How to Enhance Congressional Oversight

GAO discussed how congressional oversight of executive agencies and programs can greatly enhance program operations by focusing on program and policy implementation. GAO noted that executive agencies need: (1) necessary mission planning systems to provide organizational direction; (2) modern and accurate financial and management information systems to monitor operations; (3) effective evaluation efforts to assess program efficiency and effectiveness; and (4) dynamic human resources programs with good mechanisms for holding managers accountable for results. GAO believes that Congress needs to: (1) place more emphasis on a range of issues surrounding integration of housing and health care services for the low-income elderly; (2) engage in continued dialogue with agency political leadership in the future; (3) insist that agency officials develop plans and time tables for correcting problems; and (4) make it clear to agency officials that they will be held accountable for taking effective corrective actions.