Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Home : Graphics On : Privacy Policy    Sign up for Email: Search:
	Press Releases June 22, 2005   COMMITTEE APPROVES COLLINS - FEINGOLD BILL TO SAVE TAXPAYERS $300 MILLION ANNUALLY BY ELIMINATING WASTEFUL SPENDING IN PURCHASE CARD PROGRAM   Washington, D.C. - The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today approved legislation introduced by Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) to crack down on government purchase card abuse. The bill requires stricter controls on the use of government credit cards. Under the Collins-Feingold legislation, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would provide guidance to agencies to better train their cardholders and more effectively analyze their spending data. The legislation would also direct the General Services Administration (GSA) to improve its efforts to secure discounts with vendors and to continue working to obtain useful data that will give the federal government a better idea of what is being purchased with purchase cards. The legislation must now be considered by the Senate. “The American people have the right to expect the federal government to spend their tax dollars carefully and wisely,” Senator Collins said. “The GAO has identified missed savings due to a lack of training and management oversight in the purchase card program, including purchase card holders who failed to take advantage of readily available discounts and agencies that failed to negotiate lower prices with vendors. These cardholders and agencies are missing the boat. Our legislation will help to rein in such irresponsible government spending practices.” “Any program that lets someone use a government credit card to buy designer luggage needs serious reform right away,” said Feingold. “I’m pleased that the legislation Senator Collins and I introduced to tighten the use of government credit cards is one step closer to becoming law. At a time when our country is facing record deficits, our bill will help end the misuse of taxpayer dollars.” In 2003, Senators Collins and Feingold Collins asked the General Accounting Office, now the Government Accountability Office (GAO), to study the possible abuse of government purchase cards. It its report detailing abuses and misuses of government purchase cards, the GAO estimated that $300 million could be saved annually with better oversight of purchase card use. The GAO also found that the use of government purchase cards between 1994 and 2003 increased from $1 billion to $16 billion. As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Collins last year held a hearing to examine the government's use of purchase cards.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 June 2005 Press Releases May   |  July   --   2004   |  2006     June 29 - IN RESPONSE TO COLLINS-LIEBERMAN COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION, STATE DEPARTMENT AND TERRORIST SCREENING CENTER ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO SHARE TERRORIST INFORMATION   June 27 - SENATOR COLLINS COMMENDS DHS REPORT TO COORDINATE HOMELAND SECURITY EFFORTS WITH CANADA & MEXICO   June 24 - SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON LINDA SPRINGER   June 23 - SENATOR COLLINS PRESSES FOR STRONGER TRADE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION FROM FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS   June 22 current Press Release   June 22 - COMMITTEE APPROVES SENATOR COLLINS’ BILL TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR AMBULANCE, RESCUE & OTHER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES   June 22 - COMMITTEE APPROVES COLLINS-CARPER POSTAL REFORM LEGISLATION   June 21 - SENATORS COLLINS, LIEBERMAN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS   June 21 - SENATOR COLLINS CHAIRS HEARING ON JUVENILE DIABETES   June 17 - SENATORS COLLINS AND LIEBERMAN ANNOUNCE RECEIPT OF THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF BRAC-RELATED DOCUMENTS, SECURE COMMITMENT FROM SECRETARY ENGLAND THAT ADDL REQUESTS WILL BE RESPONDED TO   June 16 - SENATOR COLLINS CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS WHO CHEAT ON THEIR TAXES, POSE UNFAIR COMPEITITION   June 15 - SENATOR COLLINS CALLS FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AT CHEMICAL FACILITIES   June 13 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RESPONDS FURTHER TO SENATORS COLLINS, LIEBERMAN’S SUBPOENA, DELIVERS ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE   June 12 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RELEASES MORE BRAC-RELATED DOCUMENTS FOLLOWING SENATORS COLLINS, LIEBERMAN ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENA LAST WEEK   June 10 - SENATOR COLLINS STATEMENT ON NCTC DIRECTOR NOMINATION   June 10 - SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT’S NOMINATIONS FOR PRIVACY & CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD   June 8 - SENATOR COLLINS JOINS EFFORT TO CRACK DOWN ON SAUDI SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM   June 7 - SENATORS COLLINS AND LIEBERMAN ISSUE SUBPOENA FOR BASE CLOSURE DOCUMENTS   June 2 - DoD RELEASED BRAC DATA INSUFFICIENT, ACCORDING TO SENATORS COLLINS AND LIEBERMAN
About the Committee | Hearings | Legislation & Nominations | Press | Issues | Subcommittees | Committee Documents | Related Links
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510