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HR 6388 110th Congress House Congress Administrative procedure Antitrust law Civil actions and liability Commerce Confidential communications Congressional agencies Congressional investigations Congressional reporting requirements Congressional-executive relations Corporate mergers Discovery (Law) Government Accountability Office (GAO) Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Law Oaths Public records Trade secrets Witnesses

Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008

Introduced: June 26, 2008 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 14 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2008
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 29, 2008
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 29, 2008
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7192-7193)
Jul 29, 2008
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7192-7193)
Jul 29, 2008
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6388.
Jul 29, 2008
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7192-7194)
Jul 29, 2008
Mr. Waxman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 24, 2008
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 490.
Jul 24, 2008
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-771.
Jul 16, 2008
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 16, 2008
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 26, 2008
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Jun 26, 2008
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1382)
Jun 26, 2008
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties, including through bringing civil actions under this Act; (2) interview agency officers and employees to get information about agency duties, powers, activities, organization, and financial transactions; and (3) administer oaths to witnesses (currently, the Comptroller General may administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts).

Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained under this Act.

Declares that no provision of the Social Security Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain information, inspect records, or interview specified agency officers or employees, including with respect to: (1) information disclosed to or obtained by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Social Security Act; (2) information concerning any method or process protected as a trade secret; and (3) information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for purposes of pre-merger review under the Clayton Act. Declares that this Act shall not be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information; and (2) affect the applicability of requirements governing the availability of agency information to information obtained.

Requires the Comptroller General to: (1) report annually on the cooperation of agencies subject to the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 and other agencies designated by the Comptroller General in making personnel available for interviews, providing written answers to questions, submitting to an oath authorized by the Comptroller General, granting access to records, providing timely comments to draft reports, adopting report recommendations, and responding to such matters as the Comptroller General deems appropriate; and (2) report to Congress when agencies do not respond to requests regarding such matters.

What's happening now July 30, 2008

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2