Comer, Hice Applaud the Bipartisan Passage of Government Accountability Legislation

Three good governance bills head to House floor

WASHINGTON—Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed three bipartisan bills to strengthen government transparency and accountability: the Federal Advisory Committee Transparency Act (H.R. 1930), the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act (H.R. 2485), and the Integrity Committee Transparency Act (HR. 2681). Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Government Operations Ranking Member Jody Hice (R-Ga.) applauded the passage of the three good governance bills in the statements below.

“The House Oversight and Reform Committee has a responsibility to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of the federal government, and to take action when the government isn’t working properly for the American people. Today, the Oversight Committee delivered on this duty by increasing accountability for inspectors general, creating a one-stop-shop for congressionally mandated reports, and making federal advisory committees more accountable to Congress and the American people. I hope our committee continues this trend of passing bipartisan good governance legislation to strengthen government accountability and transparency,” said Ranking Member Comer. 

“The federal government too often creates more burdens on the American people than it alleviates – causing delays, creating hardship, making information inaccessible, and wasting their hard-earned tax dollars. The era of ineffective and unaccountable bureaucracy hiding in the shadows must end, and the only way to do so is by dismantling piece by piece with improved transparency and good governance. With the passage of these bills today, we are taking a small but critical step towards making our government work better for the American people,” said Ranking Member Hice.

The Federal Advisory Committee Transparency Act, introduced by Ranking Member Comer and Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), makes a number of reforms to hold federal advisory committees accountable to Congress and the American people. It requires federal agencies to inform committee members of any applicable ethics requirements; ensures the disclosure of detailed minutes from advisory committee meetings; and clarifies that the law applies to subcommittees and to committees set up by a contractor. Ranking Member Comer’s opening remarks on the bill can be found here.

The Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act, introduced by Ranking Member Comer and Congressman Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), creates a single website where Congress and the public can easily search, sort, and download all agency congressional reports. Ranking Member Comer’s opening remarks on H.R. 2485 can be found here.

The Integrity Committee Transparency Act, introduced by Government Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Hice and Subcommittee Chairman Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), increases transparency and accountability for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s Integrity Committee, which investigates allegations against people working for the Office of the Inspector General. Subcommittee Ranking Member Hice’s opening remarks on the bill can be found here.