[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 88 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3204-S3205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1716. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to 
establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the 
National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub 
program, to require a strategy and report on economic security, 
science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to 
establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

     SEC. __. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY TASK FORCE.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``agency'' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 551 of title 5, United States Code;
       (2) the term ``Chairperson'' means the chairperson of the 
     Task Force;
       (3) the term ``covered funds'' means any loan, loan 
     guarantee, grant, or any other funds received or distributed 
     under this section; and
       (4) the term ``Task Force'' means the Accountability and 
     Transparency Task Force established under subsection (b).
       (b) Establishment.--There is established the Accountability 
     and Transparency Task Force to coordinate and conduct 
     oversight of covered funds to prevent fraud, waste, and 
     abuse.
       (c) Composition of the Task Force.--
       (1) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Task Force shall 
     be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
       (2) Members.--The members of the Task Force shall include 
     the Inspector General or analogous officer of any agency that 
     receives and distributes covered funds.
       (3)  Compensation.--No member of the Task Force shall 
     receive any additional compensation for serving on the Task 
     Force.
       (d) Functions of the Task Force.--
       (1) Functions.--
       (A) In general.--The Task Force shall coordinate and 
     conduct oversight of covered funds in order to prevent fraud, 
     waste, and abuse.
       (B) Specific functions.--The functions of the Task Force 
     shall include--
       (i) reviewing whether the reporting of covered funds meets 
     applicable standards and specifies the purpose of the use of 
     the covered funds and measures of performance;
       (ii) reviewing whether competition requirements applicable 
     to covered funds have been satisfied;
       (iii) auditing or reviewing covered funds to determine 
     whether wasteful spending, poor management of covered funds, 
     or other abuses are occurring and referring matters it 
     considers appropriate for investigation to the inspector 
     general for the agency that disbursed the covered funds;
       (iv) reviewing whether there are sufficient qualified 
     acquisition and grant personnel overseeing covered funds;
       (v) reviewing whether personnel whose duties involve 
     acquisitions or the use of covered funds receive adequate 
     training; and
       (vi) reviewing whether there are appropriate mechanisms for 
     interagency collaboration relating to covered funds, 
     including coordinating and collaborating to the extent 
     practicable with the Council of the Inspectors General on 
     Integrity and Efficiency.
       (2) Reports.--
       (A) Monthly and other reports.--
       (i) Monthly.--The Task Force shall submit to the President 
     and Congress, including the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the Senate and House of Representatives, and any member of 
     Congress upon request, monthly reports on potential 
     management and funding problems relating to covered funds 
     that require immediate attention.
       (ii) Additional reports.--The Task Force shall submit to 
     the President, Congress, and any member of Congress upon 
     request such

[[Page S3205]]

     other reports as the Task Force considers appropriate on the 
     use and benefits of covered funds.
       (B) Quarterly and other reports.--The Task Force shall 
     submit quarterly reports to the President and Congress, 
     including the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and 
     House of Representatives, and any member of Congress upon 
     request, summarizing the findings of the Task Force and the 
     findings of the members of the Task Force, and may submit 
     additional reports as appropriate.
       (C) Annual reports.--The Task Force shall submit annual 
     reports to the President and Congress, including the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives, and any member of Congress upon request, 
     consolidating applicable quarterly reports on the use of 
     covered funds.
       (D) Public availability.--
       (i) In general.--All reports submitted under this paragraph 
     shall be made publicly available and posted on the website 
     established under subsection (f).
       (ii) Redactions.--Any portion of a report submitted under 
     this paragraph may be redacted when made publicly available, 
     if that portion would disclose information that is not 
     subject to disclosure under sections 552 and 552a of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       (3) Recommendations.--
       (A) In general.--The Task Force shall make recommendations 
     to agencies on measures to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse 
     relating to covered funds.
       (B) Responsive reports.--Not later than 30 days after 
     receipt of a recommendation under subparagraph (A), an agency 
     shall submit a report to the President, the congressional 
     committees of jurisdiction, including the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
     and the Task Force on--
       (i) whether the agency agrees or disagrees with the 
     recommendations; and
       (ii) any actions the agency will take to implement the 
     recommendations.
       (e) Powers of the Task Force.--
       (1) In general.--The Task Force shall conduct audits and 
     reviews of spending of covered funds and coordinate on such 
     activities with the Inspector General of the relevant agency 
     to avoid duplication and overlap of work.
       (2) Audits and reviews.--The Task Force may--
       (A) conduct its own independent audits and reviews relating 
     to covered funds; and
       (B) collaborate on audits and reviews relating to covered 
     funds with any Inspector General of an agency.
       (3) Authorities.--
       (A) Audits and reviews.--In conducting audits and reviews, 
     the Task Force--
       (i) shall have the authorities provided under section 6 of 
     the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.); and
       (ii) may issue subpoenas to compel the testimony of persons 
     who are not Federal officers or employees and may enforce 
     such subpoenas in the same manner as provided for subpoenas 
     under section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.).
       (B) Standards and guidelines.--The Task Force shall carry 
     out the powers under paragraphs (1) and (2) in accordance 
     with section 4(b)(1) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.).
       (4) Public hearings.--The Task Force may hold public 
     hearings and Task Force personnel may conduct necessary 
     inquiries. The head of each agency shall make all officers 
     and employees of that agency available to provide testimony 
     to the Task Force and Task Force personnel. The Task Force 
     may issue subpoenas to compel the testimony of persons who 
     are not Federal officers or employees at such public 
     hearings. Any such subpoenas may be enforced in the same 
     manner as provided for subpoenas under section 6 of the 
     Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
       (f) Task Force Website.--
       (1) Establishment.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget shall establish and maintain a user-
     friendly, public-facing website to foster greater 
     accountability and transparency in the use of covered funds.
       (2) Purpose.--The website established and maintained under 
     paragraph (1) shall be a portal or gateway to key information 
     relating to this section and provide connections to other 
     Government websites with related information.
       (3) Content and function.--In establishing the website 
     established and maintained under paragraph (1), the Task 
     Force shall ensure the following:
       (A) The website shall provide materials explaining what 
     this section means for citizens. The materials shall be easy 
     to understand and regularly updated.
       (B) The website shall provide accountability information, 
     including findings from audits, inspectors general, and the 
     Government Accountability Office.
       (C) The website shall provide data on relevant economic, 
     financial, grant, and contract information in user-friendly 
     visual presentations to enhance public awareness of the use 
     of covered funds.
       (D) The website shall provide detailed data on covered 
     funds awarded by the Federal Government, including 
     information about the competitiveness of the contracting 
     process, information about the process that was used for the 
     award of covered funds, and for covered funds over $500,000, 
     a summary of any related contract.
       (E) The website shall include printable reports on covered 
     funds obligated by month to each State and congressional 
     district.
       (F) The website shall provide a means for the public to 
     give feedback on the performance of activities carried out 
     with covered funds.
       (G) The website shall include detailed information on the 
     expenditure by the Federal Government of covered funds, to 
     include the data elements required to comply with the Federal 
     Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 
     U.S.C. 6101 note), allowing aggregate reporting on awards 
     below $25,000 or to individuals, as prescribed by the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
       (H) The website shall provide a link to estimates of the 
     jobs sustained or created by this section.
       (I) The website shall provide a link to information about 
     announcements of grant competitions and solicitations for 
     contracts to be awarded.
       (J) The website shall include appropriate links to other 
     government websites with information concerning covered 
     funds, including Federal agency and State websites.
       (K) The website shall include a plan from each Federal 
     agency for using funds made available in this section to the 
     agency.
       (L) The website shall provide information on Federal 
     allocations of formula grants and awards of competitive 
     grants using covered funds.
       (M) The website shall provide information on Federal 
     allocations of mandatory and other entitlement programs by 
     State, county, or other appropriate geographical unit.
       (N) The website shall be enhanced and updated as necessary 
     to carry out the purposes of this section.
       (4) Waiver.--The Task Force may exclude posting contractual 
     or other information on the website on a case-by-case basis 
     when necessary to protect national security or to protect 
     information that is not subject to disclosure under sections 
     552 and 552a of title 5, United States Code.
       (g) Independence of Inspectors General.--
       (1) Independent authority.--Nothing in this section shall 
     affect the independent authority of an inspector general to 
     determine whether to conduct an audit or investigation of 
     covered funds.
       (2) Requests by task force.--If the Task Force requests 
     that an Inspector General of an agency conduct or refrain 
     from conducting an audit or investigation and the Inspector 
     General rejects the request in whole or in part--
       (A) the Inspector General shall, not later than 30 days 
     after rejecting the request, submit a report to the Task 
     Force, the head of the applicable agency, and the 
     congressional committees of jurisdiction, including the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives, that states the reasons that the Inspector 
     General has rejected the request in whole or in part; and
       (B) the decision of the Inspector General shall be final.
       (h) Coordination With the Comptroller General and State 
     Auditors.--The Task Force shall coordinate its oversight 
     activities with the Comptroller General of the United States 
     and State auditors.
       (i) Termination of the Task Force.--The Task Force shall 
     terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
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