Bipartisan Walberg Legislation to Increase Government Accountability Clears House

Washington, D.C. –Today, the House passed the bipartisan H.R. 3089, the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act, to bring accountability to the federal grant making process and rein in wasteful spending. A 2012 Government Accountability Office report identified nearly one billion dollars remaining in undisbursed funds within expired grant accounts. It is also estimated that federal agencies spend $2 million dollars per year to maintain accounts with no funds in them.

In July, Congressman Walberg (MI-07) introduced H.R. 3089 with Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (MI-14). Both serve on the Oversight & Government Reform Committee, which is tasked with rooting out government waste, fraud and abuse. H.R. 3089 would require federal agencies to identify and close out thousands of expired grants and accounts with a zero balance.

"Taxpayers demand better stewardship of their hard-earned money. The GONE Act takes common sense steps to clean up senseless waste in the federal grant-making process. This legislation is the culmination of bipartisan, bicameral efforts and I'm proud to see it pass the House today," said Walberg.