[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9401-H9403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING INSPECTORS GENERAL OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 70) recognizing Inspectors General over the
last 25 years in their efforts to prevent and detect waste, fraud,
abuse, and mismanagement, and to promote economy, efficiency, and
effectiveness in the Federal Government.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.J. Res. 70
Whereas the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.)
was signed into law on October 12, 1978, with overwhelming
bipartisan support;
Whereas Inspectors General now exist in the 29 largest
executive branch agencies and in 28 other designated Federal
entities;
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Whereas Inspectors General work to serve the American
taxpayer by promoting economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and
integrity in the administration of the programs and
operations of the Federal Government;
Whereas Inspectors General conduct audits and
investigations to both prevent and detect waste, fraud,
abuse, and mismanagement in the programs and operations of
the Federal Government;
Whereas Inspectors General make Congress and agency heads
aware, through semiannual reports and other communications,
of problems and deficiencies in the administration of
programs and operations of the Federal Government;
Whereas Congress and agency heads utilize the
recommendations of Inspectors General in the development and
implementation of policies that promote economy and
efficiency in the administration of, or prevent and detect
waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in, the programs and
operations of the Federal Government;
Whereas Federal employees and other dedicated citizens
report information to Inspectors General regarding the
possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of
law, rules, or regulations, or mismanagement, gross waste of
funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific
danger to public health and safety;
Whereas Inspector General audits and investigations result
in annual recommendations for more effective spending of
billions of taxpayer dollars, thousands of successful
criminal prosecutions, hundreds of millions of dollars
returned to the United States Treasury through investigative
recoveries, and the suspension and debarment of thousands of
individuals or entities from doing business with the
Government; and
Whereas for 25 years the Inspectors General have worked
with Congress to facilitate effective oversight to improve
the programs and operations of the Federal Government: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
Congress--
(1) recognizes the many accomplishments of the Inspectors
General in preventing and detecting waste, fraud, abuse, and
mismanagement in the Federal Government;
(2) commends the Inspectors General and their employees for
the dedication and professionalism displayed in the
performance of their duties; and
(3) reaffirms the role of Inspectors General in promoting
economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration
of the programs and operations of the Federal Government.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
General Leave
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on the joint resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on
Government Reform, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis),
introduced House Joint Resolution 70. This resolution commends
inspectors general for the important work that they do to improve the
operation of the Federal Government.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Enactment of the
Inspector General Act. This 1978 law originally established Offices of
Inspectors General in 12 Federal Departments and agencies. This act has
since been amended so that today, statutory IGs oversee nearly 60
Federal Departments and agencies.
Inspectors general are a valuable resource for Congress and the
American people. Through their audits and investigations, they
highlight wasteful spending and fraudulent activities and recommend
ways to improve the operation of government programs. In fiscal year
2002, IGs made recommendations that saved more than $70 billion.
Investigations performed by IG personnel also resulted in more than
10,000 criminal prosecutions.
Mr. Speaker, 25 years after the enactment of the IG act, IGs remain
important guardians of good government. This resolution salutes their
efforts, and I strongly support its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Joint Resolution 70,
which recognizes inspectors general for their efforts to prevent waste,
fraud, and abuse over the last 25 years and urge Members to vote for
this measure.
The Committee on Government Reform has a long history of working with
the inspectors general to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Federal
programs. Indeed, the Committee on Government Reform drafted the
original statute establishing inspectors general in the executive
branch 25 years ago.
The close relationship between the inspectors general and our
committee is entirely appropriate. The inspectors general community is
one of Congress's principal watchdogs in the executive branch. There is
much we can learn from each other as we work to ensure that our
government operates in the most effective and efficient manner
possible.
IGs have a very difficult job. They are appointed by the President
and report to Congress as well as the head of their agency. As
independent investigators within the Federal agencies, they are often
the last person a manager wants to hear from. Yet in many instances,
the toughest jobs are the ones that need the doing most.
During fiscal year 2002, IGs returned over $4.5 billion to the
Federal Government in restitutions and recoveries, and their audits
identified another $72 billion in funds that could be used more
effectively. They also had more than 10,000 successful criminal
prosecutions. Similar accomplishments are made year after year. The IGs
have more than proven their usefulness to Congress and to the American
public.
It has been 25 years since the passage of the original IG act. That
act established IGs in six Cabinet-level Departments. A good measure of
the success of the IG concept is the fact that today, there are
inspectors general in all Departments and also in most major
independent agencies, for a total of 59 in all. Both Congress and the
executive agencies themselves have come to rely heavily on the IGs to
uncover fraud, waste, and abuse in the Federal Government.
This resolution states in part, ``Inspectors General work to serve
the American taxpayer by promoting economy, efficiency, effectiveness,
and integrity in the administration of the programs and operations of
the Federal Government.''
I firmly believe that to be true, and I urge my colleagues to support
this resolution commemorating their 25th anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate and welcome the
gentleman from Florida in his new capacity as an ex-officio member of
the Committee on Government Reform.
Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, House Joint Resolution 70,
recognizes the accomplishments of the Inspectors General on the 25th
anniversary of the passage of the Inspector General Act. Twenty-five
years ago this month, the Government Reform Committee--then known as
the Government Operations Committee--worked in a bipartisan fashion to
enact legislation that established Inspectors General in six Cabinet
level departments and another six government agencies. The IG Act was
adopted in response to a need to reduce fraud and waste and to enhance
accountability in the federal government. Under the IG Act, audit and
investigative units within an agency were consolidated under a single
office with protections designed to ensure independence and
objectivity. The IG Act has since been expanded so that today we have
IGs in 29 major department sand agencies and in 28 smaller federal
entities.
Over the last quarter century, IGs have been a vital asset in the war
against waste, fraud, and mismanagement in the programs and operations
of the federal government. The IGs and their more than 11,000
hardworking auditors, investigators, inspectors, and support staff,
produce impressive results each year. In fiscal year 2002, IG audits
resulted in savings of tens of billions of taxpayer dollars and returns
of hundreds of millions of dollars to the Treasury. In addition, IG
investigations resulted in thousands of successful criminal
prosecutions. With a combined fiscal year 2002 budget of $1.5 billion
dollars, the IGs clearly provide significant returns for the taxpayer's
investment.
The Committee on government Reform and the entire Congress have come
to rely heavily on the critical work of the Inspectors General. In the
twenty-five years since the passage of
[[Page H9403]]
the inspector General Act, much has changed in the way the Federal
Government manages it programs and operations. A series of new
management laws--including the Chief Financial Officers Act, the
Government Performance and Results Act, and the Federal Information
Security Management Act--are dramatically changing the management and
accountability of the Federal Government, and the Inspectors General
are playing a critical role in the implementation of these laws.
American taxpayers deserve no less from their government than the
utmost accountability for their hard-earned money. I urge my colleagues
to support this resolution and salute the Inspectors General for their
extremely important work on behalf of the American taxpayers.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 70.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
The title of the joint resolution was amended so as to read: ``Joint
resolution commending the Inspectors General for their efforts to
prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement, and to
promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the Federal
Government during the past 25 years.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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