[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 171 (Saturday, November 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL CONSOLIDATION ACT OF 2003

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                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 21, 2003

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation, the 
Department of the Treasury Inspector General Consolidation Act of 2003, 
which will promote efficiencies and improve oversight at the Department 
of the Treasury. The measure I am proposing will merge two existing 
Inspector General offices at the U.S. Treasury--the Office of Inspector 
General of the Treasury (OIG) and the Treasury Inspector General for 
Tax Administration (TIGTA)--into a new office called the Office of the 
Treasury Inspector General (TIG).
  The Department of the Treasury is the only agency with two Inspectors 
General. The benefit derived by consolidating OIG and TIGTA will be 
better oversight for all of Treasury, including the IRS, while ensuring 
that the new organization has all the same powers and authority as its 
predecessors have under current law.
  The legislation I am introducing is necessary because the creation of 
the Department of Homeland Security has resulted in significant 
reduction in agencies and personnel at Treasury. The U.S. Customs 
Service, U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Law Enforcement Training 
Center, and most of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have 
been moved to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of 
Justice. The current TIGTA and OIG structure does not recognize the new 
organizations, where IRS has 87 percent and the rest of Treasury has 13 
percent of the remaining personnel resources.
  A single, elevated IG will provide strong oversight to all of 
Treasury's current operations. The Department also will gain the 
efficiencies from the merger by eliminating duplication and creating a 
more effective and efficient operation to further the mission of both 
offices.




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