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Hearing
VA: Path to Reform

PURPOSE: To examine the policies and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as they relate to recent issues regarding fraud, waste and abuse. To address strategies for future reform and the new leadership's vision of improving practices within all of the agencies in the VA. BACKGROUND: In the past several months, cases of fraud, waste and abuse have raised questions about the VA's current ...
Hearing
Examining Environmental Barriers to Infrastructure Development

PURPOSE: To identify examples of regulations and statutes that inhibit infrastructure growth. To examine ways to remove unnecessary impediments from projects critical to American infrastructure and jobs. BACKGROUND: In December 2016, the Treasury Department released a list of 40 proposed infrastructure ...
Hearing
The Use of Official Time for Union Activities at the Department of Veterans Affairs

PURPOSE: To discuss challenges facing the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) regarding tracking official time. To explore whether official time is being authorized in a manner that is most effective for both the veterans being served and the American taxpayer. BACKGROUND: Authorized under section 7131 of title 5, official time is paid time off from assigned ...
Hearing
Examining Federal Programs that Serve Tribes and Their Members

PURPOSE: To review recent studies conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General (DOI OIG) on the management of federal programs that serve tribes. BACKGROUND: On Wednesday, GAO will release its biennial High Risk List of government operations with the greatest vulnerability to fraud, waste, and mismanagement; one new area of the 2017 report is ...
Hearing
GAO’s 2017 High Risk Report: 34 Programs in Peril

PURPOSE: To discuss the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) 2017 High Risk List and highlight the problems that remain unaddressed. To consider solutions that will move these programs off of the High Risk List. BACKGROUND: On Wednesday, GAO will release its biennial High Risk List of government operations with the greatest vulnerability to fraud, waste, and mismanagement as well as recommendations ...
Hearing
Accomplishing Postal Reform in the 115th Congress – H.R. 756, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017

TAKEAWAYS: USPS is past the point where it is salvageable as it exists now - legislation is necessary to implement needed reforms. USPS has more than $119 billion in unfunded liability, and is projected to run out of cash. The postal delivery fleet is at the end of its expected life. ...
Hearing
“Improving Security and Efficiency at OPM and the National Background Investigations Bureau”

TAKEAWAYS: Oversight Committee investigation and majority staff
Hearing
Five Years Later: A Review of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act

PURPOSE: To receive updates on new provisions implemented in the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (WPEA) and review provisions expiring in 2017. Consider additional measures that may be necessary to protect whistleblowers. BACKGROUND: This year marks the fifth anniversary of the passage of the WPEA. The WPEA was the first major update in nearly 20 years to the ...
Hearing
Empowering the Inspectors General

TAKEAWAYS: Since the implementation of the Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2016, IGs have experienced
Hearing
Fraud, Waste and Abuse under the Affordable Care Act

PURPOSE: To examine challenges with implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on the health insurance market. BACKGROUND: Enrollment under ACA is less than half the Congressional Budget Office's initial projection, and health care costs continue ...