can investigate fraud and improper payments in unemployment insurance programs without accessing the National Directory of New Hires database.

Impact

Federal agencies investigated by the GAO; Congress; and the GAO.

Cost of H.R. 72

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced this bill to give the GAO with enhanced tools to obtain records for investigations of federal agencies:

“The GAO must be able to perform its duties to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure the federal government is transparent and accountable. However, GAO’s important mission has been blocked due to some federal agencies failing to cooperate. I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly on this legislation to ensure GAO is able to conduct their investigations properly.”

The House passed this bill on a voice vote during the first week of the 115th Congress after passing it on a 404-0 vote near the end of the 114th Congress, when it then stalled in the Senate.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) Press Release