Senate Oversight Committee

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14300/39

Historical and alternative names: Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, Senate Committee on the District of Columbia, Senate Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, Senate Committee on Post Office and Postal Roads, Senate Committee on Post Office and Postal Roads/Post Office and Civil Service, Senate Committee on Retrenchment, Senate Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, Senate Committee on Government Operations, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Established on October 9, 2004, this committee succeeded the Senate Committees on the District of Columbia (1816); Post Office and Civil Service (1816); Retrenchment (1842); Expenditures in the Executive Departments (1921); Government Operations (1952); and Governmental Affairs (1978). The current Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is the chief oversight committee of the Senate. It has jurisdiction over matters related to the Department of Homeland Security and other homeland security concerns, as well as the functioning of the government itself, including the National Archives, budget and accounting measures other than appropriations, the Census, the federal civil service, the affairs of the District of Columbia and the United States Postal Service. For a more exact definition of this committee's authority, see Rule XXV, Clause 1(k)(1) of the Senate Manual.

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CDC Off Center
(2007-06-21) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security
Senator Tom Coburn, member of the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security drafted the following report to hold the CDC accountable after many “questionable” expenditures of public funds and ensure preventable measures are considered for the future. The report does find some funds being used in areas it should not, and calls for the agency to reform.
For the Farmers or For Fun: USDA Spends Over $90 Million in Conference Costs
(2008-05-15) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
The Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security investigated travel expenses. Senator Tom Coburn investigated, in particular, the Department of Agriculture expenses for conferences, finding excessive spending on locations that were not necessary for members and did not pertain to their mission, as well as social events that taxpayers paid for. This report asks Congress to do more oversight when it comes to these extraneous department expenditures.
The XVII International AIDS Conference
(2008-08-05) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
Senator Tom Coburn investigated the spending of federal agencies in regard to conferences and specifically the HIV/AIDS conference. This report shows that the excessive cost of this conference could have instead been utilized for treatment of HIV/AIDS, stating that acting upon the action is far more important than conversing about the disease.
Missing in Action: AWOL in the Federal Government
(2008-08-21) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
Senator Tom Coburn investigated the attendance of federal employees which has starkly decreased. The findings within this report show that nearly 10,000 work years have been lost due to unexcused absences with the AWOL problem staggering, the AWOL problem has increasing been getting worse, and lastly this problem is primarily from the Department of Veteran Affairs (has millions of hours every year) and the Department of Treasury. This in turn is an ineffective use of taxpayers money, as they foot the bill for government employees who do not show up.
Justice Denied: Waste and Mismanagement at the Department of Justice
(2008-10-29) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
Senator Tom Coburn investigated numerous instance in which millions of dollars were thrown at duplicative programs that were marred by waste, abuse, and lack of accountability. The report uncovers examples of inefficient spending and waste that further validate its stance such as the DOJ illegally allowing grantees access to more than $500 million, collaborating and funding Muslim Brotherhood U.S affiliates and other entities with ties to terrorism, and finally spending millions on preventative grants whose outcome is unclear due to the lack of data and measurements.
2008: Worst Waste of the Year
(2008-12-11) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Relations
Senator Tom Coburn, member of the subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security created the report to display countless wasteful spending that resulted in the national debt to increase. The purpose of these investigations, however, was to deter federal agencies to continue in spending tax dollars in this manner by holding them accountable for future actions.
New Information About Counternarcotics Contracts in Latin America
(2011-06-07) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight
The Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs examined State Department and Defense Department spending on counternarcotics assistance contracts with Latin America. This analysis was in order to find out whether these contracts are achieving the federal government's goals. The subcommittee found that neither department has an adequate system in place to track counternarcotics data and contract management has been inconsistent with the growth in spending on such contracts.
Activities of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Its Subcommittees for the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress
(2023-03-01) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
This report details the activities of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and its subcommittees for the 117th Congress.
Computer Chaos: Billions Wasted Buying Federal Computer Systems
(1994-10-12) Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management
The Minority Staff of the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management under Senator William S. Cohen conducted an examination into the Federal Government's practices for purchasing computers following reports of failed computer acquisitions. The report recommends overhauling the process for buying major computer and communication systems and emphasizes the need for program oversight.
Free Community College for Foreign Kids
(2015-10-26) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking into a $15.6 million program that will fund foreign students for one year of community college. The report looks into the countries in which students will come from as well as the majors they will be able to access. The report finds that there are only eight approved fields of study with key ones like nursing and other vocational subjects being excluded. The report further takes issue with this as attending student will not be able to obtain classes useful to developing economies, and with only one year of classes funded will be unable to obtain even an associate's degree.
NIH: Finding Friends to Fight the Freshman 15 lbs!!!
(2015-10-19) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking into a federally funded $380,000 research project to study weight gain for college freshman. The report looks at the the methodology of the study which specifically looks at how social relationships impact eating habits and weight gain. The report includes finding from completed studies that have found that weight gain for college freshman is often trivial, and questions the use in conducting further study at this cost.
National Park Service's Flower Show: A Blooming Waste
(2015-09-28) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking at a National Park Service (NPS) flower exhibit. The report looks at the feasibility of this show and how this ranks in regard to the National Park Service's other priorities. The Subcommittee finds that the NPS has been consistently calling out the government for lack of funding, but finds it contradictory to use $100,000 for a flower show rather than other hiring vacancies.
Houston, We Have A Problem...with our Slice
(2015-10-05) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking into a Cobra Puma Golf research program on the International Space Station. The report looks into the purpose of the project, and the landscape of research involved with the International Space Station. The Subcommittee finds that the Center for Advancement of Science and Space and Cobra Puma Golf have different objectives for the research which it finds concerning. Additionally, the report finds that there is low competition for research involving the International Space Station which it believes explains why this particular program was able to happen.
Invasive Burros, Coyotes, and Waste: OH MY!!!
(2015-09-22) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking at an animal problem at Fort Irwin, California. The report looks into an invasive population of burros and coyotes, and how the Department of Defense is contracting New Mexico State University to do a study on this situation that costs $218,000. The report asserts that a much cheaper solution would be to stop feeding the animals to combat their activeness in the region, and that since this is just a study, there will likely be more taxpayer money used to implement solutions found from the study.
Federal Yoga: Bend, Stretch, Waste
(2015-09-14) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking at yoga programs in the federal government. Specifically, the report looks at federal agencies that offer free yoga classes for their employees. The report finds that several agencies such as the Department of Energy and the State Department offer free yoga classes at the expense of taxpayer money, while many other agencies require participants to pay for the class.
In the ZONE: A Perception of Waste
(2015-09-08) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking at a research project that studies how perception relates to an athlete's performance. The report specifically looks at the necessity of this research and whether it resulted in any fruitful information. The Subcommittee finds that the study did provide some interesting insight into this subject, but that these types of studies should be left up to athletic or other private entities rather than using taxpayer money.
NOAA: Surfing the Channels While Riding the Waves
(2015-08-31) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) ship Fairweather and the $40,000 spending for television access. The report examines the Fairweather ship's 300 channel satellite subscription, the personal access to this television subscription of everyone on the ship. The report finds that the average American household only has 189 channels, and that the only satellite subscription that carries 300 channels is Dish's biggest channel package, which the report considers a wasteful expense.
FEMA: Cover this Disaster Twice
(2015-08-17) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking into possible double payments in disaster relief and recovery situations for over $50 million in taxpayer costs. The report looks into the process of how institutions like FEMA appropriate money for relief, and if this leads to possible overcharges or misuse. The Subcommittee finds several instances of FEMA providing monetary relief that was already covered by external insurance as well as instances of money given by FEMA being used for other alternative projects.
The Sweet, Sweet Musical Styling of Waste
(2015-08-24) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
From the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management led by Senator Rand Paul issued a weekly waste report looking at the funding of a modern jazz group named the Soul Rebels. The report looks into the Department of State using $50,000 of taxpayer money to fund the Soul Rebels' trip to a jazz festival in Istanbul. The Subcommittee finds the Soul Rebels were already on an European tour and also that the Soul Rebels are already an established music group, so the funding was unnecessary on several counts.
U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Recent Policy has Increased Costs to Consumers but Not Overall U.S. Energy Security
(2003-03-05) Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs; Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Minority Staff conducted an investigation into influences on increased gas prices relating to Department of Energy initiatives and manipulation of crude oil prices. The Subcommittee interviewed members of the Department of Energy and members of international futures exchanges in addition to reviewing crude oil futures price and trading data. The Subcommittee found that the Department of Energy deliberately filled the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and caused gas price increases for consumers. The report also found that the method of crude oil futures trading in the U.S. makes it nearly impossible to determine and prevent manipulation of crude oil prices.

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