S 1723 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence of the Inspectors General, to create a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 28, 2007

Mrs. MCCASKILL introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence of the Inspectors General, to create a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Improving Government Accountability Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. ENHANCING INDEPENDENCE OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.

(a) Removal for Cause- The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in section 3(b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by inserting `(1)' after `(b)'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) An Inspector General may be removed from office prior to the expiration of his or her term only on any of the following grounds:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) Permanent incapacity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) Inefficiency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) Neglect of duty.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) Malfeasance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) Conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude.'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in section 8G(e)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by inserting `(1)' after `(e)'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) An Inspector General may be removed from office prior to the expiration of his or her term only on any of the following grounds:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) Permanent incapacity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) Inefficiency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) Neglect of duty.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) Malfeasance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) Conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Establishment of Terms of Office- The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in section 3 by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e)(1) The term of office of each Inspector General shall be seven years. An individual may serve for more than one term in such office. Any individual appointed and confirmed to fill a vacancy in such position, occurring before the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed and confirmed for a full seven-year term.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) An individual may continue to serve as Inspector General beyond the expiration of the term for which the individual is appointed until a successor is appointed and confirmed, except that such individual may not continue to serve for more than 1 year after the date on which the term would otherwise expire under paragraph (1).'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in section 8G(c) by inserting `(1)' after `(c)', and by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) The term of office of each Inspector General shall be seven years. An individual may serve for more than one term in such office. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy in such position, occurring before the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed for a full 7-year term.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Separate Counsels to Inspectors General-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) COUNSELS TO INSPECTORS GENERAL OF ESTABLISHMENTS- Section 3 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Each Inspector General shall, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing the civil service, appoint a Counsel to the Inspector General who shall report to the Inspector General.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COUNSELS TO INSPECTORS GENERAL OF DESIGNATED FEDERAL ENTITIES- Section 8G(g) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) Each Inspector General shall, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing appointments within the designated Federal entity, appoint a Counsel to the Inspector General who shall report to the Inspector General.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Application- The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to any Inspector General appointed before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. The term of office of an Inspector General serving on such date of enactment is deemed to begin on such date of enactment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DIRECT SUBMISSION OF BUDGET REQUESTS TO CONGRESS.

Section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f)(1) For each fiscal year, an Inspector General may transmit an appropriation estimate and request to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and to the appropriate committees or subcommittees of the Congress, in addition to any appropriation estimate and request submitted to the head of the establishment concerned.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) The President shall include in each budget of the United States Government submitted to the Congress--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a separate statement of the amount of appropriations requested by each Inspector General who has submitted an appropriation estimate under paragraph (1); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) a statement comparing each such appropriation estimate and request submitted by an Inspector General and the funds requested by the head of the establishment concerned.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY.

(a) Establishment- The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by redesignating sections 11 and 12 in order as sections 12 and 13, and by inserting after section 10 the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 11. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY.

`(a) Establishment and Mission-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established as an independent entity within the executive branch the Inspectors General Council (in this section referred to as the `Council').CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) MISSION- The mission of the Council shall be to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) address integrity, economy, and effectiveness issues that transcend individual Government agencies; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) increase the professionalism and effectiveness of personnel by developing policies, standards, and approaches to aid in the establishment of a well-trained and highly skilled workforce in the offices of the Inspectors General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Membership-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- The Council shall consist of the following members:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) All Inspectors General whose offices are established under--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) section 2; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) section 8G.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) The Inspectors General of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Government Printing Office.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) The Controller of the Office of Federal Financial Management.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) A senior level official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation designated by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) The Special Counsel of the Office of Special Counsel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) The Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(H) The Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) CHAIRPERSON AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON- The Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget shall be the Executive Chairperson of the Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) CHAIRPERSON- The Council shall elect one of the Inspectors General referred to in paragraph (1)(A) or (B) to act as Chairperson of the Council. The term of office of the Chairperson shall be two years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) FUNCTIONS OF CHAIRPERSON AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON- The Executive Chairperson shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) preside over meetings of the Council;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) provide to the heads of agencies and entities represented on the Council with summary reports of the activities of the Council; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) provide to the Council such information relating to the agencies and entities represented on the Council as will assist the Council in performing its functions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) CHAIRPERSON- The Chairperson shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) convene meetings of the Council--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) at least six times each year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) monthly to the extent possible; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(III) more frequently at his or her discretion;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) exercise the functions and duties of the Council under subsection (c);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) appoint a Vice Chairperson to assist in carrying out the functions of the Council and act in the absence of the Chairperson, from a category of Inspectors General described in subparagraph (A)(i), (A)(ii), or (B) of subsection (b)(1), other than the category from which the Chairperson was elected;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) make such payments from funds otherwise available to the Council as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(v) select, appoint, and employ personnel as needed to carry out the functions of the Council subject to the availability of appropriations and the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(vi) to the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriations Acts, enter into contracts and other arrangements with public agencies and private persons to carry out the functions and duties of the Council;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(vii) establish, in consultation with the members of the Council, such committees as determined by the Chairperson to be necessary and appropriate for the efficient conduct of Council functions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(viii) prepare and transmit a report annually on behalf of the Council to the President on the activities of the Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Functions and Duties of Council-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- The Council shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) continually identify, review, and discuss areas of weakness and vulnerability in Federal programs and operations with respect to fraud, waste, and abuse;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) develop plans for coordinated, Government-wide activities that address these problems and promote economy and efficiency in Federal programs and operations, including interagency and inter-entity audit, investigation, inspection, and evaluation programs and projects to deal efficiently and effectively with those problems concerning fraud and waste that exceed the capability or jurisdiction of an individual agency or entity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) develop policies that will aid in the maintenance of a corps of well-trained and highly skilled Office of Inspector General personnel;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) maintain an Internet Web site and other electronic systems for the benefit of all Inspectors General, as the Council determines are necessary or desirable;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) maintain one or more academies as the Council considers desirable for the professional training of auditors, investigators, inspectors, evaluators, and other personnel of the various offices of Inspector General;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) submit recommendations of 3 individuals to the appropriate appointing authority for any appointment to an office of Inspector General described under subsection (b)(1)(A) or (B); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) make such reports to the Congress as the Chairperson determines are necessary or appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) ADHERENCE AND PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS- Each member of the Council should, to the extent permitted under law, and to the extent not inconsistent with standards established by the Comptroller General of the United States for audits of Federal establishments, organizations, programs, activities, and functions, adhere to professional standards developed by the Council and participate in the plans, programs, and projects of the Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) EXISTING AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES- The creation and operation of the Council--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) shall not affect the preeminent policy-setting role of the Department of Justice in law enforcement and litigation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) shall not affect the authority or responsibilities of any Government agency or entity; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) shall not affect the authority or responsibilities of individual members of the Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Integrity Committee-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Council shall have an Integrity Committee, which shall receive, review, and refer for investigation allegations of wrongdoing that are made against Inspectors General and certain staff members of the various Offices of Inspector General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) MEMBERSHIP- The Integrity Committee shall consist of the following members:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) The official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation serving on the Council, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Integrity Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) 3 or more Inspectors General described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1) appointed by the Chairperson of the Council, representing both establishments and designated Federal entities (as that term is defined in section 8G(a)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) The Special Counsel of the Office of Special Counsel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) LEGAL ADVISOR- The Chief of the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, or his designee, shall serve as a legal advisor to the Integrity Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) REFERRAL OF ALLEGATIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) REQUIREMENT- An Inspector General shall refer to the Integrity Committee any allegation of wrongdoing against a staff member of his or her office, if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) review of the substance of the allegation cannot be assigned to an agency of the executive branch with appropriate jurisdiction over the matter; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) the Inspector General determines that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) an objective internal investigation of the allegation is not feasible; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) an internal investigation of the allegation may appear not to be objective.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) STAFF MEMBER DEFINED- In this subsection the term `staff member' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) any employee of an Office of Inspector General who reports directly to an Inspector General; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) who is designated by an Inspector General under subparagraph (C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) DESIGNATION OF STAFF MEMBERS- Each Inspector General shall annually submit to the Chairperson of the Integrity Committee a designation of positions whose holders are staff members for purposes of subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) REVIEW OF ALLEGATIONS- The Integrity Committee shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) review all allegations of wrongdoing it receives against an Inspector General, or against a staff member of an Office of Inspector General; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) refer to the Chairperson of the Integrity Committee any allegation of wrongdoing determined by the Integrity Committee to be meritorious that cannot be referred to an agency of the executive branch with appropriate jurisdiction over the matter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) REQUIREMENT- The Chairperson of the Integrity Committee shall cause a thorough and timely investigation of each allegation referred under paragraph (5)(B) to be conducted in accordance with this paragraph.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) RESOURCES- At the request of the Chairperson of the Integrity Committee, the head of each agency or entity represented on the Council--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) may provide resources necessary to the Integrity Committee; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) may detail employees from that agency or entity to the Integrity Committee, subject to the control and direction of the Chairperson, to conduct an investigation pursuant to this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) PROCEDURES FOR INVESTIGATIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) STANDARDS APPLICABLE- Investigations initiated under this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with the most current Quality Standards for Investigations issued by the Council or by its predecessors (the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency and the Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES- The Integrity Committee, in conjunction with the Chairperson of the Council, shall establish additional policies and procedures necessary to ensure fairness and consistency in--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) determining whether to initiate an investigation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) conducting investigations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) reporting the results of an investigation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) providing the person who is the subject of an investigation with an opportunity to respond to any Integrity Committee report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) REPORTS- The Chairperson of the Integrity Committee shall report to the Executive Chairperson of the Council the results of any investigation that substantiates any allegation certified under paragraph (5)(B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) NO RIGHT OR BENEFIT- This subsection is not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a person against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any person.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Application- The provisions of this section apply only to the Inspectors General (and their offices) listed in subsection (b)(1)(A) and (B).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Existing Executive Orders- Executive Order 12805, dated May 14, 1992, Executive Order 12805, dated March 21, 1996, and Executive Order 12993, dated March 26, 1996, shall have no force or effect.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) INSPECTOR GENERAL ACT OF 1978- The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in sections 2(1), 4(b)(2), and 8G(a)(1)(A) by striking `section 11(2)' each place it appears and inserting `section 12(2)'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in section 8G(a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `section 11' and inserting `section 12'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TITLE 31, U.S.C- Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the first paragraph (33) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(33) a separate appropriation account for appropriations for the Inspectors General Council, and, included in that account, a separate statement of the aggregate amount of appropriations requested for each academy maintained by the Inspectors General Council.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. PROHIBITION OF CASH BONUS OR AWARDS.

Section 3 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) An Inspector General (as defined under section 8G(a)(6) or 11(3)) may not receive any cash award or cash bonus, including any cash award under chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. INSPECTORS GENERAL AT LEVEL III OF EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE.

(a) Level IV Positions- Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking each item relating to the following positions:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Inspector General, Department of Education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Inspector General, Department of Energy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Inspector General, Department of Agriculture.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban Development.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Inspector General, Department of Labor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Inspector General, Department of Transportation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) Inspector General, Department of Defense.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) Inspector General, Department of State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) Inspector General, Department of Commerce.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) Inspector General, Department of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) Inspector General, Department of Justice.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) Inspector General, Department of the Treasury.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(16) Inspector General, Agency for International Development.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(17) Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(18) Inspector General, Export-Import Bank.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(19) Inspector General, Federal Emergency Management Agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(20) Inspector General, General Services Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(21) Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(22) Inspector General, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(23) Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(24) Inspector General, Railroad Retirement Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(25) Inspector General, Small Business Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(26) Inspector General, Tennessee Valley Authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(27) Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(28) Inspector General, Resolution Trust Corporation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(29) Inspector General, Central Intelligence Agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(30) Inspector General, Social Security Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(31) Inspector General, United States Postal Service.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Level III Positions- Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Energy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Agriculture.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban Development.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Labor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Transportation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Defense.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Commerce.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of Justice.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Department of the Treasury.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Agency for International Development.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Corporation for Community and National Service.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Export-Import Bank.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Federal Emergency Management Agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, General Services Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Railroad Retirement Board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Small Business Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Tennessee Valley Authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Central Intelligence Agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, Social Security Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Inspector General, United States Postal Service.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Savings Provision- Nothing in this section shall have the effect of reducing the rate of pay of any individual serving as an Inspector General on the effective date of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. QUALIFICATIONS OF INSPECTORS GENERAL FOR DESIGNATED FEDERAL ENTITIES.

Section 8G(c) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following: `Each Inspector General shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations.' .CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. REMOVAL OF INSPECTORS GENERAL FOR DESIGNATED FEDERAL ENTITIES.

Section 8G(e) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking `shall promptly communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of the Congress' and inserting `shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of the Congress, not later than 15 days before the removal or transfer'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. MISCELLANEOUS ENHANCEMENTS.

(a) Offices as Discrete Agencies- Section 6(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d)(1)(A) For purposes of applying the provisions of law identified in subparagraph (B)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) each Office of Inspector General shall be considered to be a separate agency; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) the Inspector General who is the head of an office referred to in clause (i) shall, with respect to such office, have the functions, powers, and duties of an agency head or appointing authority under such provisions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) This paragraph applies with respect to the following provisions of title 5, United States Code:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) Subchapter II of chapter 35.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) Sections 8335(b), 8336, 8414, and 8425(b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) All provisions relating to the Senior Executive Service (as determined by the Office of Personnel Management), subject to paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) For purposes of applying section 4507(b) of title 5, United States Code, paragraph (1)(A)(ii) shall be applied by substituting `the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (established by section 11 of the Inspector General Act) shall' for `the Inspector General who is the head of an office referred to in clause (i) shall, with respect to such office,'.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Inspectors General of Designated Federal Entities- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Inspector General of each designated Federal entity (as those terms are defined under section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978) shall, for pay and all other purposes, be classified at a grade, level, or rank designation, as the case may be, comparable to those of a majority of the senior staff members of such designated Federal entity (such as, but not limited to, a General Counsel, Deputy Director, or Chief of Staff) that report directly to the head of such designated Federal entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Subpoena Power- Section 6(a)(4) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by inserting `in any medium (including electronically stored information, as well as any tangible thing)' after `other data'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking `subpena' and inserting `subpoena'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Law Enforcement Authority for Designated Federal Entities- Section 6(e) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1) by striking `appointed under section 3'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(9) In this subsection the term `Inspector General' means an Inspector General appointed under section 3 or an Inspector General appointed under section 8G.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES ACT.

Section 3801(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking `and' after the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (C), by adding `and' after the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (D), and by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) a designated Federal entity (as such term is defined under section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 11. APPLICATION OF SEMIANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO INSPECTION REPORTS AND EVALUATION REPORTS.

Section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in each of subsections (a)(6), (a)(8), (a)(9), (b)(2), and (b)(3)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by inserting `, inspection reports, and evaluation reports' after `audit reports' the first place it appears; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking `audit' the second place it appears; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (a)(10) by inserting `, inspection reports, and evaluation reports' after `audit reports'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 12. INFORMATION ON WEBSITES OF OFFICES OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.

(a) Definition- In this section the term `agency' means a Federal agency as defined under section 11(5) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Direct Links to Inspectors General Offices-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Each agency shall establish and maintain on the homepage of the website of that agency, a direct link to the website of the Office of the Inspector General of that agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ACCESSIBILITY- The direct link under paragraph (1) shall be obvious and facilitate accessibility to the website of the Office of the Inspector General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Requirements for Inspectors General Websites-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) POSTING OF REPORTS AND AUDITS- The Inspector General of each agency shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) not later than 1 day after any report or audit (or portion of any report or audit) is made publicly available, post that report or audit (or portion of that report or audit) on the website of the Office of the Inspector General; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) ensure that any posted report or audit (or portion of that report or audit) described under subparagraph (A)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) is easily accessible from a direct link on the homepage of the website of the Office of the Inspector General;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) includes a summary of the findings of the Inspector General; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) is in a format that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) is searchable, sortable, and downloadable; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) facilitates printing by individuals of the public accessing the website.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) OPTION TO RECEIVE RELATED INFORMATION- The Inspector General of each agency shall provide a service on the website of the Office of the Inspector General through which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) an individual may elect to automatically receive information (including subsequent reports or audits) relating to any posted report or audit (or portion of that report or audit) described under paragraph (1)(A); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the Inspector General shall electronically transmit the information or notice of the availability of the information to that individual without further request.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) REPORTING OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The Inspector General of each agency shall establish and maintain a direct link on the homepage of the website of the Office of the Inspector General for individuals to report waste, fraud, and abuse.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) ANONYMITY- The Inspector General of each agency shall take such actions as necessary to ensure the anonymity of any individual making a report under this paragraph.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Implementation- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each agency and the Inspector General of each agency shall implement this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink