Press Release
Conaway urges Panetta to correct DoD inadequate accountingWashington, DC – Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX), member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced today that he has sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta regarding the inadequate accounting of federal funds at the Department of Defense.
“With this letter I hope to retain continuity as Secretary Gates departs DoD and Secretary Panetta arrives. This issue must remain a top priority to all leadership at the Pentagon,” said Congressman Conaway. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on his confirmation as Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta told Senators “[If] I am confirmed, one of the first things I am going to do is to try to see if we can’t take steps to try to improve on that timetable so that we can say to the American taxpayer that what we are spending on national defense is being fully audited.” “I applaud incoming Secretary Panetta’s energy and enthusiasm to accomplish this fiscal readiness on or before the 2017 deadline and look forward to working with him on this issue in the future,” commented Congressman Conaway. Click for Letter Background from letter: • DoD represents nearly 20 percent of our (U.S.) entire federal budget • Numerous programs and operations within DoD are at a high risk of vulnerability to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement • Currently 60 percent of the financial community at the Pentagon exists outside the auditing, accounting, and financial management job classifications • DoD leadership needs to make it a priority to integrate this 60 percent into the financial management system to ensure DoD reaches its clean audit goals by 2017 Background Rep. Conaway • 112th Congress: Expected Chairman of HASC panel focused on financial reform at the DoD • 111th Congress: Ranking Member, Defense Acquisition Reform Panel • Founding Member of the House CPA Caucus • FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act: Rep Conaway played important role in dealing with the financial management issues • Roll Call - Conaway: DoD needs to get its fiscal house in order • CNN – Pentagon says it’s moving toward being ‘audit-ready’ ###
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