II
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 340
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 28, 2009
Mr. Grassley (for himself and Mr. Baucus) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
A BILL
To enhance the oversight authority of the Comptroller General of the United States with respect to expenditures under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Troubled Asset Relief Program
Enhancement Act
.
Enhanced oversight of the TARP
Section 116 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5226) is amended—
in subsection (a)(1)(A)—
in clause (iii), by striking
and
at the end;
in clause (iv),
by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
;
and
by adding at the end the following:
public accountability for the exercise of such authority, including with respect to actions taken by those entities participating in programs established under this Act.
; and
in subsection (a)(2)—
by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (E); and
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
Access to records
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and for purposes of reviewing the performance of the TARP, the Comptroller General shall have access, upon request, to any information, data, schedules, books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, electronic communications, or other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the TARP, any entity established by the Secretary under this Act, or any entity participating in a program established under the authority of this Act, and to the officers, employees, directors, independent public accountants, financial advisors and any and all other agents and representatives thereof, at such time as the Comptroller General may request.
Verification
The Comptroller General shall be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by, among others, depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians.
Copies
The Comptroller General may make and retain copies of such books, accounts, and other records as the Comptroller General deems appropriate.
Agreement by entities
Each contract, term sheet, or other agreement between the Secretary or the TARP (or any TARP vehicle, officer, director, employee, independent public accountant, financial advisor, or other TARP agent or representative) and an entity participating in a program established under this Act shall provide for access by the Comptroller General in accordance with this section.
Restriction on public disclosure
In general
The Comptroller General may not publicly disclose proprietary or trade secret information obtained under this section.
Exception for congressional committees
This subparagraph does not limit disclosures to congressional committees or members thereof having jurisdiction over any private or public entity participating in a program established under this Act.
Rule of construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secrets or other information prohibited by section 1905 of title 18, United States Code, or other applicable provisions of law.
.