Hearings

May 9, 2018

Program Integrity for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

PURPOSE: To examine waste, fraud, and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and discuss reforms to strengthen its integrity and sustainability. To explore how the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) can more effectively assist states in the program's administration. BACKGROUND: SNAP is a federal aid program administered through the Department of Agriculture's FNS ...
May 8, 2018

Progress Report on the 2020 Census

PURPOSE: To examine the Census Bureau's progress during the 2018 end-to-end test and examine ongoing preparations for the 2020 decennial census. BACKGROUND: In order to control costs, the Census Bureau is concentrating on four main innovation areas: (1) reengineering address canvassing; (2) optimizing self-responses; ...
May 1, 2018

FIELD BRIEFING: Examining the impacts of proposed NAAQS on the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Area
Apr 26, 2018

Waste and Inefficiency in the Federal Government: GAO’s 2018 Duplication Report

PURPOSE: To examine the findings of the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) annual report on areas of duplication, overlap, and fragmentation within federal government programs and other newly identified areas for cost savings. BACKGROUND: On April 26, 2018, GAO will release its eighth annual duplication ...
Apr 19, 2018

Examining Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds for All Aboard Florida’s Brightline Passenger Rail System

PURPOSE: To examine the use of $600 million and $1.15 billion in tax-exempt private activity bonds to support the Brightline passenger rail system project in Florida, and the broader implications of this type of financing for future infrastructure projects. BACKGROUND: Brightline is a Florida-based passenger rail system privately owned and operated by All Aboard Florida (AAF). In 2005, Congress created a ...
Apr 18, 2018

Game Changers: Artificial Intelligence Part III, Artificial Intelligence and Public Policy

PURPOSE: To examine the potential role for the government and the private sector in addressing challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI). To consider the merits and costs of the government role in potential solutions to challenges including bias, ethics, global competitiveness, privacy and transparency. BACKGROUND: On February 14, 2018, the Information Technology Subcommittee held the first
Apr 18, 2018

Top Management and Performance Challenges Identified Government-wide by the Inspector General Community

PURPOSE: To examine the first Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) report on top management and performance challenges identified by the Inspector General (IG) community. BACKGROUND: Each year, IGs are required to identify and report on their agency's top management and performance ...
Apr 17, 2018

Continued Oversight Over the Internal Revenue Service

PURPOSE: To examine ongoing management issues at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including customer service challenges, the capability to implement the Employer Shared Responsibility ...
Apr 12, 2018

A ‘Caravan’ of Illegal Immigrants: A Test of U.S. Borders

PURPOSE: To explore the logistical, operational and legal challenges associated with masses of migrants arriving at the southwest border and seeking asylum in the United States. To determine what actions need to be taken at the federal and state level to prepare for large groups of asylum seekers, and to explore how U.S. ...
Apr 12, 2018

Improper Payments in State-Administered Programs: Medicaid

PURPOSE: To examine federal and state efforts to identify, prevent, and recover improper payments made through state Medicaid programs. To examine the federal-state relationship in Medicaid data-sharing, and evaluate fraud identification and prevention in Medicaid programs. BACKGROUND: Improper payments have cost taxpayers an estimated $1.2 trillion since 2003. The Department of Health and Human Services ...