Sen. Carper Commends House Introduction of Federal Improper Payments Companion Bill

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, commended his colleagues in the House of Representatives for introducing companion legislation to his bill that strengthens federal agencies efforts to identify, prevent and recover waste and fraud. Sen. Carper’s bill, the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2011 builds on the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA), which was signed into law in July 2010. The House bill (HR 4053) was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), Todd R. Platts (R-Pa.), Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).

Federal agencies made an estimated $115 billion in improper payments in FY 2011, which represents a roughly $6 billion reduction from the previous year. Sen. Carper’s bill, like the House bill, would create a do-not-pay initiative, help prevent improper payments to deceased individuals, and increase efforts to recover improper payments. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved Sen. Carper’s Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2011 in October 2011.

“I commend my colleagues in the House of Representatives for introducing this important legislation to curb waste and fraud in the federal government,” said Sen. Carper. “Although we have made great strides in addressing this problem in recent years, we still have a long way to go. The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2011 takes the federal government’s efforts to the next level and will give agencies stronger and more effective tools to find, prevent, and recover improper payments, whether made in error or due to fraud.”

Earlier this month, Sen. Carper testified in front of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management on federal improper payments and his work on the issue. To view an archived webcast of the hearing, please click here.

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