[House Report 106-78]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




                                                  Union Calendar No. 41

106th Congress, 1st Session -  - -  -  -  -  -  -  - House Report 106-78

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                            OVERSIGHT PLANS

                                FOR ALL

                            HOUSE COMMITTEES

                   with accompanying recommendations

                               __________

                                 by the

                     COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

               (Required by House Rule X, Clause 2(d)(2))

                                     


                                     

 March 31, 1999.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                               --------

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE                    
55-429 CC                  WASHINGTON : 1999





                     COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM

                     DAN BURTON, Indiana, Chairman

BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York         HENRY A. WAXMAN, California
CONSTANCE A. MORELLA, Maryland       TOM LANTOS, California
CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Connecticut       ROBERT E. WISE, Jr., West Virginia
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida         MAJOR R. OWENS, New York
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York             EDOLPHUS TOWNS, New York
STEPHEN HORN, California             PAUL E. KANJORSKI, Pennsylvania
JOHN L. MICA, Florida                PATSY T. MINK, Hawaii
THOMAS M. DAVIS, Virginia            CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York
DAVID M. McINTOSH, Indiana           ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, Washington, 
MARK E. SOUDER, Indiana                  DC
JOE SCARBOROUGH, Florida             CHAKA FATTAH, Pennsylvania
STEVEN C. LaTOURETTE, Ohio           ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland
MARSHALL ``MARK'' SANFORD, South     DENNIS J. KUCINICH, Ohio
    Carolina                         ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH, Illinois
BOB BARR, Georgia                    DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois
DAN MILLER, Florida                  JOHN F. TIERNEY, Massachusetts
ASA HUTCHINSON, Arizona              JIM TURNER, Texas
LEE TERRY, Nebraska                  THOMAS H. ALLEN, Maine
JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois               HAROLD E. FORD, Jr., Tennessee
GREG WALDEN, Oregon                  JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY, Illinois
DOUG OSE, California                             ------
PAUL RYAN, Wisconsin                 BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont 
JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, California            (Independent)
HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho


                      Kevin Binger, Staff Director
                 Daniel R. Moll, Deputy Staff Director
           David A. Kass, Deputy Counsel and Parliamentarian
                      Carla J. Martin, Chief Clerk
                 Phil Schiliro, Minority Staff Director

                                  (ii)




                            C O N T E N T S

                               __________
                                                                   Page
Recommendations..................................................     1
Agriculture......................................................     4
Appropriations...................................................    11
Armed Services...................................................    20
Banking and Financial Services...................................    28
Budget...........................................................    41
Commerce.........................................................    46
Education and the Workforce......................................    74
Government Reform................................................    82
House Administration.............................................   107
Intelligence.....................................................   112
International Relations..........................................   116
Judiciary........................................................   126
Resources........................................................   143
Rules............................................................   174
Science..........................................................   186
Small Business...................................................   187
Standards of Official Conduct....................................   192
Transportation and Infrastructure................................   194
Veteran's Affairs................................................   205
Ways and Means...................................................   217

                                 (iii)

  
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, March 31, 1999.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker:
    In accordance with Rule X, clause 2(d)(2), of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, I respectfully submit the 
oversight plans of each committee together with recommendations 
to ensure the most effective coordination of such plans and 
otherwise achieve the objectives of the House Rules.
                                              Dan Burton, Chairman.

                                  (v)



                                                  Union Calendar No. 41

106th Congress                                                   Report
  1st Session            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                106-78

=======================================================================



 
      OVERSIGHT PLANS FOR ALL HOUSE COMMITTEES WITH ACCOMPANYING 
                            RECOMMENDATIONS

                                _______
                                

 March 31, 1999.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Burton, from the Committee on Government Reform submitted the 
                               following

                                 REPORT



                    OVERSIGHT IN THE 106TH CONGRESS

                            RECOMMENDATIONS

                                 OF THE

                     COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM

    (Pursuant to Rule X, clause 2(d)(2), the Committee on 
Government Reform presents to the House the oversight plans 
submitted by each standing committee, along with the 
committee's recommendations for ensuring the most effective 
coordination of such plans.)

    Congressional oversight, as envisioned by the Leadership of 
the House, is ultimately about the public interest, the liberty 
of citizens, and the effective use of taxpayers' dollars. The 
ability, and duty, of popularly-elected representatives to 
oversee the executive branch is a fundamental component of the 
system of checks and balances established by the founding 
fathers. The Rules of the House of Representatives ensure 
Congress' responsibility to the public in this regard. Pursuant 
to House Rule X, clause 2(b)(1),

each standing committee shall review and study on a continuing 
basis--

          (A) the application, administration, execution, and 
        effectiveness of laws and programs addressing subjects 
        within its jurisdiction;
          (B) the organization and operation of Federal 
        agencies and entities having responsibilities for the 
        administration and execution of laws and programs 
        addressing subjects within its jurisdiction;
          (C) any conditions or circumstances that may indicate 
        the necessity or desirability of enacting new or 
        additional legislation addressing subjects within its 
        jurisdiction (whether or not a bill or resolution has 
        been introduced with respect thereto); and
          (D) future research and forecasting on subjects 
        within its jurisdiction.

    Congressional oversight in the 106th Congress should focus 
on three fundamental efforts: (1) Review the implementation by 
the executive branch of recent policy changes enacted by 
Congress to assess their effectiveness. Congress enacted 
significant reform legislation in the 105th Congress. These 
reforms include balancing the budget, restructuring the 
Internal Revenue Service, improving public education in our 
classrooms, and providing tax relief to small businesses, the 
self-employed, and families with children. Other reform efforts 
include healthcare reforms, anticrime legislation that is 
helping to significantly lower crime rates, protecting our 
children from pornography on the internet, strengthening our 
military, and cracking down on deadbeat parents.
    Many of these reforms have already resulted in major cost 
savings, improvements in the efficiency of the Federal 
Government, and improvements to the health, safety, and welfare 
of American citizens. But they will need continued monitoring 
and oversight by the Congress to ensure their success as 
effective legislative changes. In their oversight plans for the 
106th Congress, House committees recognize the importance of 
their responsibility to oversee the implementation of recent 
legislative reforms. The Government Reform Committee recommends 
that House committees fully utilize the auditing and oversight 
services of the General Accounting Office, the Congressional 
Research Service, and agency Inspectors General to augment 
their efforts to oversee implementation of these critical 
legislative reforms.
    (2) Review existing government programs in order to inform 
the public and build a compelling case for further change and 
reform. While the legislative successes of the 105th Congress 
are laudable, many other opportunities for streamlining, 
improving efficiency, and reducing costs to the American 
taxpayer exist. The House committee oversight plans reveal 
priority areas for additional programmatic and agency reform 
efforts in the 106th Congress, including: public education 
system reform; Social Security trust fund solvency; fundamental 
tax code reform; and reforms to assure minimal year 2000 
computer conversion problems. Most committees recognize the 
importance of the Government Performance and Results Act as a 
tool for building the case for reform. The use of this 
important tool is affirmed in most committee oversight plans, 
but is most evident as it filters into the daily work of 
committees, particularly in hearings and legislative 
decisionmaking. The Government Reform Committee recommends that 
each House committee continue using agency strategic plans and 
performance plans mandated by the Results Act as a basis for 
conducting oversight of agencies and programs in its 
jurisdiction, and for holding government more accountable for 
the activities and services it delivers.
    (3) Review government programs to root out waste, fraud and 
abuse, thereby maximizing accountability in the Federal 
Government to the public. The merits of Federal programs and 
activities are, of course, subject to intense debate--
particularly in times of keen competition for limited Federal 
resources. However, the importance of efficient, effective, and 
honest management is not a debatable issue, and is perhaps even 
more important in an era of budget surpluses. Fraud, waste, 
abuse, and mismanagement serve no legitimate constituency or 
political interest. They cheat both the taxpayers and the 
intended beneficiaries of the programs and activities they 
affect. They also undermine the confidence of the American 
people in the capacity and will of the Federal Government to 
perform its functions effectively. The Government Reform 
Committee recommends that House committees rigorously conduct 
oversight of the problems identified in (1) the General 
Accounting Office's ``High Risk List'' of Federal programs at 
risk for serious fraud, waste, and abuse; (2) the General 
Accounting Office's January 1999 report entitled, ``Major 
Management Challenges and Program Risks'' [GAO/OCG-99-8]; and, 
(3) agency Inspector General semi-annual and annual reports to 
Congress. These documents are an important source of serious 
problems currently festering in the Federal Government that 
need immediate attention by Congress.





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