Views of GAO Regarding the Provisions of S. 1325

A Senate committee requested the views of GAO on a bill to reform the laws relating to former Presidents. GAO agrees with many of the amendments; however, there are several issues that it would like to see addressed that are not included in the bill. These issues include: (1) placing a time limit on the Federal employees assigned to the former President's office staff; (2) presidential authorization for Government aircraft to be used by a former President for transition purposes; (3) an addition to the budget providing sufficient funds to carry out the provisions of the Former Presidents Act as it applies to the outgoing President and Vice President; (4) limiting the expenditures that can be made under the Former Presidents Act to those made from the small imprest fund; (5) specifically authorizing the shipment of the personal effects of the former President and Vice President and their families to locations in the United States selected by them; and (6) modifying the annuity rate payable to a former President's surviving spouse to more closely reflect that payable to survivors under other Federal retirement systems.