TANNER PROPOSAL CALLS FOR
HEARINGS ON WASTE, FRAUD, ABUSE

House Expected to Consider Bill Soon

Click here to read the resolution.

U.S. Rep. John Tanner introduced a resolution that requires regular House committee hearings on waste, fraud and abuse in government spending. The House is expected to consider the measure on the House floor next week.

“Congress has a Constitutional responsibility to oversee the expenditure of taxpayer money by the executive branch, a responsibility that had been abdicated for several years,” Tanner said. “In the past two years, however, House Democratic leaders and committee chairs have repeatedly proven their commitment to strong oversight.

“Inclusion of a systematic approach in the rules of the House is a great step forward in showing the American people we will continue working to ensure their tax dollars are spent wisely.”

H. Res. 40 requires that each House committee conduct:

• at least one hearing during each 120-day period on the topic of waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the agencies under the committee’s jurisdiction.

• at least one additional hearing per year if an agency’s auditors issue disclaimers in that agency’s financial report.

• at least one additional hearing if a program under its jurisdiction is listed as “high risk” for waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement by the agency’s Inspector General or the U.S. Comptroller General.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced Friday that he expects the House to consider the measure in the following week.

Tanner, a founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally responsible, conservative-to-moderate Democrats, represents Tennessee’s 8^th Congressional district in West and Middle Tennessee. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and as chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

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Contact: Randy Ford, 202.225.4714