Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5167 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5167

To require an assessment of program areas and administrative practices 
    presenting the greatest risk to the integrity of Federal funds 
             administered by States and local governments.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 29, 2026

  Mr. Kim (for himself and Mr. Hawley) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To require an assessment of program areas and administrative practices 
    presenting the greatest risk to the integrity of Federal funds 
             administered by States and local governments.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Government Audit and Accountability 
of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act''.

SEC. 2. FEDERALLY-FUNDED STATE-ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS VULNERABILITY 
              ASSESSMENT.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Improper payment.--The term ``improper payment'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 3351 of title 31, United 
        States Code.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 6720(a) of title 31, United States Code.
    (b) Assessment.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall submit to Congress an assessment of program 
areas and administrative practices that present the greatest risk to 
the integrity of Federal funds administered by State and local 
governments and pass-through entities subject to audit under chapter 75 
of title 31, United States Code.
    (c) Contents.--Each assessment required under subsection (b) 
shall--
            (1) identify program areas and administrative practices at 
        the Federal, State, and local level that present systematic 
        vulnerabilities in the administration of Federal funds by State 
        and local governments, including practices that are more 
        susceptible to waste, fraud, abuse, and improper payments;
            (2) assess evidence-based best practices and strategies 
        that have strengthened the integrity of Federal funds 
        administered by State and local governments and reduced waste, 
        fraud, and abuse in Federally funded programs;
            (3) assess program areas and administrative practices at 
        the Federal, State, and local level that--
                    (A) have demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating 
                waste, fraud, abuse, and improper payments; or
                    (B) have shown limited effectiveness in reducing 
                such risks;
            (4) identify Federal tools, resources, and technical 
        assistance available to State and local governments and how 
        such tools may be improved to prevent and mitigate the systemic 
        vulnerabilities identified under paragraph (1); and
            (5) include recommendations to Federal agencies and matters 
        for consideration to Congress to address and improve the 
        program areas and administrative practices identified under 
        paragraph (1), including recommendations to improve eligibility 
        determination and enrollment processes to mitigate risks.
    (d) Sources.--
            (1) Audit and related materials.--In carrying out the 
        preparation of the assessment under subsection (b), the 
        Comptroller General of the United States shall rely, to the 
        extent practicable, on existing oversight, audit, and 
        investigative materials to conduct an analysis of Federal funds 
        administrated by State and local governments, which may 
        include--
                    (A) any finding of a Federal, State, or local 
                auditor, comptroller, treasurer, inspector general, 
                attorney general, or any other similar official with 
                respect to the administration of such funds;
                    (B) any audit required under section 7502 of title 
                31, United States Code; and
                    (C) any other publicly available Federal, State, or 
                local oversight and program integrity data.
            (2) Additional materials.--In preparing each assessment 
        required under subsection (b), the Comptroller General of the 
        United States may supplement the materials described in 
        paragraph (1) with additional analysis and new audit work, 
        including by drawing on prior and ongoing work, where such 
        materials are insufficient to assess the program areas and 
        administrative practices identified under subsection (c)(1).
    (e) Form and Methodology.--The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall determine the appropriate form and methodology for 
preparing and submitting each assessment required under subsection (b).
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