Audit of Financial Transactions of the Sergeant at Arms for Fiscal Year 1976

The audit was for the 6 months ended December 31, 1975, and June 30, 1976, and included preparation of financial statements; a review of federal laws relating to payments of salaries and mileages of Members and payments of gratuities to their widows, widowers, or heirs; a review of House banking operations; and a review of records and financial transactions. Expenses paid by the Clerk of the House are not included. Unpaid checks at June 30, 1975, equalled $43,755. During fiscal year (FY) 1976, 8,428 unpaid checks equalled $1,817,550; redemption of unpaid checks totaled $1,825,675, leaving a balance of $35,650. During the first half of FY76, 54 percent of the Members had at least one unpaid check, and during the last half, 58 percent had unpaid checks. No loss, however, was incurred. In January, 1976, State tax whitholding was initiated for members who requested it. A total of $179,103.74 was remitted to 36 States and D.C. during the first two quarters of the year.