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House of Representatives passes Young, Connolly federal program reform legislation
09/22/16 On September 22, 2016, the House passed the Senate companion to bipartisan legislation authored by Congressmen Todd Young (R-IN) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) that reduces government waste by instituting private-sector performance standards for federal programs and projects. The legislation passed with a vote of 404 – 11.
Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) coauthored the companion legislation in the United States Senate (S. 1550).
“During my time in the Marine Corps, I saw firsthand the mismanagement that is prevalent throughout far too many defense programs and projects,” said Congressman Young. “This problem pervades all government agencies, with projects often coming in over budget and past deadline. For the first time, our reform legislation will implement government-wide performance standards derived from the private-sector to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, and ensure projects conclude on time and on budget. The potential cost savings from these reforms are large, and I’m grateful to my Democratic colleague, Congressman Connolly, as well as Senators Ernst and Heitkamp for their leadership in helping get this legislation across the finish line.”
“From my experience in the private sector, I know firsthand that without a clear mission, measureable benchmarks and the empowerment of program managers, federal projects can, unfortunately, expand beyond their original scope, run behind schedule and over budget,” said Congressman Connolly. “Our legislation strengthens project management policy throughout the federal government by requiring consistent project standards and guidelines for program management, demanding accountability at OMB and in federal agencies to capture and implement lessons learned, and requiring clear identification of skills and competencies necessary for effective program management professionals.”
“I am pleased that the House of Representatives passed our bipartisan legislation that will help put a stop to the billions of wasted taxpayer dollars that fall victim to mismanagement throughout the federal government,” said Senator Joni Ernst. “By requiring the government to streamline and adopt commonsense management standards, I am confident our bill can help prevent lax oversight, cost overruns, and deficiencies, while also raising the level of accountability for those that manage large federal programs. This is an important step toward making government more cost-effective and efficient. I look forward to continuing to work together with Senator Heitkamp and Congressmen Young and Connolly to ultimately send this much-needed government reform to the President’s desk.”
“Making sure federal programs are well managed is key to creating effective and helpful relationships among federal agencies, communities and businesses, whether it’s in energy, agriculture, or any other field,” said Senator Heitkamp. “This bipartisan bill aims to give federal agencies a framework for better managing their programs, helping us reduce waste and promote effective management practices. Now that my bipartisan bill with Senator Ernst has passed in the House, we’ll continue to work to send it to the president’s desk to be signed into law.”
Background on H.R. 2144 - Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act:
- The federal government manages some of the largest programs and projects in the world.
- The breadth of inefficiency and mismanagement in government is detailed in a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). It’s estimated that managerial improvement and efficiency-improving actions could save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.
- The amendment requires federal agencies, which are not responsible for earning a profit, to collaborate with the private-sector and adopt performance standards widely used by organizations that have incentive to restrain costs.
- It requires agencies specifically to: adopt robust guidelines for program and project management planning and delivery; conduct portfolio reviews to address effectiveness and quality of programs, especially those identified as ‘high risk’ by GAO; establish a 5-year strategic plan for program and project management.
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