Commending the Inspectors General for their efforts to prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement, and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the Federal Government during the past 25 years.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Joint Resolution 70, which recognizes inspectors general for their efforts to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse over the last 25 years and urge Members to vote for this measure.

The Committee on Government Reform has a long history of working with the inspectors general to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Federal programs. Indeed, the Committee on Government Reform drafted the original statute establishing inspectors general in the executive branch 25 years ago.

The close relationship between the inspectors general and our committee is entirely appropriate. The inspectors general community is one of Congress's principal watchdogs in the executive branch. There is much we can learn from each other as we work to ensure that our government operates in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

IGs have a very difficult job. They are appointed by the President and report to Congress as well as the head of their agency. As independent investigators within the Federal agencies, they are often the last person a manager wants to hear from. Yet in many instances, the toughest jobs are the ones that need the doing most.

During fiscal year 2002, IGs returned over $4.5 billion to the Federal Government in restitutions and recoveries, and their audits identified another $72 billion in funds that could be used more effectively. They also had more than 10,000 successful criminal prosecutions. Similar accomplishments are made year after year. The IGs have more than proven their usefulness to Congress and to the American public.

It has been 25 years since the passage of the original IG act. That act established IGs in six Cabinet-level Departments. A good measure of the success of the IG concept is the fact that today, there are inspectors general in all Departments and also in most major independent agencies, for a total of 59 in all. Both Congress and the executive agencies themselves have come to rely heavily on the IGs to uncover fraud, waste, and abuse in the Federal Government.

This resolution states in part, ``Inspectors General work to serve the American taxpayer by promoting economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity in the administration of the programs and operations of the Federal Government.''

I firmly believe that to be true, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution commemorating their 25th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 70) recognizing Inspectors General over the last 25 years in their efforts to prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement, and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the joint resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), introduced House Joint Resolution 70. This resolution commends inspectors general for the important work that they do to improve the operation of the Federal Government.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Enactment of the Inspector General Act. This 1978 law originally established Offices of Inspectors General in 12 Federal Departments and agencies. This act has since been amended so that today, statutory IGs oversee nearly 60 Federal Departments and agencies.

Inspectors general are a valuable resource for Congress and the American people. Through their audits and investigations, they highlight wasteful spending and fraudulent activities and recommend ways to improve the operation of government programs. In fiscal year 2002, IGs made recommendations that saved more than $70 billion. Investigations performed by IG personnel also resulted in more than 10,000 criminal prosecutions.

Mr. Speaker, 25 years after the enactment of the IG act, IGs remain important guardians of good government. This resolution salutes their efforts, and I strongly support its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate and welcome the gentleman from Florida in his new capacity as an ex-officio member of the Committee on Government Reform.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 18) commending the Inspectors General for their efforts to prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement, and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the Federal Government during the past 25 years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S.J. Res. 18.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, Senate Joint Resolution 18 commends Inspectors General across the Federal Government for their contributions to taxpayers and overall government efficiency over the last 25 years.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Inspector General Act of 1978 that created the position of Inspector General in Federal agencies and departments. I had the honor of introducing the original legislation to name an Inspector General or create an Inspector General position for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Today, Inspectors General exist in 57 executive branch agencies. Their work has eliminated waste in management at all levels of the Federal Government and saved countless taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, this body has already passed the House version of this resolution, so I will similarly urge all Members to support the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 18.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close by saying that many, many people have paid lip service to waste, fraud, and abuse within the Federal Government, but these Inspectors General and their staffs are on the front lines trying to do something about this to save taxpayers money and help make our Federal Government run more honestly and efficiently, so I urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I support Senate Joint Resolution 18 which recognizes Inspectors General for their efforts to prevent waste, fraud and abuse over the past 25 years. In fact, as has been just pointed out, the House passed H.J. Res. 70 by voice just a few days ago.

Twenty-five years ago the Inspector General Act of 1978 established, for the first time, IG's in 12 executive branch agencies. They proved so successful that today there are IG's in 59 Federal agencies. The Inspectors General report both to the agency head and to Congress and are one of Congress's principal watchdogs in the executive branch.

IGs have a tough job. As independent investigators within Federal agencies, they are often the last person a manager wants to hear from.

The IGs returned over $4.5 billion to the Federal Government during fiscal year 2002 in restitutions and recoveries. IG audits also identified another $72 billion in funds that could be used more efficiently and effectively. They also had more than 10,000 successful criminal prosecutions.

The IGs make similar contributions year after year. They have more than proven their usefulness to Congress and the American people. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution commemorating their 25th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.