[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 928 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 928
To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence
of the Inspectors General, to create a Council of the Inspectors
General on Integrity and Efficiency, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 8, 2007
Mr. Cooper introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence
of the Inspectors General, to create a Council of the Inspectors
General on Integrity and Efficiency, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Government Accountability
Act''.
SEC. 2. ENHANCING INDEPENDENCE OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.
(a) Removal for Cause.--The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C.
App.) is amended--
(1) in section 3(b) by adding at the end the following:
``An Inspector General may be removed from office prior to the
expiration of his or her term only on any of the following
grounds:
``(1) Permanent incapacity.
``(2) Inefficiency.
``(3) Neglect of duty.
``(4) Malfeasance.
``(5) Conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral
turpitude.''; and
(2) in section 8G(e) by adding at the end the following:
``An Inspector General may be removed from office prior to the
expiration of his or her term only on any of the following
grounds:
``(1) Permanent incapacity.
``(2) Inefficiency.
``(3) Neglect of duty.
``(4) Malfeasance.
``(5) Conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral
turpitude.''.
(b) Establishment of Terms of Office.--The Inspector General Act of
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
(1) in section 3 by adding at the end the following:
``(e)(1) The term of office of each Inspector General shall be
seven years. An individual may serve for more than one term in such
office. Any individual appointed and confirmed to fill a vacancy in
such position, occurring before the expiration of the term for which
his or her predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed and confirmed
for a full seven-year term.
``(2) An individual may continue to serve as Inspector General
beyond the expiration of the term for which the individual is appointed
until a successor is appointed and confirmed, except that such
individual may not continue to serve for more than 1 year after the
date on which the term would otherwise expire under paragraph (1).'';
and
(2) in section 8G(c) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(c)'',
and by adding at the end the following:
``(2) The term of office of each Inspector General shall be
seven years. An individual may serve for more than one term in
such office. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy in such
position, occurring before the expiration of the term for which
his or her predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed for a
full 7-year term.''.
(c) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply
to any Inspector General appointed before, on, or after the date of the
enactment of this Act. The term of office of an Inspector General
serving on such date of enactment is deemed to begin on such date of
enactment.
SEC. 3. DIRECT SUBMISSION OF BUDGET REQUESTS TO CONGRESS.
Section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f)(1) For each fiscal year, an Inspector General may transmit an
appropriation estimate and request to the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget and to the appropriate committees or
subcommittees of the Congress, in addition to any appropriation
estimate and request submitted to the head of the establishment
concerned.
``(2) The President shall include in each budget of the United
States Government submitted to the Congress--
``(A) a separate statement of the amount of appropriations
requested by each Inspector General who has submitted an
appropriation estimate under paragraph (1); and
``(B) a statement comparing each such appropriation
estimate and request submitted by an Inspector General and the
funds requested by the head of the establishment concerned.''.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY
AND EFFICIENCY.
(a) Establishment.--The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C.
App.) is amended by redesignating sections 11 and 12 in order as
sections 12 and 13, and by inserting after section 10 the following new
section:
``SEC. 11. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON
INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established as an independent entity
within the executive branch the Inspectors General Council (in this
section referred to as the `Council'). The Council's mission shall be
to increase the professionalism and effectiveness of personnel by
developing policies, standards, and approaches to aid in the
establishment of a well-trained and highly skilled workforce in the
offices of the Inspectors General.
``(b) Membership.--
``(1) In general.--The Council shall consist of the
following members:
``(A) All Inspectors General whose offices are
established under--
``(i) section 2; or
``(ii) section 8G.
``(B) The Inspectors General of the Central
Intelligence Agency and the Government Printing Office.
``(C) The Controller of the Office of Federal
Financial Management.
``(D) A senior level official of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation designated by the Director of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
``(E) The Director of the Office of Government
Ethics.
``(F) The Special Counsel of the Office of Special
Counsel.
``(G) The Deputy Director of the Office of
Personnel Management.
``(H) The Deputy Director for Management of the
Office of Management and Budget.
``(2) Chairperson and executive chairperson.--
``(A) Executive chairperson.--The Deputy Director
for Management of the Office of Management and Budget
shall be the Executive Chairperson of the Council.
``(B) Chairperson.--The Council shall elect one of
the Inspectors General referred to in paragraph (1)(A)
or (B) to act as Chairperson of the Council. The term
of office of the Chairperson shall be two years.
``(3) Functions of chairperson and executive chairperson.--
``(A) Executive chairperson.--The Executive
Chairperson shall--
``(i) preside over meetings of the Council;
``(ii) provide to the heads of agencies and
entities represented on the Council with
summary reports of the activities of the
Council; and
``(iii) provide to the Council such
information relating to the agencies and
entities represented on the Council as will
assist the Council in performing its functions.
``(B) Chairperson.--The Chairperson shall--
``(i) convene meetings of the Council--
``(I) at least six times each year;
``(II) monthly to the extent
possible; and
``(III) more frequently at his or
her discretion;
``(ii) exercise the functions and duties of
the Council under subsection (c);
``(iii) appoint a Vice Chairperson to
assist in carrying out the functions of the
Council and act in the absence of the
Chairperson, from a category of Inspectors
General described in subparagraph (A)(i),
(A)(ii), or (B) of subsection (b)(1), other
than the category from which the Chairperson
was elected;
``(iv) make such payments from funds
otherwise available to the Council as may be
necessary to carry out the functions of the
Council;
``(v) select, appoint, and employ personnel
as needed to carry out the functions of the
Council subject to the availability of
appropriations and the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in
the competitive service, and the provisions of
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of
such title, relating to classification and
General Schedule pay rates;
``(vi) to the extent and in such amounts as
may be provided in advance by appropriations
Acts, enter into contracts and other
arrangements with public agencies and private
persons to carry out the functions and duties
of the Council;
``(vii) establish, in consultation with the
members of the Council, such committees as
determined by the Chairperson to be necessary
and appropriate for the efficient conduct of
Council functions; and
``(viii) prepare and transmit a report
annually on behalf of the Council to the
President on the activities of the Council.
``(c) Functions and Duties of Council.--
``(1) In general.--The Council shall--
``(A) continually identify, review, and discuss
areas of weakness and vulnerability in Federal programs
and operations with respect to fraud, waste, and abuse;
``(B) develop plans for coordinated, Government-
wide activities that address these problems and promote
economy and efficiency in Federal programs and
operations, including interagency and inter-entity
audit, investigation, inspection, and evaluation
programs and projects to deal efficiently and
effectively with those problems concerning fraud and
waste that exceed the capability or jurisdiction of an
individual agency or entity;
``(C) develop policies that will aid in the
maintenance of a corps of well-trained and highly
skilled Office of Inspector General personnel;
``(D) maintain an Internet Web site and other
electronic systems for the benefit of all Inspectors
General, as the Council determines are necessary or
desirable;
``(E) maintain one or more academies as the Council
considers desirable for the professional training of
auditors, investigators, inspectors, evaluators, and
other personnel of the various offices of Inspector
General; and
``(F) make such reports to the Congress as the
Chairperson determines are necessary or appropriate.
``(2) Adherence and participation by members.--Each member
of the Council should, to the extent permitted under law, and
to the extent not inconsistent with standards established by
the Comptroller General of the United States for audits of
Federal establishments, organizations, programs, activities,
and functions, adhere to professional standards developed by
the Council and participate in the plans, programs, and
projects of the Council.
``(3) Existing authorities and responsibilities.--The
creation and operation of the Council--
``(A) shall not affect the preeminent policy-
setting role of the Department of Justice in law
enforcement and litigation;
``(B) shall not affect the authority or
responsibilities of any Government agency or entity;
and
``(C) shall not affect the authority or
responsibilities of individual members of the Council.
``(d) Integrity Committee.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Council shall have an Integrity
Committee, which shall receive, review, and refer for
investigation allegations of wrongdoing that are made against
Inspectors General and certain staff members of the various
Offices of Inspector General.
``(2) Membership.--The Integrity Committee shall consist of
the following members:
``(A) The official of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation serving on the Council, who shall serve
as Chairperson of the Integrity Committee.
``(B) 3 or more Inspectors General described in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1) appointed
by the Chairperson of the Council, representing both
establishments and designated Federal entities (as that
term is defined in section 8G(a)).
``(C) The Special Counsel of the Office of Special
Counsel.
``(D) The Director of the Office of Government
Ethics.
``(3) Legal advisor.--The Chief of the Public Integrity
Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice,
or his designee, shall serve as a legal advisor to the
Integrity Committee.
``(4) Referral of allegations.--
``(A) Requirement.--An Inspector General shall
refer to the Integrity Committee any allegation of
wrongdoing against a staff member of his or her office,
if--
``(i) review of the substance of the
allegation cannot be assigned to an agency of
the executive branch with appropriate
jurisdiction over the matter; and
``(ii) the Inspector General determines
that--
``(I) an objective internal
investigation of the allegation is not
feasible; or
``(II) an internal investigation of
the allegation may appear not to be
objective.
``(B) Staff member defined.--In this subsection the
term `staff member' means--
``(i) any employee of an Office of
Inspector General who reports directly to an
Inspector General; or
``(ii) who is designated by an Inspector
General under subparagraph (C).
``(C) Designation of staff members.--Each Inspector
General shall annually submit to the Chairperson of the
Integrity Committee a designation of positions whose
holders are staff members for purposes of subparagraph
(B).
``(5) Review of allegations.--The Integrity Committee
shall--
``(A) review all allegations of wrongdoing it
receives against an Inspector General, or against a
staff member of an Office of Inspector General; and
``(B) refer to the Chairperson of the Integrity
Committee any allegation of wrongdoing determined by
the Integrity Committee to be meritorious that cannot
be referred to an agency of the executive branch with
appropriate jurisdiction over the matter.
``(6) Authority to investigate allegations.--
``(A) Requirement.--The Chairperson of the
Integrity Committee shall cause a thorough and timely
investigation of each allegation referred under
paragraph (5)(B) to be conducted in accordance with
this paragraph.
``(B) Resources.--At the request of the Chairperson
of the Integrity Committee, the head of each agency or
entity represented on the Council--
``(i) may provide resources necessary to
the Integrity Committee; and
``(ii) may detail employees from that
agency or entity to the Integrity Committee,
subject to the control and direction of the
Chairperson, to conduct an investigation
pursuant to this subsection.
``(7) Procedures for investigations.--
``(A) Standards applicable.--Investigations
initiated under this subsection shall be conducted in
accordance with the most current Quality Standards for
Investigations issued by the Council or by its
predecessors (the President's Council on Integrity and
Efficiency and the Executive Council on Integrity and
Efficiency).
``(B) Additional policies and procedures.--The
Integrity Committee, in conjunction with the
Chairperson of the Council, shall establish additional
policies and procedures necessary to ensure fairness
and consistency in--
``(i) determining whether to initiate an
investigation;
``(ii) conducting investigations;
``(iii) reporting the results of an
investigation; and
``(iv) providing the person who is the
subject of an investigation with an opportunity
to respond to any Integrity Committee report.
``(C) Reports.--The Chairperson of the Integrity
Committee shall report to the Executive Chairperson of
the Council the results of any investigation that
substantiates any allegation certified under paragraph
(5)(B).
``(8) No right or benefit.--This subsection is not intended
to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law by a person against the United States, its
agencies, its officers, or any person.
``(e) Application.--The provisions of this section apply only to
the Inspectors General (and their offices) listed in subsection
(b)(1)(A) and (B).''.
(b) Existing Executive Orders.--Executive Order 12805, dated May
14, 1992, Executive Order 12805, dated March 21, 1996, and Executive
Order 12993, dated March 26, 1996, shall have no force or effect.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Inspector general act of 1978.--The Inspector General
Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
(A) in sections 2(1), 4(b)(2), and 8G(a)(1)(A) by
striking ``section 11(2)'' each place it appears and
inserting ``section 12(2)''; and
(B) in section 8G(a), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``section 11'' and inserting
``section 12''.
(2) Title 31, u.s.c.--Section 1105(a) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by striking the first paragraph (33)
and inserting the following:
``(33) a separate appropriation account for appropriations
for the Inspectors General Council, and, included in that
account, a separate statement of the aggregate amount of
appropriations requested for each academy maintained by the
Inspectors General Council.''.
SEC. 5. MISCELLANEOUS ENHANCEMENTS.
(a) Offices as Discrete Agencies.--Section 6(d) of the Inspector
General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended to read as follows:
``(d)(1)(A) For purposes of applying the provisions of law
identified in subparagraph (B)--
``(i) each Office of Inspector General shall be
considered to be a separate agency; and
``(ii) the Inspector General who is the head of an
office referred to in clause (i) shall, with respect to
such office, have the functions, powers, and duties of
an agency head or appointing authority under such
provisions.
``(B) This paragraph applies with respect to the following
provisions of title 5, United States Code:
``(i) Subchapter II of chapter 35.
``(ii) Sections 8335(b), 8336, 8414, and 8425(b).
``(iii) All provisions relating to the Senior Executive
Service (as determined by the Office of Personnel Management),
subject to paragraph (2).
``(2) For purposes of applying section 4507(b) of title 5, United
States Code, paragraph (1)(A)(ii) shall be applied by substituting `the
Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
(established by section 11 of the Inspector General Act) shall' for
`the Inspector General who is the head of an office referred to in
clause (i) shall, with respect to such office,'.''.
(b) Inspectors General of Designated Federal Entities.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Inspector General of
each designated Federal entity (as those terms are defined under
section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978) shall, for pay and all
other purposes, be classified at a grade, level, or rank designation,
as the case may be, comparable to those of a majority of the senior
staff members of such designated Federal entity (such as, but not
limited to, a General Counsel, Deputy Director, or Chief of Staff) that
report directly to the head of such designated Federal entity.
(c) Subpoena Power.--Section 6(a)(4) of the Inspector General Act
of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), is amended--
(1) by inserting ``in any medium (including electronically
stored information, as well as any tangible thing)'' after
``other data''; and
(2) by striking ``subpena'' and inserting ``subpoena''.
(d) Law Enforcement Authority for Designated Federal Entities.--
Section 6(e) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``appointed under section
3''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) In this subsection the term `Inspector General' means
an Inspector General appointed under section 3 or an Inspector
General appointed under section 8G.''.
SEC. 6. PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES ACT.
Section 3801(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (C), by
adding ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (D), and
by adding at the end the following:
``(E) a designated Federal entity (as such term is
defined under section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General
Act of 1978).''.
SEC. 7. APPLICATION OF SEMIANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT
TO INSPECTION REPORTS AND EVALUATION REPORTS.
Section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is
amended--
(1) in each of subsections (a)(6), (a)(8), (a)(9), (b)(2),
and (b)(3)--
(A) by inserting ``, inspection reports, and
evaluation reports'' after ``audit reports'' the first
place it appears; and
(B) by striking ``audit'' the second place it
appears; and
(2) in subsection (a)(10) by inserting ``, inspection
reports, and evaluation reports'' after ``audit reports''.
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