Overview
Title
To amend title 31, United States Code, to include information on improper payments under Federal programs, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
S. 4661 is a bill that wants the President to share more information about mistakes when spending money in government programs, asking offices to say why these mistakes go up or down and how they plan to fix them.
Summary AI
S. 4661, known as the “Improper Payments Transparency Act,” proposes changes to title 31 of the United States Code. The bill aims to include detailed information about improper payments in federal programs within the President's budget submission. It requires executive agencies to provide explanations for increases or decreases in improper payment rates and to outline any corrective actions needed to address the issues.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled the "Improper Payments Transparency Act," introduced to the U.S. Senate during the 118th Congress, seeks to amend title 31 of the United States Code. Its primary goal is to enhance transparency around improper payments made under federal programs. The bill mandates that the President's budget submission includes detailed information about improper payment amounts and rates associated with various federal programs and activities. Additionally, it requires explanations for these payment issues, trends over the previous three years, and any corrective actions planned to address unresolved problems.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several significant issues arise from the bill's text. Primarily, the absence of a clear deadline for executive agencies to submit improper payment information may result in delays in addressing these payment issues. Furthermore, there are no prescribed consequences for agencies that fail to provide the required information or neglect to execute corrective actions, potentially reducing accountability. The vague term "narrative description" might lead to inconsistent reporting, and the undefined nature of "trends of improper payment amounts and rates" could allow for varied interpretations. Lastly, the bill does not specify how the effectiveness of corrective actions will be evaluated or monitored, which could undermine efforts to remediate improper payments effectively.
Impact on the Public Broadly
The bill aims to improve the transparency of federal spending and reduce improper payments, which could lead to more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. By ensuring better tracking and accountability of federal expenditures, the bill has the potential to foster public trust in government operations. However, the absence of clear deadlines and accountability measures could hinder these efforts, resulting in continued financial inefficiencies if agencies do not adhere rigorously to the bill’s requirements.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For federal agencies, the bill introduces additional reporting responsibilities, necessitating robust tracking mechanisms and thorough analysis of improper payments. This may require increased resources or adjustments in current processes. Agencies effectively addressing improper payments could benefit from improved operational efficiency and public perception. However, due to the lack of penalties for non-compliance, agencies could potentially deprioritize these efforts without fear of repercussions.
For policymakers and budget analysts, the bill's emphasis on transparency could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of federal programs, aiding more informed decision-making. Conversely, the lack of detailed guidance on evaluating trends and corrective actions could lead to inconsistent application across agencies, limiting the bill's effectiveness in achieving its transparency goals.
Overall, while the bill intends to safeguard federal monies and enhance government accountability, its success will largely depend on how well it is implemented and enforced across governmental agencies.
Issues
The bill lacks a clear deadline for executive agencies to submit required information on improper payments, which could lead to significant delays in addressing and rectifying improper payment issues. This issue is found in Section 2.
There are no specified consequences or penalties for executive agencies that fail to submit improper payment information or do not execute corrective actions. This absence might reduce accountability and enforcement of the bill's provisions, as noted in Section 2.
The term 'narrative description' in Section 2 might be too vague, leading to inconsistent reporting standards and possibly undermining the transparency and effectiveness of the reporting process.
The bill does not clearly define 'trends of improper payment amounts and rates,' which could result in varying interpretations and inconsistent application across different agencies, as highlighted in Section 2.
There is no specification on how the effectiveness of corrective actions will be evaluated or monitored, which could lead to ineffective remediation strategies and continued loss of federal funds due to improper payments. This concern arises from Section 2.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the Act states that it will be known as the "Improper Payments Transparency Act".
2. Including improper payment information in Presidents budget submission Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires the President's budget submission to include information on improper payment amounts and rates for each government program and agency that reports such data. It also calls for explanations of why these payment issues happened, any trends over the last three years, and planned corrective actions to address unresolved issues.