Chronology of Committee Work

Subcommittee Reviews Federal Financial Management

On Thursday, June 5, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Oversight of Federal Financial Management.”

The hearing examined the results of GAO’s audit of the federal government’s consolidated financial statement (CFS) for the fiscal year ending in 2007, as well as management weaknesses, including improper payments, abuse of government credit cards, and problems with modernization.

Management of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on management of civil rights programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Representative farmers and USDA employees testified about longstanding problems with civil rights enforcement and case processing. The USDA Inspector General and GAO reported that lengthy backlogs persist and that USDA’s statistics are not reliable.

Towns Investigates Sewage Sludge Experiment in Minority Neighborhoods

Chairman Towns demands answers regarding federally-funded experiments that tested fertilizer made from human and industrial wastes in poor, black neighborhoods in Baltimore and East St. Louis.

Bill to Close Overseas Contracting Loophole Advances

At an April 16, 2008 business meeting, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform passed H.R. 5712, the Close the Contractor Fraud Loophole Act, by a voice vote.

Hearing on Overseas Contracting Loophole

On Tuesday, April 15, 2008, at 2:00 pm, in room 2247 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 5712, Close the Contractor Fraud Loophole Act. This bill requires contractors to report fraud and overbilling on contracts performed overseas and commercial item contracts, both of which were excluded from a proposed rule on contractor ethics. The hearing will also consider a bill on the disposal of Federal surplus property.

Federal Security: ID Cards and Background Checks

The Subcommittee held a hearing to review Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which requires all federal employees and contractors to undergo background checks and to use a standardized identification card. The hearing released a GAO report finding that the program is incurring high costs but providing little benefit to date, and explored the impact that implementation of the program may have on the current security clearance issuance backlog.

Subcommittee Approves Contracting, Property Bills

On Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 2:00 pm, in room 2247 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Subcommittee held a business meeting to mark up four pending bills.

Contracting Reform: Expert Recommendations and Pending Bills

On Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., in Rayburn, the Government Management, Organization and Procurement held a hearing on Contracting Reform: Expert Recommendations and Pending Bills.

Federal Information Security: Joint Hearing on HR 4791

On Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 11:30 a.m., in 2154 Rayburn, the Government Management and Information Policy Subcommittees held a joint legislative hearing on H.R. 4791.

H.R. 4791 updates the Federal Information Security Management Act to establish new agency requirements for securing personal or sensitive data.

The bill fixes weaknesses identified by recent Oversight Committee investigations into federal data breaches.

Surplus Property: Improving Donation and Sales Programs

On Wednesday, February 13, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing in 2247 Rayburn to review how federal surplus property is handled. The hearing focused on programs and legislation to donate unused computer equipment to schools and community organizations.

Military Base Realignment: Contracting Opportunities for Impacted Communities

The Subcommittee held a hearing on contracting for military base construction and maintenance projects.

The hearing examined whether contracting opportunities are being extended to locally-owned small disadvantaged businesses and companies owned by service-disabled veterans.

Chairman Towns Seeks Documents on Cancelled 9/11 Health Contract

Chairman Towns sent a letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt requesting documents on the abrupt cancellation of a contract to coordinate medical and pharmacy care for 9/11 responders who are ill. HHS failed to attend a January 22, 2007 hearing to examine the cancellation and its effect on health care for those who worked on Ground Zero recovery.

9/11 Health: Why Did HHS Cancel Contracts to Manage Responder Health Care?

The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing titled, “9/11 Health: Why Did HHS Cancel Contracts to Manage Responder Health Care?” in New York City. The hearing reviewed a recent decision by the Department of Health and Human Services to cancel a request for proposals to coordinate care for responders who are ill.

House Passes Towns Contracting Bill

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3179, the Local Preparedness Acquisition Act, a bill by Chairman Edolphus Towns to streamline contracting for state and local public safety agencies.

Too Many Cooks? Coordinating Federal and State Health IT

On Thursday, November 1, 2007, at 2:00 pm, in room 2154, the Subcommittee held an oversight hearing entitled, “Too Many Cooks? Coordinating Federal and State Health IT.”

Pick A Card, Any Card: Secure ID Technology

The Subcommittee held a hearing to review identification technology being deployed by the federal and state governments and examine how to make a “tamper-proof” ID.

House Passes Inspector General Reforms

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 928, the Improving Government Accountability Act, by a vote of 404-11.  The bill enhances independence and accountability of Inspectors General in federal agencies.

Opening Federal Contracting to Small, Minority-Owned Business

Chairman Towns convened a hearing to review federal contracting programs that are designed to assist small and disadvantaged business owners in accessing the federal marketplace.

Health Care for 9/11 Responders

Marking the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Chairman Towns convened a field hearing in New York City on the management of health care for 9/11 responders. 

Committee Approves Inspector General Bill

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved, by voice vote, a bill to enhance the independence and accountability of Inspectors General, the watchdogs in federal agencies.  The bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

House Passes Customer Service Bill

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 404, the Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act, by a vote of 383-0.  The bill requires federal agencies to measure customer satisfaction and set standards for customer service.

Contracting: Does Performance Matter?

The Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Federal Contracting: Do Poor Performers Keep Winning?”

This hearing reviewed flaws in federal contracting that allow contractors with poor performance records to either renew existing contracts or receive subsequent contracts with the same or different federal agencies.

Inspectors General: Independence and Accountability

The Subcommittee held a hearing titled, "Inspectors General: Independence and Accountability" to examine whether the role of Inspectors General as federal agency watchdogs. 

In connection with the hearing, Chairman Towns issued a fact sheet detailing recent situations that raise questions about independence and accountability of IGs.

Joint Hearing on Federal IT Security: The Future of FISMA

On Thursday, June 7, the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement and the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives hold a joint hearing on federal IT security and the future of FISMA. The hearing will review

Carbon-Neutral Government Act of 2007

The Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement held a hearing on The Carbon-Neutral Government Act of 2007.

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