Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's oversight hearing on the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture:
I would like to welcome our witnesses, Ms. Fong, Ms. Coffey, Mr. Harden, and Ms. Rone, from USDA’s Office of Inspector General. Thank you for appearing before us.
As is typical with a new administration, the budget will be delayed for another month or so. Therefore, this hearing is not about the fiscal year 2022 budget request but about OIG’s oversight of a wide-ranging department that touches the lives of every American.
I have always been a big supporter of your office and your mission to promote economy, efficiency, and integrity in USDA programs and operations. Your work through audits, investigations, and reviews help protect the taxpayers’ interests while improving the department’s effectiveness and efficiency.
I also want to express my appreciation for Ms. Fong’s service as USDA’s inspector general for over 18 years. Your tenure spans multiple administrations, including Secretary Vilsack’s first turn at the department.
So today, I would like to hear more about your plans to conduct adequate oversight of USDA programs and the challenges you face in ensuring agreed-upon recommendations are implemented and complaints are appropriately addressed.
I look forward to discussing that with you as well as other important issues, and I want to say again that we appreciate you and all OIG staff for all that you do.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
