Improper Payments: Posthearing Questions Related to Agencies Meeting the Requirements of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002
Highlights
On March 9, 2006, we testified before Congress at a hearing entitled, "Reporting Improper Payments: A Report Card on Agencies' Progress." At the hearing, we discussed our findings on federal agencies' challenges in meeting the requirements of the Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA) of 2002 based on our review of agencies' fiscal year 2005 performance and accountability reports (PAR) and annual reports. We were asked to provide answers to the following follow-up questions relating to our March 9, 2006, testimony: (1) What concerns does GAO have regarding not only DHS' inability to comply with the Improper Payments Information Act; but on a greater scale with their overall financial management? (2) About which Agencies that reported in their fiscal year 2005 Performance and Accountability Report that they had no programs susceptible to significant improper payments does GAO have concerns about? (3) Should "unavoidable overpayment" statistics at the Social Security Administration (SSA) be reported to the Office of Management and Budget, and if so why would this be important, and how could the Social Security Administration implement such a process? (4) What concerns does GAO have with the Agency for International Development's (USAID) reporting on improper payments? (5) Does GAO have any concerns with the rest of these agencies and their failure to report improper payment information? (6) has GAO done any analysis of the President's proposals, and if so, what is the GAO's assessment? (7) Has GAO made any recommendations regarding the administration and financial controls in the EITC program? (8) How can the Department of Labor's successes be carried over to other agencies? and (9) Is GAO concerned that CDBG's outlays are $5.4 billion, and not only are they not reporting, they have claimed that they are in compliance?