GAO-IG Act

Mr. Speaker, I missed some votes on Wednesday, December 19, all votes on Thursday, December 20, and some votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows:

Roll Call Vote Number 440 (Passage of H.R. 7327, the SECURE Technology Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 441 (Passage of H.R. 7279, the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 442 (Passage of H.R. 6227, the National Quantum Initiative Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 443 (Passage of H.R. 6652): YES;

Roll Call Vote 444 (Passage of S. 1520, the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 445 (Passage of S. 3530, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 446 (Agreeing to H. Res. 1180): NO;

Roll Call Vote Number 447 (Agreeing to H. Res. 1181): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 448 (Concurring in the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to S. 756, the First Step Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 449 (Passage of H.R. 7328, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 450 (Concurring in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5075, the Ashanti Alert Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 451 (Passage of H.R. 7093, the Clean Up the Code Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 452 (Passage of S. 2896, the Justice Against Corruption on K Street Act of 2018 or JACK Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 453 (Passage of S. 2961, the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 454 (Passage of S. 2679, the Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 455 (Passage of H.R. 7227, the Taxpayer First Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 456 (Concurring in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4227, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act of 2019): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 457 (Passage of S. 2652, the Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 458 (Passage of S. 2765, the RBIC Advisers Relief Act of 2018): YES;

Roll Call Vote Number 459 (Concurring in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5509, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act):

Mr. Speaker, due to unavoidable circumstances, I was physically absent from the House of Representatives on December 21, 2018. On that day, I missed 9 recorded votes. I submit for the Record how I would have voted had I been present for those votes.

On Roll Call No. 474 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 1063, had I been present, I would have voted ``Aye.''

On Roll Call No. 475 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 7318, had I been present, I would have voted ``Aye.''

On Roll Call No. 476 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 7319, had I been present, I would have voted ``Aye.''

On Roll Call No. 477 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 7329, had I been present, I would have voted ``Aye.''

On Roll Call No. 478 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S. 3367, had I been present, I would have voted ``Aye.''

On Roll Call No. 479 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 7293, had I been present, would have voted ``Aye.''

On Roll Call No. 480 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S. 2276, had I been present, I would have voted ``Aye''

On Roll Call No. 481 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S. 3031, had I been present, I would have voted ``Aye.''

On Roll Call No. 482 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S. 3191, had I been present, I would have voted ``Aye.''

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

Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, which is designed to promote the transparency and accountability of Federal agencies. It would require agencies to include in their budget justifications to Congress a summary of the recommendations made by GAO or the agency's inspector general in the prior year.

Agencies also would be required to explain what steps they are actually taking to address these recommendations by GAO or their IG or, if they disagree with those recommendations, why.

The GAO and inspectors general provide critical oversight of the executive branch of government and provide Congress with invaluable assistance in helping hold any Presidential administration accountable for its actions and policies.

Knowing what agencies are doing or not doing to address GAO and IG recommendations will definitely assist us in Congress in conducting our constitutional oversight responsibilities.

This is a commonsense measure that all Members should support. I am delighted to advance it on a bipartisan basis.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2276) to require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the Good Accounting Obligation in Government, or GAO-IG, Act would improve transparency and oversight of the executive branch. This bill enjoys bipartisan support. I urge all Members to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 563, S. 2276.

I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be withdrawn, that the Young substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.