Restoring the Power of the Purse: Legislative Options
PURPOSE:
- To examine use of fines, fees, penalties, and settlements to fund agency priorities outside of the appropriations process.
- To discuss H.R. 5499, the Agency Accountability Act of 2016 as a potential solution.
BACKGROUND:
- The Constitution vests the power of the purse in Congress, and over time it has been subverted by spending that occurs outside of the appropriations process.
- Agencies routinely use funds collected through fines, fees, penalties, and settlements, to fund agency operations and unappropriated programs.
- The Government Accountability Office calls this “backdoor spending.”
Witnesses and testimonies
| Name | Title | Organization | Panel | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. Heather Krause | Acting Director, Strategic Issues | U.S. Government Accountability Office | Document | |
| Mr. Kevin Kosar | Senior Fellow and Governance Project Director | R Street Institute | Document | |
| Mr. Hudson Hollister | Executive Director | Data Coalition | Document | |
| Mr. Stephen M. Kohn | Executive Director | National Whistleblower Center | Document |
Related Documents
| Name | Document |
|---|---|
| Transcript | Document |