[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 112 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL--GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE VACANCY

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                           HON. NEWT GINGRICH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 1997

  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, before leaving for the August recess, I 
want to address the House briefly on the matter of the vacancy in the 
Office of the Comptroller General. The General Accounting Office is a 
vital organization to the Congress, and the person selected to head the 
GAO must have the confidence of both the majority and minority. When a 
vacancy occurs, a commission is established by statute to consider and 
recommend candidates to the White House. The members of this commission 
are: the Speaker of the House, the President pro tempore of the Senate, 
the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate, and the 
chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Government Reform 
and Oversight and the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
  Members should be advised that the commission has been organized on a 
bipartisan, bicameral basis, and we are moving forward. Based on the 
precedent of alternating between Houses, I will serve as vice chair of 
the commission and the majority leader of the Senate will serves as 
chair. There are a number of candidates who have already expressed 
their interest in the Comptroller General position, but I wanted to put 
all Members on notice that we are open to additional candidates and 
recommendations. If any Member knows of someone interested in being 
considered for the position, please advise one or more of the members 
of the commission as soon as possible to ensure that the commission has 
an opportunity to consider all qualified candidates.




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