Congressional Oversight Opportunities To Address Risks Reduce Costs And Improve Performance Statement Of David M Walker Comptroller General Of The United States Before The Committee On The Budget House Of Representatives

T-AIMD-00-96 Congressional Oversight: Opportunities to Address Risks, Reduce Costs, and Improve Performance

In January 1999, we reported on specific federal activities and functions that are particularly vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement-an update to a series on high-risk activities begun in the last decade and provided at the start of each new Congress. Since 1990, six of our high-risk designations have been removed as a result of sustained, tangible improvements by the affected agencies; at the time of our last update, however, 26 high-risk areas remained, as shown in table 1. We have also recently reported on estimates of the range and magnitude of improper payments within specific federal programs-several of which have also been identified as high-risk areas-as disclosed in agency financial statements reports.

A basic reference document for persons interested in the federal budget-making process. Emphasizes budget terms in addition to relevant economic and accounting terms to help the user appreciate the dynamics of the budget process. Also distinguishes between any differences in budgetary and non-budgetary meanings of terms. Over 300 terms defined. Index. Appendices: overview of the federal budget process, budget functional classification, and more.

The Government Performance and Results Act arose, in part, out of Congress' frustration that its policy and spending decisions and oversight had been handicapped by a lack of precise information on program goals, performance, and costs. Today, agencies must set multiyear strategic goals and corresponding annual goals, measure their performance, and report on their results. The implementation of the act is now at a critical point. By the end of March, agencies are to publish annual performance reports that, for the first time, will provide an overall picture of the performance of federal programs. The information becoming available as a result of the act also affords an opportunity to reexamine what government does, how it does it, and who benefits. In short, the act has the potential to ensure that the government delivers the results that the American people expect and deserve. The Comptroller General's testimony provides an overview of the act's implementation across the executive branch, discusses how the House of Representatives has used the act to improve program oversight and decisionmaking, and suggests ways to use the act to address some of the critical program and management issues confronting the government.