Senator Lankford Continues to Press Government Duplication Issues

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WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today further examined the issues of program duplication during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on “Government Reform: Ending Duplication and Holding Washington Accountable.” The hearing focused on the US Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) “Annual Report of the Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap and Duplication and Achieve Other Financial Benefits.” Former US Senator Tom Coburn testified during the hearing.

“GAO’s recent report continues to show the serious problem the federal government has with duplication, overlap and fragmentation of programs from federal agencies,” said Lankford. “Over the years, GAO has highlighted hundreds of billions in duplication that continues to add to our unsustainable $19 trillion debt. We must reduce the duplication of programs between federal agencies and focus our attention on solutions that reduce our nation’s debt. The passage of my bill, Taxpayers Right to Know Act, is a critical next step to identify and eliminate government waste and duplication and provide watchdogs and taxpayers alike with the information they need to hold Washington accountable.”

One of Lankford’s priorities in the Senate has been to find solutions that move toward a more efficient government and address the nation’s debt and the duplication of programs. Last fall, Lankford released a federal government waste and solutions report entitled, “Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball”, to address the waste and duplication issues within the federal government.

Lankford introduced a bill that would require a federal program inventory to help prevent the duplication of programs in the future.  The Taxpayers Right to Know Act (TPRKA), is an important bill that will provide Congress and watchdogs with information to conduct results-oriented oversight.

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