[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18017-S18018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN:
  S. 1446. A bill to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
App.) to establish an inspector general of the Administrative Office of 
the United States Courts, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
the Judiciary.


the inspector general of the administrative office of the united states 
                           courts act of 1995

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation 
to establish 

[[Page S 18018]]
an inspector general within the Administrative Office of the United 
States Courts.
  The Administrative Office, commonly referred to as the AO, was 
established in 1939 to provide the Federal courts with administrative 
support. The office is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the 
Federal judiciary, including budgets, automation, security, and office 
space. The AO operates on a budget of $44 million and a staff of 900 
but coordinates the judiciary's budget of $2.7 billion and a staff of 
over 27,000 employees.
  While the AO employs a significant number of people and manages a 
sizable budget, it has no inspector general to promote efficiency 
within its programs. Many agencies within the executive branch, 
including those similar in size to the AO--such as the Smithsonian 
Institution, the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, the Corporation 
for National and Community Service, the EEOC, the OPM, the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the U.S. 
Information Agency--have inspector generals which provide the American 
public with a valuable service by conducting objective and independent 
oversight of agency activity.
  In the past, the Congress has been hesitant to require the AO, a 
judicial agency, to have an inspector general like executive agencies, 
in the effort to avoid even the appearance of encroaching on the 
separation of powers. However, I trust my colleagues will agree that 
the efficient and cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars is as 
important in the administration of the judiciary as it is in the 
executive branch. The establishment of an IG within the AO will help 
ensure the appropriate and efficient use of taxpayer dollars without 
unduly burdening or diminishing in any way the independence of the 
Judiciary.
  Mr. President, this legislation is not intended to be a harsh 
criticism of the AO. Certainly, the Administrative Office, like many 
other governmental agencies, has had its share of waste and 
inefficiency. My colleagues are aware of concerns I have expressed 
about the National Fine Center, which the AO is taking steps to 
rectify, and the Federal Courthouse Construction Program. I simply 
believe any bureaucracy with a large budget and many employees can 
benefit from independent oversight. However, I am certainly open to any 
suggestions about how this bill could be improved.
  I want to make clear that the inspector general at the AO would have 
no authority to review and report on matters involving the Federal 
courts' judicial decisions. Jurisdiction would be limited strictly to 
the administrative functions performed by the AO.
  Again, I believe this is a common sense, good Government piece of 
legislation which will enhance the cost-effective use of the taxpayer 
resources utilized to administer our Federal courts.
                                 ______