Press Releases

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has released a new report documenting shortcomings in the federal Medicaid program leading to billions in wasteful or fraudulent spending. The Committee noted that Medicaid spending had grown by 450 percent over the past two decades, and is projected to more than double over the next decade. As spending increases, the report said, the likelihood for waste, fraud and abuse also increases.

Issa: “Thanks to rigorous oversight, federal taxpayers will receive a $15 million refund of waste and abuse in the Medicaid system. Senator Grassley deserves credit for his dogged investigation of this issue. In addition, a whistleblower will speak at our hearing on Wednesday about the true origin of the so-called $30 million ‘donation’ from Medicaid contractor UCare. Today’s action underscores the importance of our hearings and continued investigation into Medicaid mismanagement.”

“Now, more than ever, the American people demand real accountability of how their tax dollars are being spent,” said committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. “It’s clear from our investigation into GSA’s lavish conference spending that accountability and increased transparency is needed. Through the bipartisan DATA Act, we can improve our oversight of federal funds by mandating clear, consistent reporting standards.”

"Congress understands that some of our nation’s greatest security threats come from cyber attacks,” Chairman Issa said. “FISMA has become a compliance activity, even at times when compliance appeared to take precedence over security. This bill provides necessary enhancements and helps arm government to meet—and overcome—cyber attacks.”

Chairman Issa: “FISMA reform is the result of a bipartisan collaborative effort with public and private sector partners to solve our nation’s information security crisis,” said Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif. “Congress understands that some of our country’s greatest security threats come from cyber attacks. FISMA had become a compliance activity, even at times when compliance appeared to supersede security. ”

H.R. 2146, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act), will implement strong reporting standards, allowing fractured and ineffective reporting systems to be streamlined, providing useful information to policymakers, agency managers, and the American people.

Issa: “For 30 years, Ed Towns has fought on behalf of taxpayers with a singular mix of Bed-Stuy toughness and grace. His decades of work exposing waste, fraud and mismanagement of taxpayer dollarsserves as a model for the positive change accountable government can deliver for citizens. I’ve witnessed some of the countless lives Ed has touched while accompanying him to field hearings in Brooklyn, and his tireless advocacy for his constituents and country will be greatly missed.”

Top Obama Administration GSA Official Worried Last Summer about How Facts of Scandal would be Portrayed in the Media.

GSA Numbers on Western Region Conference (WRC) Spending Contradict Numbers of Obama Administration’s ‘Blame Bush’ Defense, Claims of a Trend

Chairman Darrell Issa: “Director Groves took on the mission of accomplishing the Constitutionally mandated decennial census after years of botched planning and a political crisis that had derailed a Cabinet secretary’s nomination. His tenure is proof that appointing good people makes a big difference, and I urge the President to look for another servant of Robert’s caliber when naming his replacement.”