Video: Heinrich Improving Accountability; Cracking Down On Waste, Fraud, And Abuse In Government Program

Press Release

Today, U.S. House Armed Services Committee Member Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) spoke in favor of bipartisan legislation to improve accountability in defense acquisition spending, saving taxpayers an estimated $135 billion over the next five years and expediting the process to get the necessary equipment to our troops.

The measure, H.R. 5013, the IMPROVE Acquisition Act, passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 417 to 3.

The IMPROVE Acquisition Act cleans up waste, fraud and abuse in the defense acquisition system through four key common-sense reforms: building a better accountability system, improving the management of the acquisition workforce, creating an auditable financial management system at the Department of Defense, and expanding and strengthening the industrial base to enhance competition and gain access to more technology.

Rep. Heinrich's prepared remarks are below:

"Madame Speaker, there can be no dispute that our nation's war fighters deserve the most-state-of-the-art equipment on the battlefield. They risk their lives in defense of our nation, and in turn we must protect them with the most innovative technologies available.  

"However, far too often the Department of Defense's acquisition system has been compromised by waste, abuse and even fraud.

"I applaud the DoD Acquisition Panel for working on this problem. Last week, in the House Armed Services Committee, we unanimously passed H.R. 5013, the IMPROVE Acquisition Act, to put the Panel's recommendations into action.

"The IMPROVE Acquisition Act will bring strategic financial management to the Department's acquisition system, and save taxpayers an estimated $135 billion over the next five years.  

"This bill will ensure that our service members have the most advanced resources, while making the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Our men and women in uniform deserve no less.

"I urge my colleagues to support this bill."

Source