Mike Gallagher for Wisconsin issued the following announcement on April 1.
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, alongside Reps. Peter Meijer (R-MI), and Rodney Davis (R-IL), today introduced the Responsible Better Understanding of Infrastructure Leveraged Dollars (BUILD) Act, legislation designed to ensure full accountability and oversight of infrastructure spending authorized by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act.
“Over the past two years, hundreds of billions of federal dollars have been rushed out the door and subjected to waste, fraud, and abuse. We have an obligation to learn from these mistakes and ensure infrastructure funding doesn’t suffer the same fate,” said Rep. Gallagher. “By creating a Special Inspector General for Infrastructure Projects, this bill takes important steps to bring transparency and accountability to infrastructure spending and prevent this bill from becoming a Biden boondoggle.”
“Our country’s infrastructure needs are extensive, but the cost of these projects should not be overlooked,” said Rep. Meijer. “Congress plays a critical role in providing oversight to ensure hard-earned taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, even for the most essential projects and programs. The Special Inspector General for Infrastructure will provide an independent perspective that is focused on efficiency and effectiveness – things the American people deserve. I am proud to lead this effort to ensure taxpayer dollars are used properly to fund our greatest infrastructure needs.”
“Every federal dollar appropriated for any purpose should be subject to independent oversight and supervision to prevent waste, fraud, or abuse of taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Davis. “With an election coming up and control of Congress on the line, some Democrats are pushing to get as much spending from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill out the door as soon as possible, even without adequate spending controls in place. That’s a recipe for disaster for the American taxpayer, and that’s why I’m proud to join Rep. Meijer in introducing the Responsible BUILD Act. Our legislation will establish a Special IG within DOT to oversee and monitor infrastructure spending.”
The Responsible BUILD Act would establish a Special Inspector General for Infrastructure Projects. The Special IG would:
Be appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and established within the Department of Transportation
Provide independent oversight and objective supervision of infrastructure projects
Recommend policies that promote economic efficiency and effectiveness and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in infrastructure programs
Coordinate, conduct, and review audits and investigations of the handling of infrastructure funding, including the contracts funded by infrastructure funding
Provide quarterly reports to Congress on state spending of infrastructure funding, including specifics about contracts entered into by a state to build or rebuild physical infrastructure related to roads, bridges, highways, waterways, ports, rail, and air travel.
Original source can be found here.
