SIGNED INTO LAW: Hassan-Ernst Bill to Expose Government Waste

WASHINGTON – Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Joni Ernst (R-IA) to increase government transparency was recently signed into law. The Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act requires disclosure of any government project that is $1 billion over budget or five years behind schedule. “Granite Staters deserve to know that their hard-earned tax-dollars are being spent responsibly,” said Senator Hassan. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will give the public greater visibility into how their tax dollars are being used and it will help Congress identify wasteful spending. I am pleased to see this bill signed into law and I will continue working with my colleagues of both parties to protect taxpayer dollars and increase government transparency.” This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to save taxpayer dollars and cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. Her bipartisan bill, the Stop Secret Spending Act, which would require billions of dollars in previously undisclosed federal spending to be made public on USAspending.gov., was recently signed into law . In her role as Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, Senator Hassan has led several bipartisan hearings focused on ways to improve government efficiency. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan helped pass into law a bipartisan bill that helps prevent payments from being unintentionally sent to individuals who have died. Last year, the Senator’s Government Service Delivery Improvement Act – which improves the ways in which federal agencies deliver services, including health benefits and student loan programs, to the public – passed into law. Senator Hassan also helped pass into law the Grant Transparency Act to bring more transparency into federal agencies' competitive grant selection process. ###