Inspector General Protection Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 23, the Inspector General Protection Act. I want to thank Representatives Ted Lieu and Jody Hice for working together on this legislation.

H.R. 23 will help Congress track Federal agency inspectors general vacancies and make sure they are filled by the President in a timely manner.

Inspectors general help combat Federal fraud, waste, and abuse and improve the operations of the executive branch departments and agencies. Inspectors general help Congress shine light on areas of the government that need improvement and oversight. However, both Republican and Democratic administrations have experienced numerous and prolonged inspector general vacancies.

The Inspector General Protection Act would simply require the President to notify Congress of any change to a current inspector general's employment status. The bill would also require the President to notify Congress if a nomination to replace an inspector general does not take place within 210 days.

These provisions will improve congressional oversight of the executive branch by providing transparency to the President's inspectors general nominations.

Inspectors general are an indispensable resource to Congress and to the American people, and Congress can reaffirm our responsibility to combating government waste, fraud, and abuse by assuring consistent Federal agency inspector general office leadership.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I hope we can continue to find bipartisan ways to build on similar good government reforms, such as this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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