Proposed Enhancement of Contractual Authority of the Temporary Commission on Financial Oversight of the District of Columbia

H.R. 13548 would amend P.L. 94-399 which provides for auditing of the District of Columbia's financial condition by authorizing the Temporary Commission on Financial Oversight of the District of Columbia to: award cost-type contracts, contract with the District government, audit books and records of its contractors and subcontractors, provide funds to the District government to meet matching requirements for certain Federal grants, and contract for annual audits of the financial operations of the District government through fiscal year 1982. Issues were addressed dealing with monitoring procedures used by GAO to oversee the Commission's work, the District government's use of Federal money to match Federal grants, and the need for the legislation. Procedures established were intended to ensure that plans submitted by the Commission's contractors will be approvable and that GAO will be able to evaluate plans submitted by the contractors within the 60 days authorized by P.L. 94-399. Issues involved in the District's use of Federal money to match grants are the administrative problems of the Commission's dealing with the contractor performing work through the District government and the question of whether language should be included in the bill to specifically authorize the Commission to provide funds to the District government to meet the matching requirements. Such language should be included. The legislation would facilitate the Commission's ability to fulfill its responsibilities.