Congressman James Lankford released the following statement after the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing to review the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) 2014 Report on duplicative federal programs:
“There are at least two bipartisan things in Congress: naming post offices and talking about the problem of wasteful and duplicative federal programs,” said Lankford.
“GAO’s annual report offers Congress a detailed outline of ways we can correct waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. This is advice we can’t afford to ignore.”
The House Oversight Committee once again explored GAO’s recommended areas of federal waste in which Congress can best take action, from defense spending to international affairs. For example, GAO estimates that the Social Security Administration (SSA) made $1.29 billion in potential Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) overpayments to about 36,000 individuals as of January 2013.
“As the SSDI fund spends its way toward insolvency by 2016, Congress does not have time to ignore GAO’s ideas to address waste in the program. We can and must address the waste of hard-working taxpayers’ money,” concluded Lankford.
This week, Lankford’s Oversight Subcommittee will also hold a hearing examining SSDI’s review process for eligibility to continue receiving SSDI payments. This bipartisan conversation will focus on ways we can protect this program for disabled Americans. Chairman Lankford and Ranking Member Jackie Speier (D-CA) also sent a letter this week to Acting SSA Commissioner Colvin in which they outline recommendations to preserve SSDI for the genuinely disabled.
Additionally, Lankford’s bill, the Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act, which passed the House last month, requires federal agencies to provide a ‘who, what, where, when, why and how’ report card of their federal spending. While GAO’s duplication report is the first step in identifying duplication, TPRTKA would allow them to fully assess the breadth and depth of the duplicative nature of federal programs. Dr. Coburn has also introduced companion legislation in the Senate, which awaits action by Majority Leader Reid. Legislation like this can help Congress further identify waste and duplication in the federal government.
