Utah Valley Times

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Gary Peters (D-MI) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at bolstering oversight of federal funds to prevent fraud. The proposed bill establishes the Government Spending Oversight Committee, succeeding the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, to address and combat fraudulent activities in government spending.

Senator Romney emphasized the importance of proactive measures in combating fraud, stating, “With the national debt now exceeding $34 trillion, Congress should pursue commonsense solutions—like leveraging data analytics—to combat fraud and protect taxpayer dollars.”

Senator Peters echoed the sentiment, highlighting the necessity of ensuring taxpayer money is utilized effectively, saying, “It’s our duty to ensure government is working efficiently and effectively for the American people... My new bipartisan bill will provide critical tools to identify and prevent fraud in federal government spending.”

Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Chair Michael E. Horowitz expressed support for the bipartisan legislation, hailing it as a significant stride towards maintaining integrity in federal programs and safeguarding taxpayer dollars. Horowitz stated, “I support the bipartisan legislation, the ‘Government Spending Oversight Act of 2024,’ which represents an important step forward in maintaining this valuable fraud prevention and fraud-fighting tool.”

Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, commended the bill for incorporating recommendations aimed at enhancing the government's ability to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in its programs and spending. Dodaro remarked, “I am very pleased that this incorporates one of GAO’s recommendations to help the federal government better combat fraud, waste, and abuse in its programs and spending.”

The proposed Government Spending Oversight Act of 2024 seeks to extend the analytics capabilities of the PRAC, empowering the newly formed Government Spending Oversight Committee to collaborate with relevant Inspector Generals in conducting investigations and audits using data analytic tools and enhanced data-sharing practices.