[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 200 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8381-S8386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4776. Mr. PETERS (for himself, Mr. Portman, and Mr. Grassley) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3867 
submitted by Mr. Reed and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 
4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military 
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and 
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe 
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end, add the following:

 DIVISION E--INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE AND EMPOWERMENT ACT OF 2021

     SEC. 5101. SHORT TITLE.

       This division may be cited as the ``Inspector General 
     Independence and Empowerment Act of 2021''.

                TITLE LI--INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE

     SEC. 5111. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Securing Inspector General 
     Independence Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 5112. REMOVAL OR TRANSFER OF INSPECTORS GENERAL; 
                   PLACEMENT ON NON-DUTY STATUS.

       (a) In General.--The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) in section 3(b)--
       (A) by inserting ``(1)(A)'' after ``(b)'';
       (B) in paragraph (1), as so designated--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), as so designated, in the second 
     sentence--

       (I) by striking ``reasons'' and inserting the following: 
     ``substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific 
     reasons,''; and
       (II) by inserting ``(including to the appropriate 
     congressional committees)'' after ``Houses of Congress''; and

       (ii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) If there is an open or completed inquiry into an 
     Inspector General that relates to the removal or transfer of 
     the Inspector General under subparagraph (A), the written 
     communication required under that subparagraph shall--
       ``(i) identify each entity that is conducting, or that 
     conducted, the inquiry; and
       ``(ii) in the case of a completed inquiry, contain the 
     findings made during the inquiry.''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2)(A) Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, 
     only the President may place an Inspector General on non-duty 
     status.
       ``(B) If the President places an Inspector General on non-
     duty status, the President

[[Page S8382]]

     shall communicate in writing the substantive rationale, 
     including detailed and case-specific reasons, for the change 
     in status to both Houses of Congress (including to the 
     appropriate congressional committees) not later than 15 days 
     before the date on which the change in status takes effect, 
     except that the President may submit that communication not 
     later than the date on which the change in status takes 
     effect if--
       ``(i) the President has made a determination that the 
     continued presence of the Inspector General in the workplace 
     poses a threat described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) 
     of section 6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code; and
       ``(ii) in the communication, the President includes a 
     report on the determination described in clause (i), which 
     shall include--
       ``(I) a specification of which clause of section 
     6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, the President 
     has determined applies under clause (i) of this subparagraph;
       ``(II) the substantive rationale, including detailed and 
     case-specific reasons, for the determination made under 
     clause (i);
       ``(III) an identification of each entity that is 
     conducting, or that conducted, any inquiry upon which the 
     determination under clause (i) was made; and
       ``(IV) in the case of an inquiry described in subclause 
     (III) that is completed, the findings made during that 
     inquiry.
       ``(C) The President may not place an Inspector General on 
     non-duty status during the 30-day period preceding the date 
     on which the Inspector General is removed or transferred 
     under paragraph (1)(A) unless the President--
       ``(i) has made a determination that the continued presence 
     of the Inspector General in the workplace poses a threat 
     described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of section 
     6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code; and
       ``(ii) not later than the date on which the change in 
     status takes effect, submits to both Houses of Congress 
     (including to the appropriate congressional committees) a 
     written communication that contains the information required 
     under subparagraph (B), including the report required under 
     clause (ii) of that subparagraph.
       ``(D) For the purposes of this paragraph--
       ``(i) the term `Inspector General'--
       ``(I) means an Inspector General who was appointed by the 
     President, without regard to whether the Senate provided 
     advice and consent with respect to that appointment; and
       ``(II) includes the Inspector General of an establishment, 
     the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, the 
     Inspector General of the Central Intelligence Agency, the 
     Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the 
     Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief 
     Program, and the Special Inspector General for Pandemic 
     Recovery; and
       ``(ii) a reference to the removal or transfer of an 
     Inspector General under paragraph (1), or to the written 
     communication described in that paragraph, shall be 
     considered to be--
       ``(I) in the case of the Inspector General of the 
     Intelligence Community, a reference to section 103H(c)(4) of 
     the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3033(c)(4));
       ``(II) in the case of the Inspector General of the Central 
     Intelligence Agency, a reference to section 17(b)(6) of the 
     Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. 
     3517(b)(6));
       ``(III) in the case of the Special Inspector General for 
     Afghanistan Reconstruction, a reference to section 1229(c)(6) 
     of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2008 (Public Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 378);
       ``(IV) in the case of the Special Inspector General for the 
     Troubled Asset Relief Program, a reference to section 
     121(b)(4) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 
     (12 U.S.C. 5231(b)(4)); and
       ``(V) in the case of the Special Inspector General for 
     Pandemic Recovery, a reference to section 4018(b)(3) of the 
     CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9053(b)(3)).''; and
       (2) in section 8G(e)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or placement on non-
     duty status'' after ``a removal'';
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(2)'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (A), as so designated, in the first 
     sentence--

       (I) by striking ``reasons'' and inserting the following: 
     ``substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific 
     reasons,''; and
       (II) by inserting ``(including to the appropriate 
     congressional committees)'' after ``Houses of Congress''; and

       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) If there is an open or completed inquiry into an 
     Inspector General that relates to the removal or transfer of 
     the Inspector General under subparagraph (A), the written 
     communication required under that subparagraph shall--
       ``(i) identify each entity that is conducting, or that 
     conducted, the inquiry; and
       ``(ii) in the case of a completed inquiry, contain the 
     findings made during the inquiry.''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3)(A) Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, 
     only the head of the applicable designated Federal entity 
     (referred to in this paragraph as the `covered official') may 
     place an Inspector General on non-duty status.
       ``(B) If a covered official places an Inspector General on 
     non-duty status, the covered official shall communicate in 
     writing the substantive rationale, including detailed and 
     case-specific reasons, for the change in status to both 
     Houses of Congress (including to the appropriate 
     congressional committees) not later than 15 days before the 
     date on which the change in status takes effect, except that 
     the covered official may submit that communication not later 
     than the date on which the change in status takes effect if--
       ``(i) the covered official has made a determination that 
     the continued presence of the Inspector General in the 
     workplace poses a threat described in any of clauses (i) 
     through (iv) of section 6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United 
     States Code; and
       ``(ii) in the communication, the covered official includes 
     a report on the determination described in clause (i), which 
     shall include--
       ``(I) a specification of which clause of section 
     6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, the covered 
     official has determined applies under clause (i) of this 
     subparagraph;
       ``(II) the substantive rationale, including detailed and 
     case-specific reasons, for the determination made under 
     clause (i);
       ``(III) an identification of each entity that is 
     conducting, or that conducted, any inquiry upon which the 
     determination under clause (i) was made; and
       ``(IV) in the case of an inquiry described in subclause 
     (III) that is completed, the findings made during that 
     inquiry.
       ``(C) A covered official may not place an Inspector General 
     on non-duty status during the 30-day period preceding the 
     date on which the Inspector General is removed or transferred 
     under paragraph (2)(A) unless the covered official--
       ``(i) has made a determination that the continued presence 
     of the Inspector General in the workplace poses a threat 
     described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of section 
     6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code; and
       ``(ii) not later than the date on which the change in 
     status takes effect, submits to both Houses of Congress 
     (including to the appropriate congressional committees) a 
     written communication that contains the information required 
     under subparagraph (B), including the report required under 
     clause (ii) of that subparagraph.
       ``(D) Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to limit 
     or otherwise modify--
       ``(i) any statutory protection that is afforded to an 
     Inspector General; or
       ``(ii) any other action that a covered official may take 
     under law with respect to an Inspector General.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 12(3) of 
     the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended 
     by inserting ``except as otherwise expressly provided,'' 
     before ``the term''.

     SEC. 5113. VACANCY IN POSITION OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

       (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Inspector General Act of 
     1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(h)(1) In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `first assistant to the position of 
     Inspector General' means, with respect to an Office of 
     Inspector General--
       ``(i) an individual who, as of the day before the date on 
     which the Inspector General dies, resigns, or otherwise 
     becomes unable to perform the functions and duties of that 
     position--
       ``(I) is serving in a position in that Office; and
       ``(II) has been designated in writing by the Inspector 
     General, through an order of succession or otherwise, as the 
     first assistant to the position of Inspector General; or
       ``(ii) if the Inspector General has not made a designation 
     described in clause (i)(II)--
       ``(I) the Principal Deputy Inspector General of that 
     Office, as of the day before the date on which the Inspector 
     General dies, resigns, or otherwise becomes unable to perform 
     the functions and duties of that position; or
       ``(II) if there is no Principal Deputy Inspector General of 
     that Office, the Deputy Inspector General of that Office, as 
     of the day before the date on which the Inspector General 
     dies, resigns, or otherwise becomes unable to perform the 
     functions and duties of that position; and
       ``(B) the term `Inspector General'--
       ``(i) means an Inspector General who is appointed by the 
     President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; 
     and
       ``(ii) includes the Inspector General of an establishment, 
     the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, the 
     Inspector General of the Central Intelligence Agency, the 
     Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief 
     Program, and the Special Inspector General for Pandemic 
     Recovery.
       ``(2) If an Inspector General dies, resigns, or is 
     otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the 
     position--
       ``(A) section 3345(a) of title 5, United States Code, and 
     section 103(e) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 
     U.S.C. 3025(e)) shall not apply;
       ``(B) subject to paragraph (4), the first assistant to the 
     position of Inspector General shall perform the functions and 
     duties of the Inspector General temporarily in an acting 
     capacity subject to the time limitations of section 3346 of 
     title 5, United States Code; and
       ``(C) notwithstanding subparagraph (B), and subject to 
     paragraphs (4) and (5), the President (and only the 
     President) may direct an officer or employee of any Office of 
     an Inspector General to perform the functions and duties of 
     the Inspector General temporarily in an acting capacity 
     subject to the time limitations of section 3346 of title 5, 
     United States Code, only if--

[[Page S8383]]

       ``(i) during the 365-day period preceding the date of 
     death, resignation, or beginning of inability to serve of the 
     Inspector General, the officer or employee served in a 
     position in an Office of an Inspector General for not less 
     than 90 days, except that--
       ``(I) the requirement under this clause shall not apply if 
     the officer is an Inspector General; and
       ``(II) for the purposes of this subparagraph, performing 
     the functions and duties of an Inspector General temporarily 
     in an acting capacity does not qualify as service in a 
     position in an Office of an Inspector General;
       ``(ii) the rate of pay for the position of the officer or 
     employee described in clause (i) is equal to or greater than 
     the minimum rate of pay payable for a position at GS-15 of 
     the General Schedule;
       ``(iii) the officer or employee has demonstrated ability in 
     accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management 
     analysis, public administration, or investigations; and
       ``(iv) not later than 30 days before the date on which the 
     direction takes effect, the President communicates in writing 
     to both Houses of Congress (including to the appropriate 
     congressional committees) the substantive rationale, 
     including the detailed and case-specific reasons, for such 
     direction, including the reason for the direction that 
     someone other than the individual who is performing the 
     functions and duties of the Inspector General temporarily in 
     an acting capacity (as of the date on which the President 
     issues that direction) perform those functions and duties 
     temporarily in an acting capacity.
       ``(3) Notwithstanding section 3345(a) of title 5, United 
     States Code, section 103(e) of the National Security Act of 
     1947 (50 U.S.C. 3025(e)), and subparagraphs (B) and (C) of 
     paragraph (2), and subject to paragraph (4), during any 
     period in which an Inspector General is on non-duty status--
       ``(A) the first assistant to the position of Inspector 
     General shall perform the functions and duties of the 
     position temporarily in an acting capacity subject to the 
     time limitations of section 3346 of title 5, United States 
     Code; and
       ``(B) if the first assistant described in subparagraph (A) 
     dies, resigns, or becomes otherwise unable to perform those 
     functions and duties, the President (and only the President) 
     may direct an officer or employee in that Office of Inspector 
     General to perform those functions and duties temporarily in 
     an acting capacity, subject to the time limitations of 
     section 3346 of title 5, United States Code, if--
       ``(i) that direction satisfies the requirements under 
     clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(C); and
       ``(ii) that officer or employee served in a position in 
     that Office of Inspector General for not fewer than 90 of the 
     365 days preceding the date on which the President makes that 
     direction.
       ``(4) An individual may perform the functions and duties of 
     an Inspector General temporarily and in an acting capacity 
     under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (2), or under 
     paragraph (3), with respect to only 1 Inspector General 
     position at any given time.
       ``(5) If the President makes a direction under paragraph 
     (2)(C), during the 30-day period preceding the date on which 
     the direction of the President takes effect, the functions 
     and duties of the position of the applicable Inspector 
     General shall be performed by--
       ``(A) the first assistant to the position of Inspector 
     General; or
       ``(B) the individual performing those functions and duties 
     temporarily in an acting capacity, as of the date on which 
     the President issues that direction, if that individual is an 
     individual other than the first assistant to the position of 
     Inspector General.''.
       (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in the amendment made by 
     subsection (a) may be construed to limit the applicability of 
     sections 3345 through 3349d of title 5, United States Code 
     (commonly known as the ``Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 
     1998''), other than with respect to section 3345(a) of that 
     title.
       (c) Effective Date.--
       (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``Inspector 
     General'' has the meaning given the term in subsection 
     (h)(1)(B) of section 3 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 
     (5 U.S.C. App.), as added by subsection (a) of this section.
       (2) Applicability.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     this section, and the amendments made by this section, shall 
     take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
       (B) Existing vacancies.--If, as of the date of enactment of 
     this Act, an individual is performing the functions and 
     duties of an Inspector General temporarily in an acting 
     capacity, this section, and the amendments made by this 
     section, shall take effect with respect to that Inspector 
     General position on the date that is 30 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 5114. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WHISTLEBLOWER 
                   COMPLAINTS.

       (a) Whistleblower Protection Coordinator.--Section 
     3(d)(1)(C) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) is amended--
       (1) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
     by inserting ``, including employees of that Office of 
     Inspector General'' after ``employees''; and
       (2) in clause (iii), by inserting ``(including the 
     Integrity Committee of that Council)'' after ``and 
     Efficiency''.
       (b) Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and 
     Efficiency.--Section 11(c)(5)(B) of the Inspector General Act 
     of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking ``, 
     allegations of reprisal,'' and inserting the following: ``and 
     allegations of reprisal (including the timely and appropriate 
     handling and consideration of protected disclosures and 
     allegations of reprisal that are internal to an Office of 
     Inspector General)''.

TITLE LII--PRESIDENTIAL EXPLANATION OF FAILURE TO NOMINATE AN INSPECTOR 
                                GENERAL

     SEC. 5121. PRESIDENTIAL EXPLANATION OF FAILURE TO NOMINATE AN 
                   INSPECTOR GENERAL.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 33 of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     3349d the following:

     ``Sec. 3349e. Presidential explanation of failure to nominate 
       an inspector general

       ``If the President fails to make a formal nomination for a 
     vacant inspector general position that requires a formal 
     nomination by the President to be filled within the period 
     beginning on the later of the date on which the vacancy 
     occurred or on which a nomination is rejected, withdrawn, or 
     returned, and ending on the day that is 210 days after that 
     date, the President shall communicate, within 30 days after 
     the end of such period and not later than June 1 of each year 
     thereafter, to the appropriate congressional committees, as 
     defined in section 12 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.)--
       ``(1) the reasons why the President has not yet made a 
     formal nomination; and
       ``(2) a target date for making a formal nomination.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for subchapter III of chapter 33 of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating 
     to section 3349d the following:

``3349e. Presidential explanation of failure to nominate an Inspector 
              General.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect--
       (1) on the date of enactment of this Act with respect to 
     any vacancy first occurring on or after that date; and
       (2) on the day that is 210 days after the date of enactment 
     of this Act with respect to any vacancy that occurred before 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

TITLE LIII--INTEGRITY COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL OF INSPECTORS GENERAL ON 
                 INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY TRANSPARENCY

     SEC. 5131. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Integrity Committee 
     Transparency Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 5132. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REQUESTS 
                   AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       Section 11(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5)(B)(ii), by striking the period at the 
     end and inserting ``, the length of time the Integrity 
     Committee has been evaluating the allegation of wrongdoing, 
     and a description of any previous written notice provided 
     under this clause with respect to the allegation of 
     wrongdoing, including the description provided for why 
     additional time was needed.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (8)(A)(ii), by inserting ``or corrective 
     action'' after ``disciplinary action''.

     SEC. 5133. AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO CONGRESS ON CERTAIN 
                   ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING CLOSED WITHOUT 
                   REFERRAL.

       Section 11(d)(5)(B) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iii) Availability of information to congress on certain 
     allegations of wrongdoing closed without referral.--

       ``(I) In general.--With respect to an allegation of 
     wrongdoing made by a member of Congress that is closed by the 
     Integrity Committee without referral to the Chairperson of 
     the Integrity Committee to initiate an investigation, the 
     Chairperson of the Integrity Committee shall, not later than 
     60 days after closing the allegation of wrongdoing, provide a 
     written description of the nature of the allegation of 
     wrongdoing and how the Integrity Committee evaluated the 
     allegation of wrongdoing to--

       ``(aa) the Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
     the Senate; and
       ``(bb) the Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the 
     Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
     Representatives.

       ``(II) Requirement to forward.--The Chairperson of the 
     Integrity Committee shall forward any written description or 
     update provided under this clause to the members of the 
     Integrity Committee and to the Chairperson of the Council.''.

     SEC. 5134. SEMIANNUAL REPORT.

       Section 11(d)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(9) Semiannual report.--On or before May 31, 2022, and 
     every 6 months thereafter, the Council shall submit to 
     Congress and the President a report on the activities of the 
     Integrity Committee during the immediately preceding 6-month 
     periods ending March 31 and September 30, which shall include 
     the following with respect to allegations of wrongdoing that 
     are made against Inspectors

[[Page S8384]]

     General and staff members of the various Offices of Inspector 
     General described in paragraph (4)(C):
       ``(A) An overview and analysis of the allegations of 
     wrongdoing disposed of by the Integrity Committee, 
     including--
       ``(i) analysis of the positions held by individuals against 
     whom allegations were made, including the duties affiliated 
     with such positions;
       ``(ii) analysis of the categories or types of the 
     allegations of wrongdoing; and
       ``(iii) a summary of disposition of all the allegations.
       ``(B) The number of allegations received by the Integrity 
     Committee.
       ``(C) The number of allegations referred to the Department 
     of Justice or the Office of Special Counsel, including the 
     number of allegations referred for criminal investigation.
       ``(D) The number of allegations referred to the Chairperson 
     of the Integrity Committee for investigation, a general 
     description of the status of such investigations, and a 
     summary of the findings of investigations completed.
       ``(E) An overview and analysis of allegations of wrongdoing 
     received by the Integrity Committee during any previous 
     reporting period, but remained pending during some part of 
     the six months covered by the report, including--
       ``(i) analysis of the positions held by individuals against 
     whom allegations were made, including the duties affiliated 
     with such positions;
       ``(ii) analysis of the categories or types of the 
     allegations of wrongdoing; and
       ``(iii) a summary of disposition of all the allegations.
       ``(F) The number and category or type of pending 
     investigations.
       ``(G) For each allegation received--
       ``(i) the date on which the investigation was opened;
       ``(ii) the date on which the allegation was disposed of, as 
     applicable; and
       ``(iii) the case number associated with the allegation.
       ``(H) The nature and number of allegations to the Integrity 
     Committee closed without referral, including the 
     justification for why each allegation was closed without 
     referral.
       ``(I) A brief description of any difficulty encountered by 
     the Integrity Committee when receiving, evaluating, 
     investigating, or referring for investigation an allegation 
     received by the Integrity Committee, including a brief 
     description of--
       ``(i) any attempt to prevent or hinder an investigation; or
       ``(ii) concerns about the integrity or operations at an 
     Office of Inspector General.
       ``(J) Other matters that the Council considers 
     appropriate.''.

     SEC. 5135. ADDITIONAL REPORTS.

       Section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections 
     (g) and (h), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
       ``(e) Additional Reports.--
       ``(1) Report to inspector general.--The Chairperson of the 
     Integrity Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General 
     on Integrity and Efficiency shall, immediately whenever the 
     Chairperson of the Integrity Committee becomes aware of 
     particularly serious or flagrant problems, abuses, or 
     deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and 
     operations of an Office of Inspector General for which the 
     Integrity Committee may receive, review, and refer for 
     investigation allegations of wrongdoing under section 11(d), 
     submit a report to the Inspector General who leads the Office 
     at which the serious or flagrant problems, abuses, or 
     deficiencies were alleged.
       ``(2) Report to president, congress, and the 
     establishment.--Not later than 7 days after the date on which 
     an Inspector General receives a report submitted under 
     paragraph (1), the Inspector General shall submit to the 
     President, the appropriate congressional committees, and the 
     head of the establishment--
       ``(A) the report received under paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) a report by the Inspector General containing any 
     comments the Inspector General determines appropriate.''.

     SEC. 5136. REQUIREMENT TO REPORT FINAL DISPOSITION TO 
                   CONGRESS.

       Section 11(d)(8)(B) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting ``and the appropriate 
     congressional committees'' after ``Integrity Committee''.

     SEC. 5137. INVESTIGATIONS OF OFFICES OF INSPECTORS GENERAL OF 
                   ESTABLISHMENTS BY THE INTEGRITY COMMITTEE.

       Section 11(d)(7)(B)(i)(V) of the Inspector General Act of 
     1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting ``, and that an 
     investigation of an Office of Inspector General of an 
     establishment is conducted by another Office of Inspector 
     General of an establishment'' after ``size''.

 TITLE LIV--NOTICE OF ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN 
                      STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

     SEC. 5141. NOTICE OF ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS WHEN THERE IS A 
                   CHANGE IN STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

       Section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) is amended by inserting after subsection (e), as added 
     by section 5135 of this division, the following:
       ``(f) Not later than 15 days after an Inspector General is 
     removed, placed on paid or unpaid non-duty status, or 
     transferred to another position or location within an 
     establishment, the officer or employee performing the 
     functions and duties of the Inspector General temporarily in 
     an acting capacity shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
     Representatives information regarding work being conducted by 
     the Office as of the date on which the Inspector General was 
     removed, placed on paid or unpaid non-duty status, or 
     transferred, which shall include--
       ``(1) for each investigation--
       ``(A) the type of alleged offense;
       ``(B) the fiscal quarter in which the Office initiated the 
     investigation;
       ``(C) the relevant Federal agency, including the relevant 
     component of that Federal agency for any Federal agency 
     listed in section 901(b) of title 31, United States Code, 
     under investigation or affiliated with the individual or 
     entity under investigation; and
       ``(D) whether the investigation is administrative, civil, 
     criminal, or a combination thereof, if known; and
       ``(2) for any work not described in paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) a description of the subject matter and scope;
       ``(B) the relevant agency, including the relevant component 
     of that Federal agency, under review;
       ``(C) the date on which the Office initiated the work; and
       ``(D) the expected time frame for completion.''.

TITLE LV--COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY 
                         REPORT ON EXPENDITURES

     SEC. 5151. CIGIE REPORT ON EXPENDITURES.

       Section 11(c)(3) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) Report on expenditures.--Not later than November 30 
     of each year, the Chairperson shall submit to the appropriate 
     committees or subcommittees of Congress, including the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, a report 
     on the expenditures of the Council for the preceding fiscal 
     year, including from direct appropriations to the Council, 
     interagency funding pursuant to subparagraph (A), a revolving 
     fund pursuant to subparagraph (B), or any other source.''.

   TITLE LVI--NOTICE OF REFUSAL TO PROVIDE INSPECTORS GENERAL ACCESS

     SEC. 5161. NOTICE OF REFUSAL TO PROVIDE INFORMATION OR 
                   ASSISTANCE TO INSPECTORS GENERAL.

       Section 6(c) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) If the information or assistance that is the subject 
     of a report under paragraph (2) is not provided to the 
     Inspector General by the date that is 30 days after the 
     report is made, the Inspector General shall submit a notice 
     that the information or assistance requested has not been 
     provided by the head of the establishment involved or the 
     head of the Federal agency involved, as applicable, to the 
     appropriate congressional committees.''.

TITLE LVII--TRAINING RESOURCES FOR INSPECTORS GENERAL AND OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 5171. TRAINING RESOURCES FOR INSPECTORS GENERAL.

        Section 11(c)(1) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (I) as 
     subparagraphs (F) through (J), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
       ``(E) support the professional development of Inspectors 
     General, including by providing training opportunities on the 
     duties, responsibilities, and authorities under this Act and 
     on topics relevant to Inspectors General and the work of 
     Inspectors General, as identified by Inspectors General and 
     the Council.''.

     SEC. 5172. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL 
                   COMMITTEES.

       The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 5--
       (A) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 
     (1), by striking ``committees or subcommittees of the 
     Congress'' and inserting ``congressional committees''; and
       (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``committees or 
     subcommittees of Congress'' and inserting ``congressional 
     committees'';
       (2) in section 6(h)(4)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``Government''; and
       (B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
       ``(C) Any other relevant congressional committee or 
     subcommittee of jurisdiction.'';
       (3) in section 8--
       (A) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in paragraph (3), by striking ``the Committees on Armed 
     Services and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Government 
     Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives and to 
     other appropriate committees or subcommittees of

[[Page S8385]]

     the Congress'' and inserting ``the appropriate congressional 
     committees, including the Committee on Armed Services of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and to other 
     appropriate committees or subcommittees''; and
       (B) in subsection (f)--
       (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the Committees on Armed 
     Services and on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
     the Senate and the Committees on Armed Services and on 
     Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
     Representatives and to other appropriate committees or 
     subcommittees of Congress'' and inserting ``the appropriate 
     congressional committees, including the Committee on Armed 
     Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of 
     the House of Representatives''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``committees or 
     subcommittees of the Congress'' and inserting ``congressional 
     committees'';
       (4) in section 8D--
       (A) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``Committees on 
     Governmental Affairs and Finance of the Senate and the 
     Committees on Government Operations and Ways and Means of the 
     House of Representatives, and to other appropriate committees 
     or subcommittees of the Congress'' and inserting 
     ``appropriate congressional committees, including the 
     Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways 
     and Means of the House of Representatives''; and
       (B) in subsection (g)--
       (i) in paragraph (1)--

       (I) by striking ``committees or subcommittees of the 
     Congress'' and inserting ``congressional committees''; and
       (II) by striking ``Committees on Governmental Affairs and 
     Finance of the Senate and the Committees on Government Reform 
     and Oversight and Ways and Means of the House of 
     Representatives'' and inserting ``Committee on Finance of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
     Representatives''; and

       (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``committees or 
     subcommittees of Congress'' and inserting ``congressional 
     committees'';
       (5) in section 8E--
       (A) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``Committees on 
     Governmental Affairs and Judiciary of the Senate and the 
     Committees on Government Operations and Judiciary of the 
     House of Representatives, and to other appropriate committees 
     or subcommittees of the Congress'' and inserting 
     ``appropriate congressional committees, including the 
     Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on 
     the Judiciary of the House of Representatives''; and
       (B) in subsection (c)--
       (i) by striking ``committees or subcommittees of the 
     Congress'' and inserting ``congressional committees''; and
       (ii) by striking ``Committees on the Judiciary and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on the 
     Judiciary and Government Operations of the House of 
     Representatives'' and inserting ``Committee on the Judiciary 
     of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House 
     of Representatives'';
       (6) in section 8G--
       (A) in subsection (d)(2)(E), in the matter preceding clause 
     (i), by inserting ``the appropriate congressional committees, 
     including'' after ``are''; and
       (B) in subsection (f)(3)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking ``Committee on 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Government Reform and Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives, and to other appropriate committees or 
     subcommittees of the Congress'' and inserting ``the 
     appropriate congressional committees''; and
       (ii) by striking subparagraph (C);
       (7) in section 8I--
       (A) in subsection (a)(3), in the matter preceding 
     subparagraph (A), by striking ``committees and subcommittees 
     of Congress'' and inserting ``congressional committees''; and
       (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``committees and 
     subcommittees of Congress'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``congressional committees'';
       (8) in section 8N(b), by striking ``committees of 
     Congress'' and inserting ``congressional committees'';
       (9) in section 11--
       (A) in subsection (b)(3)(B)(viii)--
       (i) by striking subclauses (III) and (IV);
       (ii) in subclause (I), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
       (iii) by amending subclause (II) to read as follows:

       ``(II) the appropriate congressional committees.''; and

       (B) in subsection (d)(8)(A)(iii), by striking ``to the'' 
     and all that follows through ``jurisdiction'' and inserting 
     ``to the appropriate congressional committees''; and
       (10) in section 12--
       (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) the term `appropriate congressional committees' 
     means--
       ``(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate;
       ``(B) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       ``(C) any other relevant congressional committee or 
     subcommittee of jurisdiction.''.

     SEC. 5173. SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.

       The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 4(a)(2)--
       (A) by inserting ``, including'' after ``to make 
     recommendations''; and
       (B) by inserting a comma after ``section 5(a)'';
       (2) in section 5--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) by striking paragraphs (1) through (12) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(1) a description of significant problems, abuses, and 
     deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and 
     operations of the establishment and associated reports and 
     recommendations for corrective action made by the Office;
       ``(2) an identification of each recommendation made before 
     the reporting period, for which corrective action has not 
     been completed, including the potential costs savings 
     associated with the recommendation;
       ``(3) a summary of significant investigations closed during 
     the reporting period;
       ``(4) an identification of the total number of convictions 
     during the reporting period resulting from investigations;
       ``(5) information regarding each audit, inspection, or 
     evaluation report issued during the reporting period, 
     including--
       ``(A) a listing of each audit, inspection, or evaluation;
       ``(B) if applicable, the total dollar value of questioned 
     costs (including a separate category for the dollar value of 
     unsupported costs) and the dollar value of recommendations 
     that funds be put to better use, including whether a 
     management decision had been made by the end of the reporting 
     period;
       ``(6) information regarding any management decision made 
     during the reporting period with respect to any audit, 
     inspection, or evaluation issued during a previous reporting 
     period;'';
       (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (13) through (22) as 
     paragraphs (7) through (16), respectively;
       (iii) by amending paragraph (13), as so redesignated, to 
     read as follows:
       ``(13) a report on each investigation conducted by the 
     Office where allegations of misconduct were substantiated, 
     including the name of the senior Government employee, if 
     already made public by the Office, and a detailed description 
     of--
       ``(A) the facts and circumstances of the investigation; and
       ``(B) the status and disposition of the matter, including--
       ``(i) if the matter was referred to the Department of 
     Justice, the date of the referral; and
       ``(ii) if the Department of Justice declined the referral, 
     the date of the declination;''; and
       (iv) in paragraph (15), as so redesignated, by striking 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:
       ``(A) any attempt by the establishment to interfere with 
     the independence of the Office, including--
       ``(i) with budget constraints designed to limit the 
     capabilities of the Office; and
       ``(ii) incidents where the establishment has resisted or 
     objected to oversight activities of the Office or restricted 
     or significantly delayed access to information, including the 
     justification of the establishment for such action; and
       ``(B) a summary of each report made to the head of the 
     establishment under section 6(c)(2) during the reporting 
     period;''; and
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(2) where final action on audit, inspection, and 
     evaluation reports had not been taken before the commencement 
     of the reporting period, statistical tables showing--
       ``(A) with respect to management decisions--
       ``(i) for each report, whether a management decision was 
     made during the reporting period;
       ``(ii) if a management decision was made during the 
     reporting period, the dollar value of disallowed costs and 
     funds to be put to better use as agreed to in the management 
     decision; and
       ``(iii) total number of reports where a management decision 
     was made during the reporting period and the total 
     corresponding dollar value of disallowed costs and funds to 
     be put to better use as agreed to in the management decision; 
     and
       ``(B) with respect to final actions--
       ``(i) whether, if a management decision was made before the 
     end of the reporting period, final action was taken during 
     the reporting period;
       ``(ii) if final action was taken, the dollar value of--

       ``(I) disallowed costs that were recovered by management 
     through collection, offset, property in lieu of cash, or 
     otherwise;
       ``(II) disallowed costs that were written off by 
     management;
       ``(III) disallowed costs and funds to be put to better use 
     not yet recovered or written off by management;
       ``(IV) recommendations that were completed; and
       ``(V) recommendations that management has subsequently 
     concluded should not or could not be implemented or 
     completed; and

       ``(iii) total number of reports where final action was not 
     taken and total number of reports where final action was 
     taken, including the total corresponding dollar value of 
     disallowed costs and funds to be put to better use as agreed 
     to in the management decisions;'';

[[Page S8386]]

       (ii) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3);
       (iii) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``subsection (a)(20)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection 
     (a)(14)(A)''; and
       (iv) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
       ``(4) a statement explaining why final action has not been 
     taken with respect to each audit, inspection, and evaluation 
     report in which a management decision has been made but final 
     action has not yet been taken, except that such statement--
       ``(A) may exclude reports if--
       ``(i) a management decision was made within the preceding 
     year; or
       ``(ii) the report is under formal administrative or 
     judicial appeal or management of the establishment has agreed 
     to pursue a legislative solution; and
       ``(B) shall identify the number of reports in each category 
     so excluded.'';
       (C) by redesignating subsection (h), as so redesignated by 
     section 5135 of this division, as subsection (i); and
       (D) by inserting after subsection (g), as so redesignated 
     by section 5135 of this division, the following:
       ``(h) If an Office has published any portion of the report 
     or information required under subsection (a) to the website 
     of the Office or on oversight.gov, the Office may elect to 
     provide links to the relevant webpage or website in the 
     report of the Office under subsection (a) in lieu of 
     including the information in that report.''.

     SEC. 5174. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS THAT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY 
                   NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OR BUSINESS 
                   ENTITIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 5(g) of the Inspector General Act 
     of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), as so redesignated by section 5135 
     of this division, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(6)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if an 
     audit, evaluation, inspection, or other non-investigative 
     report prepared by an Inspector General specifically 
     identifies a specific non-governmental organization or 
     business entity, whether or not the non-governmental 
     organization or business entity is the subject of that audit, 
     evaluation, inspection, or non-investigative report--
       ``(i) the Inspector General shall notify the non-
     governmental organization or business entity;
       ``(ii) the non-governmental organization or business entity 
     shall have--
       ``(I) 30 days to review the audit, evaluation, inspection, 
     or non-investigative report beginning on the date of 
     publication of the audit, evaluation, inspection, or non-
     investigative report; and
       ``(II) the opportunity to submit a written response for the 
     purpose of clarifying or providing additional context as it 
     directly relates to each instance wherein an audit, 
     evaluation, inspection, or non-investigative report 
     specifically identifies that non-governmental organization or 
     business entity; and
       ``(iii) if a written response is submitted under clause 
     (ii)(II) within the 30-day period described in clause 
     (ii)(I)--
       ``(I) the written response shall be attached to the audit, 
     evaluation, inspection, or non-investigative report; and
       ``(II) in every instance where the report may appear on the 
     public-facing website of the Inspector General, the website 
     shall be updated in order to access a version of the audit, 
     evaluation, inspection, or non-investigative report that 
     includes the written response.
       ``(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a 
     non-governmental organization or business entity that refused 
     to provide information or assistance sought by an Inspector 
     General during the creation of the audit, evaluation, 
     inspection, or non-investigative report.
       ``(C) An Inspector General shall review any written 
     response received under subparagraph (A) for the purpose of 
     preventing the improper disclosure of classified information 
     or other non-public information, consistent with applicable 
     laws, rules, and regulations, and, if necessary, redact such 
     information.''.
       (b) Retroactive Applicability.--During the 30-day period 
     beginning on the date of enactment of this Act--
       (1) the amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply upon 
     the request of a non-governmental organization or business 
     entity named in an audit, evaluation, inspection, or other 
     non-investigative report prepared on or after January 1, 
     2019; and
       (2) any written response submitted under clause (iii) of 
     section 5(g)(6)(A) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.), as added by subsection (a), with respect to 
     such an audit, evaluation, inspection, or other non-
     investigative report shall attach to the original report in 
     the manner described in that clause.
                                 ______