8 Things You Might Have Missed From Stop Government Abuse Week

This week House Republicans launched Stop Government Abuse Week, which included pushing a series of bills aimed at making the federal government more accountable, accessible, and transparent.

While some important issues such as H.R. 3865, the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act, received top billing, there are several other bills from this week to highlight that you may have missed – bills that show House Republicans as promoting a positive agenda and working to reform government in real and tangible ways for the American people.

 1.  Increasing Federal Government Transparency – H.R. 1211, the FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act:

 The Freedom of Information Act was enacted in 1966 to give the public a formal method to request and receive information from the federal government.  It has been amended several times since then.  In March 2009, the Justice Department released a memo requiring federal agencies to adopt a presumption of openness when responding to requests, stating that “an agency should not withhold information simply because it may do so legally.”

This week, the House considered H.R. 1211, the FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act, which would codify the 2009 memo into law, requiring federal agencies to treat FOIA requests with a “presumption of openness, placing the burden on them to justify withholding information.”  The bill would also provide greater public access to government information, including by creating a single government-wide website to request information and track FOIA requests.   Read more about the bill here.

See how they voted here.

 2.  Improving Federal Government Technology – H.R. 1232, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act:

We all saw what a bang up job the federal government did with HealthCare.gov.  Unfortunately, the federal government’s IT problems go beyond the snake-bitten ObamaCare website.  The federal government currently spends $81 billion each year on information technology.  Federal managers say that 47% of their budget goes to maintain obsolete and deficient IT resources, costing an estimated $20 billion each year.

H.R. 1232, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act modifies how the federal government procures and manages information technology (IT) throughout the government in an effort to improve performance and reduce costs.  The bill would also coordinate the acquisition of IT products used by various federal agencies, and consolidating federal data centers and reducing other duplication.

The bill passed the House by voice vote.

3.  Finding Waste, Fraud and Abuse Because It’s Your Money! – H.R. 1423, the Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act:

You may not know that the federal government reports on duplication and waste…within the federal government itself!  And it does so every year! Specifically, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) submits a report on duplication and overlap within the federal government each year.  In 2011, GAO identified 81 areas of duplication and waste. In its 2012 report, GAO found 51 new areas. In 2013, GAO identified 31 additional areas.  If you’re keeping score, that’s 163 areas where federal agencies could reduce duplication or waste.

H.R. 1423, the Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act would expand on the GAO’s annual reporting by requiring the GAO to track which of the duplication and inefficiency issues that it identifies have been addressed.  The bill would also, for the first time, require individual federal agencies to annually provide to the public information on the programs they administer, including their cost and any duplication or overlap between programs, and recommend how to consolidate duplicative programs, eliminate inefficiencies and terminate unnecessary, outdated or low-priority programs.

The bill passed the House by voice vote.

4.  Making Sure You Know How Your Money Is Being Spent – H.R. 3308, the Taxpayer Transparency Act:

When Members of Congress mail or distribute materials to their constituents, those materials must include language disclosing that they are paid for using taxpayer funds.  Did you know that federal agencies don’t always have the same requirement?

H.R. 3308, the Taxpayer Transparency Act would change that by requiring the executive branch to attach a disclaimer to any mailer, brochure, television, or radio ad that is paid for by the taxpayers.

The bill passed the House by voice vote.

5.  Because It’s Your iPhone! – H.R. 1123, Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act:

As anyone with a cell phone knows, many of us decide to purchase phones at a cheaper subsidized rate in exchange for signing a two-year contract with a wireless carrier.  When the customer has completed the two years of service many phones remain “locked” to the original carrier and cannot be used on a competing network. Most consumer advocates believe that once a customer has completed his or her original agreement for a subsidized phone, that phone should be free to be moved to another carrier if he or she wishes to change service providers.  For the most part, the federal government agreed…until recently.  In late 2012, the federal government said it would no longer extend an exemption allowed people to unlock their phones and switch mobile networks.  That decision means anyone with a phone bought before January 27, 2013, is allowed to unlock their phone. However, phones bought on that date or later do not have that same flexibility.  Read more about the issue here.

H.R. 1123, Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act would protect consumer choice by giving everyone the freedom to switch cell phone service carriers, without having to buy a new cell phone.  It would do so by repealing the 2012 decision and codifying policies that allow “unlocking.”  The bill would also require the federal government to study and determine whether the unlocking of other wireless devices, such as tablets and other cellular-connected devices, should be allowed.

See how they voted here.

6.  Because It’s Your Property! – H.R. 1944, the Private Property Rights Protection Act:

The issue of private property rights and the controversial policy of eminent domain received elevated public attention due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2005 Kelo v. City of New London decision. In that 5-to-4 decision, the court affirmed the ability of states to take control of private property under the doctrine of eminent domain and hand it to another private developer.  The decision was highly controversial.  Read more about the issue here.

H.R. 1944, the Private Property Rights Protection Act would prevent states from using eminent domain over property to be used for economic development, and establish a private right of action for property owners if a state or local government violates the new rule. It would also limit federal funds to states in which property is taken in violation of the law.

See how they voted here.

7.  Protecting Your Privacy – H.R. 2530, the Taxpayer Transparency and Efficient Audit Act:

Last year, House Republicans launched a number of investigations into the IRS after reports that it was disproportionately subjecting conservative political groups to extra scrutiny regarding whether they should receive, or continue to receive, tax-exempt status. During these investigations, it was revealed that communications had occurred between IRS officials and the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) regarding some conservative political groups, with questions being raised as to whether the IRS had inappropriately shared tax information on those groups with the FEC.

H.R. 2530, the Taxpayer Transparency and Efficient Audit Act would curb the power of the IRS and would require the IRS to inform taxpayers in writing when it has shared the individual’s tax information with another government agency.

The bill passed the House by voice vote.

8.  Protecting Your Personal Beliefs From Government Intrusion – H.R. 2531, the Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act:

Also during last year’s investigations, several targeted organizations testified that they were asked to submit documents and other information that they found to be unnecessary and intrusive, such as the content of prayers or social media posts.

H.R. 2531, the Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act would prohibit the IRS from asking taxpayers questions regarding religious, political or social beliefs.

The bill passed the House by voice vote.