Certification to Congress

(a)

In general

The head of a covered agency shall certify to Congress before carrying out a covered activity that such covered activity will not impact the provision of services or benefits by such covered agency in a manner that— (1)reduces the receipt of benefits or financial assistance from a covered agency by individuals who are eligible for, or entitled to, such benefits or financial assistance; (2)increases delays in the receipt of benefits or financial assistance from a covered agency, or in the response times of a covered agency to inquiries about benefit or financial assistance receipt, by individuals who are eligible for, or entitled to, such benefits or financial assistance; or (3)limits the ability of the staff of a covered agency to conduct outreach or other activities designed to increase the receipt of benefits or financial assistance from a covered agency by individuals who are eligible for, or entitled to, such benefits or financial assistance. (b)

Report

Along with each certification required by subsection (a), the head of a covered agency shall submit a report to Congress explaining how the head of the agency will shift resources or operational procedures of the agency to ensure that carrying out the covered activity does not impact the provision of services or benefits by that covered agency in a manner described under paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a), including how the head of the covered agency will shift resources or operational procedures of the agency to prevent the covered activity from— (1)causing staffing shortages that reduce the ability of the covered agency to process benefit claims and send out benefit payments; (2)leading to increases in phone and walk-in wait times for benefits-related inquiries; (3)reducing the level or intensity of outreach efforts designed to boost the receipt of benefits by individuals eligible for those benefits; (4)harming the ability of the head of such covered agency to conduct regulatory, investigatory, and enforcement functions that protect the public, ensure compliance with applicable laws, and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; and (5)harming the ability of the head of such covered agency to fulfill statutory and administrative mandates related to the core functions of the agency, including those not explicitly tied to direct benefits disbursement but integral to public service, financial administration, support for State and municipal housing authorities, health care oversight, tax administration, or the administration of veterans’ health care and education benefits. (c)

Inspector general study and report

With respect to each covered activity carried out by the head of a covered agency, the Inspector General concerned shall, not later than 1 year after the head of a covered agency submits the certification required by subsection (a) with respect to such activity, and one year after the head of such agency carries out such activity— (1)study whether carrying out such covered activity has impacted the provision of services or benefits by that covered agency in a manner described under paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a); and (2)submit a report to Congress on the results of such study. (d)

Reversal of covered activity

If an Inspector General determines under the study required by subsection (b) that carrying out a covered activity effected the provision of services or benefits by a covered agency in a manner described under paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a), the head of such covered agency shall reverse the covered activity, including by— (1)reinstating any laid-off staff; and (2)reopening shuttered regional field offices. (e)

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Covered activity

The term covered activity means— (A)any planned staffing cuts under which the head of a covered agency expects to reduce the overall staffing level of such covered agency by over five percent in a single year; (B)any planned regional field office closures under which the head of a covered agency expects to reduce the overall number of regional field offices of such covered agency by over five percent in a single year; (C)any budget reallocation, funding recession, or structural reorganization that would result in a measurable reduction in the ability of the covered agency to provide timely and effective services, including processing claims, issuing refunds or benefits, responding to public inquiries, enforcing regulatory obligations, and conducting outreach or compliance activities; or (D)any restructuring of enforcement, investigatory, or regulatory activities that could significantly weaken beneficiary or taxpayer protections, reduce agency oversight capabilities, or increase risks of fraud, waste, or abuse in programs administered by such covered agency. (2)

Covered agency

The term covered agency means the following: (A)The Social Security Administration. (B)The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service. (C)The Internal Revenue Service. (D)The Department of Veterans Affairs. (E)The Department of Housing and Urban Development. (3)

Inspector General concerned

The term Inspector General concerned means— (A)with respect to the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Inspector General of the applicable agency; (B)with respect to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; and (C)with respect to the Internal Revenue Services, the Treasury IG for Tax Administration. (f)

Effective date

This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.