[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5663-H5664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  GAO ACCESS AND OVERSIGHT ACT OF 2016

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 5690) to ensure the Government Accountability 
Office has adequate access to information.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5690

       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 ``GAO Access and Oversight Act 
     of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION.

       (a) Access to Certain Information.--Subchapter II of 
     chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 721. Access to certain information

       ``(a) No provision of the Social Security Act, including 
     section 453(l) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 653(l)), shall be 
     construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the 
     Comptroller General to obtain any information or to inspect 
     any record under section 716 of this title.
       ``(b) The specific reference to a statute in subsection (a) 
     shall not be construed to affect access by the Government 
     Accountability Office to information under statutes that are 
     not so referenced.''.
       (b) Agency Reports.--Section 720(b) of title 31, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 
     ``or planned'' after ``action taken''; and
       (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the 
     congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency 
     program or activity that is the subject of the 
     recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office 
     before the 61st day after the date of the report; and''.
       (c) Authority To Obtain Records.--Section 716 of title 31, 
     United States Code, is amended in subsection (a)--
       (1) by striking ``(a)'' and inserting ``(2)''; and
       (2) by inserting after the section heading the following:
       ``(a)(1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain 
     such agency records as the Comptroller General requires to 
     discharge the duties of the Comptroller General (including 
     audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including 
     through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In 
     reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall 
     recognize the continuing force and effect of the 
     authorization in the preceding sentence until such time as 
     the authorization is repealed pursuant to law.''.
       (d) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 720 
     the following:

``721. Access to certain information.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Carter) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 5690, the GAO Access and Oversight Act.
  As stewards of the Federal Government, we have a duty to make sure 
that taxpayer money is spent appropriately. We also have a duty to make 
sure our watchdogs have the tools that are necessary to combat waste, 
fraud, and abuse, especially the Government Accountability Office.
  The GAO has a proven track record of excellence. In the past 6 years 
alone, it has identified over 200 areas of duplication, overlap, or 
fragmentation and has recommended more than 600 corrective actions; 
however, Congress needs to ensure the GAO has the access necessary to 
carry out the work we ask of it.
  Today, we have the opportunity to better arm the GAO by clarifying 
that it does, indeed, have inherent access to data contained in the 
National Directory of New Hires. In doing so, we will help the GAO to 
better investigate potential fraud and improper payments, including 
those in the disability insurance program. The GAO's objectives are 
hindered without access to this data, and taxpayer dollars are not as 
well protected against waste, fraud, and abuse.
  The language in this bill has been included in bipartisan legislation 
that was approved unanimously by the full House last Congress. To 
ensure the GAO has all of the information it needs to perform its 
critical role for Congress, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5690.
  I also thank Senator Sasse for his work on this bill in the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I thank the gentleman from Georgia for bringing this bill forward.
  Mr. Speaker, the GAO provides invaluable aid to Congress in 
conducting our constitutional duty to oversee and evaluate the 
executive branch. To do its job effectively, the GAO needs timely 
access to agencies' documents, materials, and other information.
  The bill before us would ensure the GAO's access to the National 
Directory of New Hires, a valuable database of wage and employment 
information. Access to this database would assist the GAO in its 
improper payment and fraud work as well as in evaluating programs in 
which eligibility is being means tested. The bill would also explicitly 
provide the GAO with standing to pursue litigation if an entity in the 
executive branch improperly denies the GAO access to information.
  Mr. Speaker, similar bills have passed the House by wide margins in a 
number of previous Congresses. These are needed reforms, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H5664]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5690.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. HUELSKAMP. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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