Hearings
Jun 13, 2017

The Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) Scorecard 4.0

PURPOSE: To examine agencies' progress in implementing the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) and the implications for IT acquisition reform and security. BACKGROUND: In December 2014, Congress enacted ...
Jun 7, 2017

Fast and Furious, Six Years Later

PURPOSE: To identify what the new officials at the Department of Justice can learn from the mistakes made by their predecessors in responding to Congress's inquiry.   To understand the effect of the Justice Department's obstruction on these witnesses. BACKGROUND:
May 25, 2017

Improper Payments in the Federal Government: Student Aid

PURPOSE: To evaluate the Department of Education's (the Department) progress towards accurately estimating improper payments and its plans to prevent them in the future.  To examine how the Department recovers overpayments. BACKGROUND: Improper ...
May 24, 2017

Examining ‘Sue and Settle’ Agreements: Part I

PURPOSE: To examine how environmental advocacy groups and federal agencies regulate through consent decrees using citizen lawsuit provisions in environmental laws. To discuss these lawsuits' impact on businesses and landowners, as well as potential long-term solutions. BACKGROUND:
May 23, 2017

Protecting American’s Identities: Examining Efforts to Limit the Use of Social Security Numbers

PURPOSE: To examine efforts by federal agencies to reduce the use of Social Security numbers (SSNs) and the security challenges facing these agencies. BACKGROUND: In 2007, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) required all federal agencies to identify opportunities to reduce ...
May 18, 2017

Federal Employee Compensation: An Update

TAKEAWAYS: An April Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report found federal employees earn 17 percent more than comparable private sector employees. Most federal employees receive compensation through the outdated ...
May 4, 2017

Examining a Church’s Right to Free Speech

PURPOSE: To examine the Johnson Amendment's effect on churches' and other non-profit organizations' freedom of speech. BACKGROUND: The Johnson Amendment prohibits churches and charitable organizations from engaging in any political campaign activity - violators risk losing their tax ...
May 3, 2017

Reviewing the FAFSA Data Breach

TAKEAWAYS: The Department of Education (the Department) refuses to recognize this as a "data breach" and has not implemented solutions to fix the vulnerabilities.
May 2, 2017

Examining the Management of Red Snapper Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico

PURPOSE: To examine the distribution of red snapper allotments between commercial and recreational anglers, and state versus federal regulation of snapper fishing. BACKGROUND: The federal government imposes catch ratios on red snapper ...
Apr 27, 2017

The Border Wall: Strengthening our National Security

PURPOSE: To discuss the costs of illegal immigration and the benefits that a border wall would provide to national security, economy, and respect for the rule of law.