Source:  Press Release, 6/18/10

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre voted for and helped pass legislation to make federal agencies more accountable to taxpayers for their work.

Congressman McIntyre stated, “During these tough economic times, every dime and every dollar counts, and the federal government must lead the way in cutting wasteful spending.  This bill will put in place procedures to gauge what is working and fix what is not working in federal programs.  This bill needs to become the law of the land, and I urge the US Senate to pass it immediately.”

The Government Efficiency, Effectiveness and Performance Improvement Act  requires federal agencies, in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget, to identify clearly  outcome-based goals that benefit the public and would require agencies to submit an action plan to achieve those goals. Agencies are then required to conduct quarterly performance assessments outlining how effectively they are working to meet those standards. All this information would be made available and would be open to comment from Congress and the American people.

The bill will also require the Government Accountability Office to perform frequent and detailed evaluations of how effectively agencies are performing under those goals, and the GAO will determine how federal programs are providing a direct value to the public. This impartial review of federal agencies will ensure that agencies are good stewards of our federal taxpayer dollars, a concept that is neither partisan nor complicated. With greater government efficiency, we can produce cost savings for the American taxpayer.

This bill is part of the Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform that will help put this country back on the path to balanced budgets and long term fiscal sustainability.