September 08, 2006   SENATE APPROVES BILL TO BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY TO FEDERAL SPENDING HSGAC Played Key Role in Moving Legislation Forward   The Senate has approved legislation passed out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year that would increase the transparency of federal spending decisions. The measure, entitled the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, S. 2590, would require the federal government to create and maintain a searchable website where the public can view information on how federal funds are spent. Committee Chairman Susan Collins, R-Me., and Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., worked with the bill’s original co-sponsors Senators Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Barak Obama, D-Ill., to make improvements in the legislation. Eventually, the bill won 44 co-sponsors. The bill would direct the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that a searchable public web site is established that lists federal funding awards, including grants, contracts, and loans. All transactions under $25,000 would be exempted from the reporting requirement, as well as awards that are classified. “American taxpayers deserve greater transparency in how their tax dollars are spent, because transparency is a key element of accountability. I believe this bill will aid in making this concept a reality,” said Senator Collins. “This proposal builds on my E-Government Act of 2002 by making government information as accessible as possible to the public,” Lieberman said. “A searchable database of billions of dollars worth of federal grants, contracts, and loans will increase transparency of federal spending, provide taxpayers with a tool to hold the government accountable, and reduce fraud.” HSGAC reported out the bill on July 27, 2006. Passing the legislation was a major goal of advocacy groups across the political spectrum.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 September 2006 Press Releases   September 29 - FEMA Reinvention Clears Congress   September 29 - Lieberman Condemns Lack of Funding for Transit Security for Transit Security as Significant Port Security Bill Moves Forward   September 27 - Lieberman, Smith Propose Benefits for Domestic Partners   September 27 - DHS Lacks Adequate Controls for Interagency Contracting   September 25 - Dodd, Lieberman Announce Port, Transit Security Grants for Connecticut   September 22 - Lieberman Calls Chemical Security Agreement Far From Complete   September 21 - Lieberman Regrets Loss of "Historic Opportunity" for Bipartisan Immigration Refrom   September 19 - Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing Examines Terrorist Recruitment in U.S. Prisons   September 19 - Lieberman Hails Report on Threat of Homegrown Terror in Prisons   September 18 - House-Senate Negotiators Reach Agreement on Collins-Lieberman FEMA, Hurricane Katrina Legislation   September 15 - Lieberman Flags Connecticut Benefits in Port Security Bill   September 15 - Lieberman Sets Future Priorities for Homeland Security   September 13 - Lieberman Hails Rail, Transit Security Improvements   September 12 - Senator Lieberman Urges Passage of Port Security Bill   September 12 - Homeland Security: The Next Five Years   September 11 - Lieberman Calls for Leadership on Post 9/11 Security   September 11 - Senators Collins, Lieberman and Durbin Call for Long-Overdue Implementation Plan for the Information Sharing Environment   September 8 current Press Release   September 6 - Collins, Lieberman Highlight National Preparedness Month
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510