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Press Release Published: Jan 14, 2014

House Unanimously Passes More Good Government Reforms

2 Bipartisan Accountability Bills Passed Today

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives today unanimously adopted two bills: H.R. 2860, the OPM IG Act, on a vote of 418-0, and H.R. 1233, The Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2014, as amended, on a vote of 420-0.

  • H.R. 2860, the Office of Personnel Management Inspector General  Act, sponsored by Federal Workforce Subcommittee Chairman Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Stephen Lynch, D-Mass. This bill will enhance the OPM IG’s oversight of the range of commercial-like services OPM provides to other federal agencies, including background investigations for security clearances, training, and human resource management, on a reimbursable basis through its revolving fund.  Today, activities financed by OPM’s revolving fund generate more than $2 billion annually. H.R. 2860 was initially passed through the Committee on 10/26/13.
  •  H.R. 1233, the Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2014, as amended, sponsored by Full Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings.  This bill codifies the existing executive order that requires former presidents to appeal to incumbent presidents to keep certain presidential documents privileged under the Presidential Records Act. H.R. 1233 was initially passed through the Committee on 3/20/13.

“Accountability must occur on every level of government,” said House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif. on the passage of these bills. “Tools must be available for agencies to help themselves to meet the taxpayer’s standard of accountability, in addition to the watchful eye of Congress.”

“Congressional investigations have alleged serious examples of fraud within the revolving fund operations, including falsification of federal background checks,” said Federal Workforce Subcommittee Chairman Farenthold on the passage of H.R. 1233. “That’s a big problem with national security implications.  My bill allows for the OPM IGs to use monies it already has to root out this fraud and increase transparency and accountability.”