Platts Named Chairman of the Subcommittee Responsible for Overseeing Efficiency and Financial Management of the Federal Government

As the 112th Congress begins, new post will enable Congressman to build upon his efforts to make the federal government more accountable and results-oriented

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) has been named the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management for the 112th session of Congress.  As part of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, this subcommittee has jurisdiction over matters relating to the financial management and overall efficiency of federal departments and agencies.

 “Our national debt is more than $13 trillion and it has never been more apparent that the federal government must spend taxpayer dollars much more wisely,” said Congressman Platts. “Tax dollars should be treated in the same manner that families and small businesses treat their own funds – in the most efficient and responsible manner possible.”

In this role, Congressman Platts will focus on government management and accountability issues, including agency financial reporting, program integrity and performance measurement.  He will work closely with the Government Accountability Office - the investigative arm of Congress - and agency Inspectors General to identify and remedy systemic causes of waste, fraud and abuse.  Congressman Platts previously served as chairman of this subcommittee (then named the Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance, and Accountability) during the 107th and 108th sessions of Congress.  During Congressman Platts’ tenure, the subcommittee shed light on numerous government inefficiencies - such as overpayments for services, accounting errors and under-performing programs - that spent taxpayer funds in a wasteful manner.

Since that time, Congressman Platts has continued his efforts to promote a more accountable and results-oriented government. He was the lead Republican sponsor of legislation (H.R. 2142) adopted by the U.S. House and Senate in December 2010 designed to give Congress and the American people the tools to better evaluate the effectiveness of federal government programs.  Enactment of this legislation was the culmination of a seven year effort for Congressman Platts, which began in 2004 when he introduced the Program Assessment and Results Act.  H.R. 2142 was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 5.  Congressman Platts previously helped lead efforts in Congress to improve public access to government documents, which led to the signing of an Executive Order by President George W. Bush in 2005 to improve the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.  Congressman Platts also worked to enact into law a bill he introduced which increased financial accountability standards at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  This legislation (H.R. 4259) was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 16, 2004.  Additionally, Congressman Platts has fought to enact whistleblower legislation designed to restore protections for federal employees who report illegalities, gross mismanagement and waste.

“We needed someone with the expertise and experience to tackle the longstanding government management issues that hinder dedicated public servants and continue to suffocate private sector job growth. I asked Representative Platts if he would take this job and am grateful that he agreed,” said Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “His record of leadership in promoting result-oriented government management policies is critical to our success in meeting these challenges.”

Congressman Platts’ commitment to further advance good-government initiatives in the 112th Congress comes at a time when the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has pledged to make the operations of the House of Representatives more transparent to the American people.  As part of the new rules for the 112th Congress, all legislation will be made available on the Internet for at least seventy-two hours before coming up for a vote, all committees will have to webcast their hearings and markups, and House committee votes and attendance records will have to be posted online.

Congressman Platts was sworn-in by Speaker Boehner earlier this month for his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.  In addition to serving on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Congressman Platts will continue to serve on the House Education and the Workforce Committee as well as the House Armed Services Committee. 

Congressman Platts has introduced two pieces of legislation thus far in the 112th Congress, including H.R. 246, which repeals the provision that provides for automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress, and H. J. Res 15, which amends the Constitution of the United States to authorize the line item veto. Congressman Platts has long advocated for both issues.