WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), today unanimously passed draft legislation to clarify NTIA and RUS authority to return reclaimed stimulus funds to the U.S. Treasury.
“As stewards of the taxpayers’ money, I know we all want to prevent misspent funds and fraud. This legislation clarifies the administrators’ responsibility to de-obligate funds when there is cause to terminate the award. Additionally, it institutes a new reporting requirement that will keep Congress apprised of relevant developments regarding awards. I look forward to working expeditiously in a bipartisan manner to move this out of committee," said Walden.
Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) said, “The legislation that passed today is, in essence, a taxpayer protection measure. As we heard from the respective Inspectors General in February, many of these stimulus-funded broadband programs face real risks of waste, fraud, and insufficient performance. Our efforts should be centered on protecting the taxpayer and maximizing the potential for economic growth and job creation, and I’m pleased the subcommittee moved forward with this important bill."
