Examining COVID-19 Pandemic Spending
This week I held my first hearing as Chairman of the Government Operations and Federal Workforce Subcommittee. The hearing was titled “Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Go Viral: Inspectors General on Curing the Disease,” and sought to examine the rampant improper payments from federal pandemic relief programs.
Waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs is a long-standing issue, but the pandemic magnified this issue due to the size of these programs and the speed at which they were implemented. This hearing provided an opportunity to better understand where the pandemic relief programs failed and to study our current federal payment systems so that we can create more effective systems in the future. This is especially important when considering necessary changes or improvements to ensure that tax dollars are allocated appropriately and efficiently. We must also consider whether there are better methods for preventing fraud and improper payments from occurring in government-funded programs.
Overall, this hearing was an essential step forward in our mission to become better stewards of taxpayer dollars. By understanding the frailties of our current system and working together to make changes, we can ensure that taxpayer money is used effectively and responsibly in the future.
You can find the full hearing here or listen to my opening remarks below:
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I had the pleasure of meeting with Baylor University President, Dr. Linda Livingstone, this week. I was excited to see another Baylor Bear in Washington. It is clear she has a deep-rooted passion for her university.
As a Texan, I recognize that water is a critical resource for our state’s economic prosperity and quality of life. It is important for our communities to have access to clean water, and I believe it should be one of my top priorities. That is why I am so passionate about supporting the conservation of water resources in Texas.
During the House Oversight and Accountability hearing titled “Oversight of Our Nation’s Largest Employer: Reviewing the U.S. Office of Personnel Management,” I told the Director of the Office of Personnel Management that current telework levels are hindering the ability of this Administration’s ability to serve the American people. I asked her to outline her plan to get the federal workforce back to work. Be assured that I will continue to hold the federal workforce accountable and ensure that it is delivering for the American people.
