October 30, 1996

Honorable Richard W. Riley
Secretary of Education
Washington, DC 20202

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am pleased to submit this Semiannual Report on the activities of the Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the six-month period ending September 30, 1996. Submission of this report is in accordance with section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452, as amended). The Act requires that you transmit this report, along with any comments you may wish to make, to the appropriate Congressional committees and subcommittees.

In the course of the last several months, the OIG has undertaken or completed significant initiatives that have helped Department managers both identify and address issues whose successful resolution is critical to the Department's fiscal and management integrity. These initiatives have benefited from the active cooperation and assistance of ED managers, which evinces a strong commitment on their part to the efficient, effective and equitable administration of Federal edu- cation programs and activities.

I look forward to continued progress on these and other critical issues as together we work to achieve our mutually reinforcing goals of educational excellence and equality of educational opportunity for the nation's learners, and program efficiency, effectiveness and integrity for the nation's learners and taxpayers.

Sincerely,

Thomas R. Bloom

Back to OIG Semiannual Report to Congress, No. 33