[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 128 (Monday, August 1, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3796-S3797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Inspectors General

  Madam President, on another point and a much shorter point, just in 
case some of my colleagues are wondering how long I am going to have 
the floor--today, I come to speak on the importance of inspector 
generals, IGs, as they are called in this town.
  IGs play an important role watchdogging executive branch Agencies. 
They help make sure that government bureaucrats are held accountable 
when they engage in waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayers' money.
  IGs are force multipliers for Congress in overseeing our 
responsibility of checks and balances of the executive branch of 
government. They are charged with keeping Congress informed of 
wrongdoing and to provide objective, nonpartisan recommendations on 
even the most politically sensitive issues.
  As of today, there are currently 13 IG vacancies throughout the 
Federal Government. Some have nominees; some don't have nominees; and 
some haven't had Senate-confirmed IGs in years.
  Now, to hone in on one vacancy that I paid special attention to over 
the years is that of the Department of Defense inspector general. 
Believe it or not, that office has not had a Senate-confirmed IG in 
more than 6 years. The Department of Defense has an annual budget of 
well over $700 billion, and to date it looks like they will have much 
more money the next fiscal year.

[[Page S3797]]

  Now, I have spent many years calling out waste, fraud, and abuse of 
taxpayers' money at the Department of Defense, and I know full well the 
importance of having a Senate-confirmed IG in place at that very 
important Department. Having an independent and effective watchdog at 
this point is critical to keep the Congress informed of all the 
tomfoolery that happens at the Pentagon. Whether that be paying 
exorbitant amounts of money for a hammer, constructing buildings in 
foreign countries that remain vacant to this day, or failing to hold 
contractors accountable, it all happens time and time again.
  We in Congress need a watchdog with teeth, not afraid to fight off 
the corporate fat cats who seek to enrich themselves off the backs of 
the American taxpayers. Some of these contractors have made careers 
from ripping off the taxpayers through wasteful spending at the 
Department of Defense. A few thousand dollars here, a couple million 
there, it turns out to be waste many times.
  We need a watchdog--an inspector general--at this post, and we need 
it now. I believe my colleagues here in the Senate share my belief in 
the importance of having Senate-confirmed IGs in these vital roles. The 
President must act to nominate, and the Senate should confirm qualified 
and effective watchdogs to the vacancies like this, particularly the 
one at the Department of Defense.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.