Sen. Ernst’s Program Management Legislation Passes Out of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Program Management Improvement Accountability Act, introduced by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), passed out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously and now awaits further action in the Senate. 

During the committee markup, Sen. Ernst emphasized that the legislation streamlines federal government projects and safeguards taxpayer dollars. It also holds the federal government accountable to adopt the program management standards, practices and procedures of high-performing, private sector organizations. 

Click here to read more about the bipartisan Program Management Improvement Accountability Act of 2015.

Click here or on the image below to watch.

TRANSCRIPT

SENATOR ERNST: Thank you Mr. Chair, Thank you Ranking Member Carper, I would like to take the time and just talk about the Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act and I want to thank both of you for your leadership and assistance on this, but especially to my colleague Senator Heitkamp for also sponsoring this legislation.

The Program Management Improvement Accountability Act will ensure that large programs that are being run by the federal government are cost efficient, on budget and on schedule and I think that’s very important to all of us in this committee to make sure that we are being as efficient as possible.

So many of our government agencies have literally thrown away millions and millions of dollars with ineffective programs because they weren’t being watched closely, they didn’t have members that were experts on how to develop these programs and ensure they are finishing on time and on budget.

So, I just want to thank you for being supportive of this [bill]. I look to working on this in the future, and ensuring that we get our government agencies back on track with these types of programs. So, thank you.

CHAIRMAN JOHNSON: Thank you Senator Ernst, I appreciate your leadership on this issue. You know, there’s probably no greater need than as we look at how do we protect our IT assets in the federal government, in terms of having programs that are properly managed. It’s not millions, it’s billions of dollars that are spent ineffectively and inefficiently and we can’t afford that. So again, I appreciate that.

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