Improving Government for America's Taxpayers Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7331) to require the Comptroller General of the United States to provide certain information with respect to unimplemented priority recommendations as part of the Comptroller General's annual reporting to Congress, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of H.R. 7331, the Improving Government for America's Taxpayers Act, which was introduced by Representatives Derek Kilmer and William Timmons, chair and vice chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. I thank Ranking Member Comer, and Representatives Connolly, Mace, Krishnamoorthi, Norman, Porter, and Norton for cosponsoring this bill.

This is an important bipartisan bill that would help improve the implementation of recommendations made to Congress by the Government Accountability Office. GAO's work for Congress is invaluable and helps us to ensure a more effective and efficient government in serving the people and the needs of the American people.

The bill would direct GAO to consolidate recommendations to Congress in one succinct report. It would also direct GAO to identify any additional oversight actions Congress should take to assist agencies in implementing their open priority recommendations. Implementing GAO's recommendations to agencies and Congress would help improve government efficiency and save taxpayers' dollars.

As we seek greater transparency and accountability within our Federal Government, I appreciate the bipartisan approach that Chair Kilmer and Vice Chair Timmons have taken on this bill. I commend my colleagues, Senator Portman and Senator Peters, for supporting this bill in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Pennsylvania does not have any further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 7331, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Government Accountability Office serves a vital role in examining agency spending and advising lawmakers and Federal agencies how to make government work better for the American people.

GAO makes many recommendations regarding specific actions executive branch agencies should take to save taxpayer dollars. It also suggests legislative actions Congress could take to improve government performance.

Despite GAO's successes, there are more than 100 actions executive branch agencies could take to be more effective and achieve greater efficiency.

H.R. 7331 will consolidate open GAO recommendations for review by congressional leadership and the appropriate committees of jurisdiction. It will annually highlight the congressional oversight and legislative actions suggested to address these recommendations.

In doing so, the bill will help ensure that Congress has the tools it needs to pass needed legislation and spur executive agencies to implement needed reforms.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7331 will help Congress address specific--but fixable--issues across our sprawling Federal Government which are causing waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.

This bipartisan legislation will help improve the functioning of the American people's government and ultimately save taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.