WASHINGTON-House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) opened today’s hearing on the 2021 Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) High Risk List by emphasizing the need to root out government waste, fraud, and abuse and protect taxpayer dollars. The High Risk List is released at the start of every new Congress and is comprised of federal programs and agencies deemed to be vulnerable to “fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement" and are viewed as needing improvement.
Ranking Member Comer in his opening statement discussed the important role the High Risk List plays in creating a “blueprint for congressional action," but was clear that Congress has substantial work to do beyond the suggestions from the GAO. Comer voiced concerns regarding the minimal success in removing areas from the list while several areas regressed or failed to improve in any way.
Below are Ranking Member Comer’s remarks as prepared for delivery.
Thank you, Chairwoman Maloney, for holding this important hybrid, bipartisan hearing today, and thank you, Comptroller General Dodaro, for your appearance.
Today’s hearing is exactly what this Committee was designed to do: Explore areas where there are high risks for fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement of government resources. Congress needs to know what steps we can take to make the high risk programs more efficient and less susceptible to misuse.
Taxpayers expect their government to work for them, but far too often the complexity of the federal bureaucracy leads to risks of inefficiencies and mismanaged resources.
I am glad the hearing today will shine a light on federal programs that are especially susceptible to such risks, as well as identify solutions to ensure the government is working for the American people.
GAO’s High Risk List has informed congressional oversight and decision making since its inception in the 1990’s.
To be included on the list, the GAO considers several factors, in particular whether the area presents a risk of at least a $1 billion loss, involves public health or safety, national security, economic growth, or citizens’ rights.
The 36 separate areas identified in this 2021 High Risk List are selected by the GAO as having both qualitative and quantitative risks that present an elevated likelihood of fraud, waste, and abuse.
Once on the list, the program must demonstrate a commitment to progress in five criteria which GAO clearly outlines. Today’s hearing should help us better understand these recommendations so this Committee can use the tools we have to ensure these programs are better managed.
The GAO estimates the High Risk List, combined with targeted Congressional oversight, is responsible for a financial benefit to the federal government of $575 billion over the last 15 years, and approximately $225 billion since its last High Risk update in 2019. That’s over half a trillion dollars saved for the U.S. Taxpayer over the last 15 years.
But there remains serious work to be done in addressing many of the deficiencies identified on the 2021 High Risk List.
In fact, I see this report as a blueprint for congressional action needed to make our government work more efficiently for the American people while managing resources and utilizing our tax dollars in the way the law intends.
Because despite progress made in multiple High Risk areas since 2019, the news is not all good.
Only one area met all five criteria for removal from this year’s High Risk List, while two new areas were added to the list. Some areas regressed while others did not improve in any of the five key criteria.
There is still a significant amount of work to be done, and I’ve said many times that this Committee should be guided by its mission to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, wherever it may be found. I’m glad to see the Committee finally addressing these issues.
Since October, Committee Republicans have shined a light on a $35 million contract for get out the vote efforts in California that appears to violate federal law. Meanwhile, the Election Assistance Commission Inspector General has taken no action. That is exactly why it is important for this Committee to focus on preventing mismanagement and frivolous spending like we are here today. That is our job as members of this Committee.
I look forward to hearing from our witness today about ways Congress can enhance its oversight and improve the areas identified on the High Risk List, to ensure that our government works on behalf of the American people.
I again thank the Chairwoman for holding this important hearing and yield back the balance of my time.
