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Historical and alternative names: House Committee on Government Reform, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House Committee on Oversight and Reform, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Established in 1927, it is one of the most powerful and influential House Committees due to its broad jurisdiction. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability holds the federal government and all its agencies accountable, as well as assesses their efficiency and effectiveness. For a more exact definition of this committee's authority, see Rule X, Clause 1(n) of the House Rules and Manual.
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Publication Analysis of H.R. 10: Republican Leadership Bill on 9/11 Commission Recommendations(2004-10-15) House Select Committee on Homeland Security; House Committee on Government ReformThe House Select Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Government Reform issued a Joint Majority Staff Report on the differences between the recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission for preventing future terrorist attacks and the legislation developed by Republican Staff in response to the Commission's recommendations.Publication Government Paperwork Burdens Have Increased Substantially Under the Bush Administration(2004-05-19) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform released a report on their investigation into a significant increase in government paperwork during the Bush Administration, despite President Bush's promises to reduce such burdens. The report finds "the largest annual increase in paperwork burden ever measured occurred under the Bush Administration in fiscal year 2002." Furthermore, paperwork burdens increased once again during fiscal year 2003 and the Bush Administration is "pursuing new regulatory changes that will impose additional paperwork burdens on Americans."Publication Activities of the Committee on Oversight and Reform: One Hundred Seventeenth Congress(2022-12-31) House Committee on Oversight and ReformThis report details the activities of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and its subcommittees for the 117th Congress.Publication Examining the Causes of the Credit Crisis of 2008(2008-10-06) House Committee on Oversight and Government ReformPublication The Trump Administration's Pattern of Political Interference in the Nation's Coronavirus Response(2020-10-02) House Committee on Oversight and Reform; Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus CrisisPublication Prioritizing Wall Street: The Fed's Corporate Bond Purchases During the Coronavirus Pandemic(2020-09-23) House Committee on Oversight and Reform; Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus CrisisPublication The Prosperity Index: Measuring the State of the Nation's Economy(2002-10-17) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform revealed a stark decline in economic prosperity since President George W. Bush took office. The Prosperity Index, which combines GDP growth, unemployment, and budget surplus/deficit, plummeted, accompanied by slowing GDP growth, rising unemployment, and budget deficits. Other indicators, like bankruptcies, foreclosures, job losses, and increased poverty, further underscore the economic downturn despite debates about the causes, including Bush Administration policies and external events like the September 11 attacks.Publication Prescription Drug Pricing in the 7th Congressional District of Maryland: An International Price Comparison(1999-08-10) House Committee on Government ReformThe House Committee on Government Reform compares prescription drug prices in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District with prices in Canada and Mexico. The study finds that senior citizens and uninsured consumers in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District pay 98% more for prescription drugs compared to consumers in Canada and 95% higher than those in Mexico. The findings suggest a consistent pattern of price discrimination by drug manufacturers, affecting senior citizens and other self-paying consumers.Publication Prescription Drug Pricing in the 7th Congressional District in Maryland: Drug Companies Profit at the Expense of Older Americans(1999-04-21) House Committee on Government ReformThe House Committee on Government Reform Investigated prescription drug price discrimination in Maryland, particularly impacting seniors. The investigation revealed that individuals paying for their own drugs, including seniors, are charged significantly higher prices compared to large insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, and the federal government. Seniors in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District are found to pay more than twice as much for prescription drugs on average, indicating a substantial and concerning price differential. The discriminatory pricing contributes to the growing challenge of older Americans affording necessary prescription medications, emphasizing the need to address and rectify these pricing practices.Publication Prescription Drug Price Discrimination in the 7th Congressional District in Maryland: Drug Manufacturer Prices are Higher for Humans than for Animals(2000-02-16) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform investigated prescription drug pricing in the 7th Congressional District in Maryland. The findings reveal substantial price discrimination for the same drug used by humans and animals, with lower prices for animal use and higher prices for human use. The report suggests eliminating this discrimination could significantly reduce drug costs for uninsured consumers in the district.Publication Breast Cancer Drugs are More Expensive in the 7th Congressional District in Maryland than in Foreign Countries(2000-10-01) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform investigated the pricing of five commonly prescribed brand-name prescription drugs for breast cancer in Representitive Cumming’s district in Maryland. The report states uninsured women in this district face substantially higher costs, with the average price for these drugs being 155% higher than in Canada, the U.K., France, and Italy. Breast cancer drugs are over three times more expensive in this district than in Canada and France. These findings underscore the disparity in breast cancer drug prices between Rep. Cummings's district and other countries, with substantial implications for the financial burden on patients.Publication Ergonomic Injuries in Maryland(2001-03-20) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform investigated ergonomic injuries in Maryland to estimate the potential impact of repealing the 2000 US Department of Labor ergonomic rule. This provision required employers to provide info to employees about ergonomic injuries, how to recognize and report them, and brief descriptions of new ergonomic standards. The investigation revealed that thousands of Maryland workers suffer each year from economic injuries, many of which are severe and cause workers to miss significant time away from work. Overall, these injuries were estimated to cost of $1 billion each year.Publication Proposed Overhaul of Head Start Could Affect Thousands of Children in Maryland's 7th Congressional District(2003-07-01) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform assessed the potential impact of proposed legislative changes to the Head Start program on low-income children in Maryland's 7th Congressional District. The analysis reveals that 2,950 children in the district attend Head Start programs. The comprehensive services provided by Head Start, including medical and social services, benefit these children significantly. The proposed changes could lead to a reduction or elimination of crucial services for children in the 7th Congressional District.Publication The Impact of President Bush's Social Security Proposal in Maryland's 7th Congressional District(2005-07-08) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform examines President Bush's Social Security plan's impact on working families in Maryland's 7th Congressional District, finding significant benefit cuts for the majority of wage earners. Over 180,000 workers would face cuts, with average reductions of $2,375 per year for those aged 35-55 and $4,620 per year for younger earners. Total benefits could decrease by over $14 billion for current wage earners, with over 73% of the cut affecting middle-class workers earning $30,000 to $90,000 annually. The plan's impact on widows and surviving children remains uncertain, potentially affecting a large number of survivors. The report does not estimate the impact of potential benefit reductions from the proposed private accounts.Publication Medicare Part D: Drug Pricing and Manufacturer Windfalls(2008-07-24) House Committee on Oversight and Government ReformThe House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform compares drug prices under the Medicare Part D program with those under traditional Medicaid, revealing that Medicare Part D pays on average 30% more for drugs than Medicaid. The prices paid for drugs under Medicare Part D are found to be significantly higher than those paid by Medicaid, leading to a windfall of over $3.7 billion for drug manufacturers in the first two years of the Medicare Part D program. The report focuses on the costs to taxpayers for providing drug coverage to six million "dual eligible" beneficiaries, who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.Publication Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater's Action in Fallujah(2007-09-27) House Committee on Oversight and Government ReformThe House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform conducted an investigation into private military contractors' performance and accountability in Iraq, focusing on a pivotal event where four Blackwater USA security contractors were killed in Fallujah in 2004. Eyewitness accounts and investigative reports revealed that Blackwater ignored warnings, reduced essential personnel, and failed to provide adequate equipment and intelligence to its team. Blackwater's conduct was described as sloppy and unprepared, with employees expressing concerns about the mission's execution. Blackwater's response to the investigation, including delays and attempts to obstruct, further raised questions about the company's accountability.Publication The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle: Over Budget, Behind Schedule, and Unreliable(2008-04-29) House Committee on Oversight and Government ReformThe House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform produced this report scrutinizing the mismanagement of major weapons acquisition programs by the Department of Defense, with a focus on the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV). The EFV faced severe issues during the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase, resulting in a cost increase of nearly $1 billion and a delay of 8 years. Mistakes by Marine Corps officials and the prime contractor, General Dynamics, led to significant setbacks, causing the Defense Department to repeat the SDD phase.Publication Benefits of Proposed Democratic Medicare Drug Program Reforms(2006-10-26) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform discusses the challenges and issues faced during the launch of the new Medicare drug benefit. The committee highlights the complexity and high costs associated with the program, leading to over four million seniors and disabled Medicare beneficiaries not signing up for benefits before the May 15, 2006, deadline. The report recommends reforms that could result in substantial savings for beneficiaries and provide relief to those facing penalties for missing the enrollment deadline.Publication Waiting Times for Veterans Health Care in Oklahoma(2002-10-24) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform investigated waiting times at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics in Oklahoma. The analysis finds that VA clinics in the state fail to schedule thousands of appointments within the mandated 30 days. For instance, in September 2002, 41% of eye care appointments, 27% of cardiology appointments, and 20% of urology appointments did not meet the 30-day requirement. The report attributes the long waiting times to inadequate funding for VA care, exacerbated by increased demand and budget constraints. Despite emergency funding legislation, President Bush withheld a significant portion, exacerbating the crisis.Publication Waiting Times for Veterans Health Care in Kansas(2002-10-01) House Committee on Government Reform; Special Investigations DivisionThe Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform investigated waiting times at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics in Kansas, revealing significant issues. The analysis finds that in 2002, an estimated 50,000 appointments in hospitals serving Kansas veterans were scheduled late. Many Kansas veterans experience extended waiting periods, with average waiting times in July 2002 ranging from 49 to 76 days for various specialties. VA clinics in Kansas also struggle to schedule a large percentage of appointments within the mandated 30 days, with percentages ranging from 40% to 68% for different clinics. Inadequate funding for VA care is identified as a primary cause of the prolonged waiting times, exacerbated by increased demand and budget constraints.