[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H5955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IMPROVING GOVERNMENT FOR AMERICA'S TAXPAYERS ACT

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7331) to require the Comptroller 
General of the United States to provide certain information with 
respect to unimplemented priority recommendations as part of the 
Comptroller General's annual reporting to Congress, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7331

       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 ``Improving Government for 
     America's Taxpayers Act''.

     SEC. 2. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE UNIMPLEMENTED 
                   PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS.

       The Comptroller General of the United States shall, as part 
     of the Comptroller General's annual reporting to committees 
     of Congress--
       (1) consolidate Matters for Congressional Consideration 
     from the Government Accountability Office in one report 
     organized by policy topic that includes the amount of time 
     such Matters have been unimplemented and submit such report 
     to congressional leadership and the oversight committees of 
     each House;
       (2) with respect to the annual letters sent by the 
     Comptroller General to individual agency heads and relevant 
     congressional committees on the status of unimplemented 
     priority recommendations, identify any additional 
     congressional oversight actions that can help agencies 
     implement such priority recommendations and address any 
     underlying issues relating to such implementation;
       (3) make publicly available the information described in 
     paragraphs (1) and (2); and
       (4) publish any known costs of unimplemented priority 
     recommendations, if applicable.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Keller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of H.R. 7331, 
the Improving Government for America's Taxpayers Act, which was 
introduced by Representatives Derek Kilmer and William Timmons, chair 
and vice chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of 
Congress. I thank Ranking Member Comer, and Representatives Connolly, 
Mace, Krishnamoorthi, Norman, Porter, and Norton for cosponsoring this 
bill.
  This is an important bipartisan bill that would help improve the 
implementation of recommendations made to Congress by the Government 
Accountability Office. GAO's work for Congress is invaluable and helps 
us to ensure a more effective and efficient government in serving the 
people and the needs of the American people.
  The bill would direct GAO to consolidate recommendations to Congress 
in one succinct report. It would also direct GAO to identify any 
additional oversight actions Congress should take to assist agencies in 
implementing their open priority recommendations. Implementing GAO's 
recommendations to agencies and Congress would help improve government 
efficiency and save taxpayers' dollars.
  As we seek greater transparency and accountability within our Federal 
Government, I appreciate the bipartisan approach that Chair Kilmer and 
Vice Chair Timmons have taken on this bill. I commend my colleagues, 
Senator Portman and Senator Peters, for supporting this bill in the 
Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Government Accountability Office serves a vital role 
in examining agency spending and advising lawmakers and Federal 
agencies how to make government work better for the American people.
  GAO makes many recommendations regarding specific actions executive 
branch agencies should take to save taxpayer dollars. It also suggests 
legislative actions Congress could take to improve government 
performance.
  Despite GAO's successes, there are more than 100 actions executive 
branch agencies could take to be more effective and achieve greater 
efficiency.
  H.R. 7331 will consolidate open GAO recommendations for review by 
congressional leadership and the appropriate committees of 
jurisdiction. It will annually highlight the congressional oversight 
and legislative actions suggested to address these recommendations.
  In doing so, the bill will help ensure that Congress has the tools it 
needs to pass needed legislation and spur executive agencies to 
implement needed reforms.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania does not have any further speakers, I am prepared to 
close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7331 will help Congress address 
specific--but fixable--issues across our sprawling Federal Government 
which are causing waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.
  This bipartisan legislation will help improve the functioning of the 
American people's government and ultimately save taxpayer dollars.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 7331, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7331, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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