Congressman Sander Levin

Cracking Down on Government Credit Card Abuse

In response to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that documented a variety of problems associated with government-issued credit cards, I recently joined with a bipartisan group of House lawmakers in backing legislation (H.R. 1395) to crack down on the abuse of government credit and debit cards.

Among other problems, the GAO investigation found that some government cardholders “used purchase cards to subscribe to Internet dating services, buy video iPods for personal use, and pay for lavish dinners that included top-shelf liquor.” To view the GAO report on government credit card abuse click here.

H.R. 1395, the Government Credit Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2007, would require all federal agencies to strengthen their internal controls for government charge card programs, as well as establish penalties for violations. It would also authorize federal agencies to offset the salaries of employees who make improper purchases and would require the immediate dismissal of employees who knowingly committed fraud.