Accountability
Transparency is not a partisan issue. The American people deserve accountability from their elected officials in Washington. I am committed to bringing transparency to my work by sharing information about each of my meetings on my website, introducing and supporting legislation to strengthen independent watchdog groups, and work to ensure that our government is accountable to the American people.
Introduced Legislation:
- Clean Legislating and Ethical Accountability Now (CLEAN) Act: makes the Office of Congressional Ethics a permanent body, protecting it from politically motivated changes, and giving it the tools it needs, including subpoena power, to investigate ethics violations.
- No Ongoing Perks Enrichment (NOPE) Act: prohibits first-class flights for members of Congress and staff, freezes Congressional pay, withholds pay unless a budget is passed, and increases the lobbying ban for members of Congress and staff from two years to five years.
- Government Shutdown Accountability and Economic Report Act of 2017: withholds Congressional pay during a government shutdown and requires daily reports on the impact and cost of the shutdown on the economy.
Cosponsored Legislation:
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Government By the People Act of 2017: reforms the financing of congressional elections by broadening participation by small dollar donors.
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Protecting Our Democracy Act: creates the National Commission on Foreign Interference in the 2016 Election to examine any attempts or activities by the Russian government or other governments, persons or entities to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or sow distrust in the 2016 elections.
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No Budget, No Pay Act: withholds Congressional pay after October 1 of any fiscal year in which Congress has not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget and passed the regular appropriations bills.
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Establishing a Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress: Establishes an ad hoc committee to study the organization, operations, functions, and relevant interactions of the Members of Congress and to make recommendations to make such operations and organization more effective and efficient; make Congress and its Members more accountable; improve the orderly, timely, and effective consideration and disposal of legislation
More on Accountability
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) announced he would give up his salary for the duration of a government shutdown if Congressional leaders fail to fund the government by the end of the week.
WASHINGTON - Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) released this statement following President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the federal government:
Today, following months of negotiations and discussions between members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and Democratic Party leader that resulted in an agreement to reform House Rules, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) voted for Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House.
WASHINGTON—Today, the Blue Dog Coalition announced its leadership for the 116th Congress and inducted several new members. In the 116th Congress, the Coalition will fight to restore the American Dream and put our country on the path to prosperity. The Coalition will continue to focus on its long-held mission to pursue commonsense, bipartisan solutions that will get our country’s fiscal house in order and ensure a strong national defense.
The Blue Dog Coalition’s leadership for the 116th Congress will include:
WASHINGTON – Today, following the holiday weekend release of a climate report, Congressman Tom O’Halleran urged the Administration to take a more serious role in addressing the causes and consequences of climate change on our nation.
Washington, D.C. - This week, Rep. Tom O'Halleran joined Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) to introduce the Native American Voting Rights Act of 2018, landmark legislation to provide the resources and oversight necessary to protect Native Americans’ access to the ballot box. The bill incorporates principles of self-determination into the electoral process, meaning that Indian Tribes and their members will be the decision-makers when it comes to ensuring their communities and members have equal access to their constitutional right to vote.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) wrote a letter to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into whistleblower reports that Arizona State Parks and Trails Director Sue Black recklessly disregarded procedures designed to minimize damage to lands identified as containing protected cultural and historical sites.
The Congressmen also encouraged Gov. Ducey to request Black’s immediate resignation so as to avoid further damage to Arizona and Native American antiquities.
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK – This week, following pressure from Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), the National Guard Bureau announced it has directed a permanent halt to a planned clawback of housing funds given to servicemembers stationed at Silverbell Army Heliport, and announced an increase in these funds for all eligible soldiers serving at the base.
Nineteen House members say that, come January, they will not vote for any speaker candidate who does not agree to support a package of rules changes that could dramatically change how the chamber operates.
WASHINGTON – Last week, Rep. Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) introduced H.R. 6830, the Impact Aid Infrastructure Act, to fund the construction of critical Impact Aid school projects and address the significant backlog communities are facing.