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Commission on Civil Rights: Commissioners' Travel Activities

GGD-94-130 Published: Aug 08, 1994. Publicly Released: Aug 08, 1994.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Commission on Civil Rights' travel activities, focusing on whether: (1) commissioners timely file their travel vouchers; (2) the Commission verified the commissioners' use of government contractor-issued charge cards for official travel purposes; and (3) commissioners' billable workdays and acceptance of voluntary services are limited by federal statutes.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Commission on Civil Rights The Staff Director, in consultation with the Chairperson of the Commission on Civil Rights, should direct the Commission staff to determine the liability of the commissioner who has the 57 outstanding vouchers for any loss that may result from nonrefund of his airline tickets that were issued over 12 months ago.
Closed – Implemented
The agency has issued to the Commissioner who had 57 outstanding travel vouchers a bill of indebtedness for payment of common carrier tickets which have not been accounted for that were issued through the agency's travel management system. According to the agency, recovery proceedings are in effect.
Commission on Civil Rights The Staff Director, in consultation with the Chairperson of the Commission on Civil Rights, should direct commissioners to file travel vouchers in a timely manner as required by federal travel regulations, and that if the Commission does not receive completed travel vouchers for all trips by the end of August 1994, the Staff Director should consider directing the Commission staff to cancel the travel authorization of those commissioners who have not filed all outstanding vouchers.
Closed – Implemented
On March 31, 1995, the agency issued revised travel procedures which implement GAO's recommendation related to commissioners' travel. The Commission also reported to GAO in October 1994 that two of the three commissioners who had outstanding travel vouchers had submitted those vouchers. The agency has issued a bill of indebtedness to the third commissioner for common carrier tickets for which no travel vouchers have been filed.

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AccountabilityAccounting proceduresCivil rightsCredit salesFinancial managementRefunds to governmentTransportation expense claimsTravel allowancesTravel costsVolunteer services