SUBCHAPTER II—ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS, SYSTEMS, AND INFORMATION
§3511. Prescribing accounting requirements and developing accounting systems
(a) The Comptroller General shall prescribe the accounting principles, standards, and requirements that the head of each executive agency shall observe. Before prescribing the principles, standards, and requirements, the Comptroller General shall consult with the Secretary of the Treasury and the President on their accounting, financial reporting, and budgetary needs, and shall consider the needs of the heads of the other executive agencies.
(b) Requirements prescribed under subsection (a) of this section shall—
(1) provide for suitable integration between the accounting process of each executive agency and the accounting of the Department of the Treasury;
(2) allow the head of each agency to carry out
(3) provide a method of—
(A) integrated accounting for the United States Government;
(B) complete disclosure of the results of the financial operations of each agency and the Government; and
(C) financial information and control the President and Congress require to carry out their responsibilities.
(c) Consistent with subsections (a) and (b) of this section—
(1) the authority of the Comptroller General continues under
(2) the Comptroller General may prescribe the forms, systems, and procedures that the judicial branch of the Government (except the Supreme Court) shall observe.
(d) The Comptroller General, the Secretary, and the President shall conduct a continuous program for improving accounting and financial reporting in the Government.
(
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 3511(a) | 31:66(a)(1st sentence words before last comma). | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, §§111(f), 112(a), |
| 3511(b) | 31:66(a)(1st sentence words after last comma, 2d sentence). | |
| 3511(c) | 31:49 | June 10, 1921, ch. 18, §309, |
| 31:66(a)(3d, last sentences). | ||
| 3511(d) | 31:65(f). |
In the section, the words "the head of" are added for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
In subsection (a), the words "of the United States" are omitted as surplus. The word "President" is substituted for "Director of the Office of Management and Budget" because sections 101 and 102(a) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970 (eff. July 1, 1970,
In subsection (b)(3), the words "as a whole" and "respective" are omitted as surplus.
Subsection (c)(2) is substituted for 31:49 and the words "and, to the extent he deems necessary, the authority vested in him by
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (c)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Adoption of Capital Accounting Standards
§3512. Executive agency accounting and other financial management reports and plans
(a)(1) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress and make available on a website described in section 1122 a financial management status report and a governmentwide 5-year financial management plan.
(2) A financial management status report under this subsection shall include—
(A) a description and analysis of the status of financial management in the executive branch;
(B) a summary of the most recently completed financial statements—
(i) of Federal agencies under
(ii) of Government corporations;
(C) a summary of the most recently completed financial statement audits and reports—
(i) of Federal agencies under section 3521(e) and (f) of this title; and
(ii) of Government corporations;
(D) a summary of reports on internal accounting and administrative control systems submitted to the President and the Congress under the amendments made by the Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act of 1982 (
(E) a listing of agencies whose financial management systems do not comply substantially with the requirements of Section 1 3(a) 2 the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996, and a summary statement of the efforts underway to remedy the noncompliance; and
(F) any other information the Director considers appropriate to fully inform the Congress regarding the financial management of the Federal Government.
(3)(A) A governmentwide 5-year financial management plan under this subsection shall describe the activities the Director, the Deputy Director for Management, the Controller of the Office of Federal Financial Management, and agency Chief Financial Officers shall conduct over the next 5 fiscal years to improve the financial management of the Federal Government.
(B) Each governmentwide 5-year financial management plan prepared under this subsection shall—
(i) describe the existing financial management structure and any changes needed to establish an integrated financial management system;
(ii) be consistent with applicable accounting principles, standards, and requirements;
(iii) provide a strategy for developing and integrating individual agency accounting, financial information, and other financial management systems to ensure adequacy, consistency, and timeliness of financial information;
(iv) identify and make proposals to eliminate duplicative and unnecessary systems, including encouraging agencies to share systems which have sufficient capacity to perform the functions needed;
(v) identify projects to bring existing systems into compliance with the applicable standards and requirements;
(vi) contain milestones for equipment acquisitions and other actions necessary to implement the 5-year plan consistent with the requirements of this section;
(vii) identify financial management personnel needs and actions to ensure those needs are met;
(viii) include a plan for ensuring the annual audit of financial statements of executive agencies pursuant to
(ix) estimate the costs of implementing the governmentwide 5-year plan.
(4)(A) Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit the first financial management status report and governmentwide 5-year financial management plan under this subsection to the appropriate committees of the Congress.
(B)(i) Not later than January 31 of each year thereafter, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress a financial management status report and a revised governmentwide 5-year financial management plan to cover the succeeding 5 fiscal years, including a report on the accomplishments of the executive branch in implementing the plan during the preceding fiscal year.
(ii) The Director shall include with each revised governmentwide 5-year financial management plan a description of any substantive changes in the financial statement audit plan required by paragraph (3)(B)(viii), progress made by executive agencies in implementing the audit plan, and any improvements in Federal Government financial management related to preparation and audit of financial statements of executive agencies.
(5) Not later than 30 days after receiving each annual report under
(b) The head of each executive agency shall establish and maintain systems of accounting and internal controls that provide—
(1) complete disclosure of the financial results of the activities of the agency;
(2) adequate financial information the agency needs for management purposes;
(3) effective control over, and accountability for, assets for which the agency is responsible, including internal audit;
(4) reliable accounting results that will be the basis for—
(A) preparing and supporting the budget requests of the agency;
(B) controlling the carrying out of the agency budget; and
(C) providing financial information the President requires under
(5) suitable integration of the accounting of the agency with the central accounting and reporting responsibilities of the Secretary of the Treasury under
(c)(1) To ensure compliance with subsection (b)(3) of this section and consistent with standards the Comptroller General prescribes, the head of each executive agency shall establish internal accounting and administrative controls that reasonably ensure that—
(A) obligations and costs comply with applicable law;
(B) all assets are safeguarded against waste, loss, unauthorized use, and misappropriation; and
(C) revenues and expenditures applicable to agency operations are recorded and accounted for properly so that accounts and reliable financial and statistical reports may be prepared and accountability of the assets may be maintained.
(2) Standards the Comptroller General prescribes under this subsection shall include standards to ensure the prompt resolution of all audit findings.
(d)(1) In consultation with the Comptroller General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget—
(A) shall establish by December 31, 1982, guidelines that the head of each executive agency shall follow in evaluating the internal accounting and administrative control systems of the agency to decide whether the systems comply with subsection (c) of this section; and
(B) may change a guideline when considered necessary.
(2) By December 31 of each year (beginning in 1983), the head of each executive agency, based on an evaluation conducted according to guidelines prescribed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall prepare a statement on whether the systems of the agency comply with subsection (c) of this section, including—
(A) if the head of an executive agency decides the systems do not comply with subsection (c) of this section, a report identifying any material weakness in the systems and describing the plans and schedule for correcting the weakness; and
(B) a separate report on whether the accounting system of the agency conforms to the principles, standards, and requirements the Comptroller General prescribes under
(3) The head of each executive agency shall sign the statement and reports required by this subsection and submit them to the President and Congress. The statement and reports are available to the public, except that information shall be deleted from a statement or report before it is made available if the information specifically is—
(A) prohibited from disclosure by law; or
(B) required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.
(e) To assist in preparing a cost-based budget under
(f) The Comptroller General shall—
(1) cooperate with the head of each executive agency in developing an accounting system for the agency; and
(2) approve the system when the Comptroller General considers it to be adequate and in conformity with the principles, standards, and requirements prescribed under
(g) The Comptroller General shall review the accounting systems of each executive agency. The results of a review shall be available to the head of the executive agency, the Secretary, and the President. The Comptroller General shall report to Congress on a review when the Comptroller General considers it proper.
(
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 3512(a) | 31:66a(a). | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, §§112(c), 113(a), |
| 3512(b) | 31:66a(c). | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, |
| 3512(c) | 31:66(b)(less Treasury Department). | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, §§112(b)(less Treasury Department), 113(b), |
| 31:66a(b). | ||
| 3512(d) | 31:66(c). |
In subsection (a)(3), the words "funds, property, and other" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (a)(4)(C), the word "President" is substituted for "Office of Management and Budget" because sections 101 and 102(a) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970 (eff. July 1, 1970,
In subsection (a)(5), the words "the accounting of the Treasury Department in connection with" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b), the words "As soon as practicable after August 1, 1956" are omitted as executed. The words "with a view", "adequate", and "as an integral part of the system" are omitted as surplus.
In subsections (c) and (d), the words "Comptroller General" are substituted for "General Accounting Office" for consistency. The word "considers" is substituted for "deemed" as being more precise.
In subsection (c), the text of 31:66a(b) is omitted as unnecessary. In clause (1), the words "the head of" are added for consistency with the revised title and other titles of the United States Code. In clause (2), the words "under
In subsection (d), the word "concerned" is omitted as surplus. The word "President" is substituted for "Director of the Office of Management and Budget" because sections 101 and 102(a) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970 redesignated the Bureau of the Budget as the Office of Management and Budget and transferred all functions of the Bureau to the President.
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 3512(b) | 31 App.:66a(d)(1). | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, |
| 3512(c)(1) | 31 App.:66a(d)(2). | |
| 3512(c)(2) (A) | 31 App.:66a(d)(3), (4). | |
| 3512(c)(2) (B) | 31 App.:66a(b)(last sentence). | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, |
| 3512(c)(3) | 31 App.:66a(d)(5). |
In subsections (b)(1) and (c)(1)(A), the words "the requirements of" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the words "the head of" are added for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The word "provide" is omitted as surplus. In clause (B), the word "all" is substituted for "funds, property, and other" to eliminate unnecessary words.
In subsection (c)(1)(A), the words "the head of each executive agency shall follow" are substituted for "agencies" for clarity and consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code.
In subsection (c)(2), before clause (A), the words "beginning in" are substituted for "succeeding" because of the restatement. The words "on whether the systems of the agency comply with subsection (b) of this section" are substituted for 31 App.:66a(d)(3)(A) to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (B), the word "related" is omitted as surplus.
In subsection (c)(3)(A), the words "provision of" are omitted as surplus.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act of 1982, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(D), is
The Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(E), is
The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (a)(4)(A), is the date of enactment of
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (a)(1).
2014—Subsec. (a)(1).
1996—Subsec. (a)(2)(E), (F).
1994—Subsec. (c)(1).
Subsec. (d)(1), (2).
1990—
1983—Subsecs. (b), (c).
Subsecs. (d) to (f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Committee on Government Operations of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of
Short Title
This section is popularly known as the "Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act".
Termination of Reporting Requirements
For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103–7 (in which the requirement to submit statements and reports to Congress under subsection (d)(3) of this section is listed on page 151), see section 3003 of
Federal Financial Management Improvement
"SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE[.]
"This title may be cited as the 'Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996.'
"SEC. 802. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
"(a)
"(1) Much effort has been devoted to strengthening Federal internal accounting controls in the past. Although progress has been made in recent years, Federal accounting standards have not been uniformly implemented in financial management systems for agencies.
"(2) Federal financial management continues to be seriously deficient, and Federal financial management and fiscal practices have failed to—
"(A) identify costs fully;
"(B) reflect the total liabilities of congressional actions; and
"(C) accurately report the financial condition of the Federal Government.
"(3) Current Federal accounting practices do not accurately report financial results of the Federal Government or the full costs of programs and activities. The continued use of these practices undermines the Government's ability to provide credible and reliable financial data and encourages already widespread Government waste, and will not assist in achieving a balanced budget.
"(4) Waste and inefficiency in the Federal Government undermine the confidence of the American people in the government and reduce the federal Government's ability to address vital public needs adequately.
"(5) To rebuild the accountability and credibility of the Federal Government, and restore public confidence in the Federal Government, agencies must incorporate accounting standards and reporting objectives established for the Federal Government into their financial management systems so that all the assets and liabilities, revenues, and expenditures or expenses, and the full costs of programs and activities of the Federal Government can be consistently and accurately recorded, monitored, and uniformly reported throughout the Federal Government.
"(6) Since its establishment in October 1990, the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as the 'FASAB') has made substantial progress toward developing and recommending a comprehensive set of accounting concepts and standards for the Federal Government. When the accounting concepts and standards developed by FASAB are incorporated into Federal financial management systems, agencies will be able to provide cost and financial information that will assist the Congress and financial managers to evaluate the cost and performance of Federal programs and activities, and will therefore provide important information that has been lacking, but is needed for improved decision making by financial managers and the Congress.
"(7) The development of financial management systems with the capacity to support these standards and concepts will, over the long term, improve Federal financial management.
"(b)
"(1) provide for consistency of accounting by an agency from one fiscal year to the next, and uniform accounting standards throughout the Federal Government;
"(2) require Federal financial management systems to support full disclosure of Federal financial data, including the full costs of Federal programs and activities, to the citizens, the Congress, the President, and agency management, so that programs and activities can be considered based on their full costs and merits;
"(3) increase the accountability and credibility of federal [sic] financial management;
"(4) improve performance, productivity and efficiency of Federal Government financial management;
"(5) establish financial management systems to support controlling the cost of Federal Government;
"(6) build upon and complement the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (
"(7) increase the capability of agencies to monitor execution of the budget by more readily permitting reports that compare spending of resources to results of activities.
"SEC. 803. IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) the entity or organization responsible for the financial management systems that have been found not to comply with the requirements of subsection (a);
"(B) all facts pertaining to the failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (a), including—
"(i) the nature and extent of the noncompliance including areas in which there is substantial but not full compliance;
"(ii) the primary reason or cause of the noncompliance;
"(iii) the entity or organization responsible for the non-compliance [sic]; and
"(iv) any relevant comments from any responsible officer or employee; and
"(C) a statement with respect to the recommended remedial actions and the time frames to implement such actions.
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) a review of the report on the applicable agency-wide audited financial statement;
"(B) any other information the Head of the agency considers relevant and appropriate.
"(2)
"(A) the date of the receipt of an agency-wide audited financial statement; or
"(B) the last day of the fiscal year following the year covered by such statement.
"(3)
"(A) If the Head of an agency determines that the agency's financial management systems do not comply with the requirements of subsection (a), the head of the agency, in consultation with the Director, shall establish a remediation plan that shall include resources, remedies, and intermediate target dates necessary to bring the agency's financial management systems into substantial compliance.
"(B) If the determination of the head of the agency differs from the audit compliance findings required in subsection (b), the Director shall review such determinations and provide a report on the findings to the appropriate committees of the Congress.
"(4)
"(A) determines that the agency's financial management systems cannot comply with the requirements of subsection (a) within 3 years;
"(B) specifies the most feasible date for bringing the agency's financial management systems into compliance with the requirements of subsection (a); and
"(C) designates an official of the agency who shall be responsible for bringing the agency's financial management systems into compliance with the requirements of subsection (a) by the date specified under subparagraph (B).
"SEC. 804. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) the entity or organization responsible for the non-compliance [sic];
"(2) the facts pertaining to the failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (a), including the nature and extent of the non-compliance [sic], the primary reason or cause for the failure to comply, and any extenuating circumstances; and
"(3) a statement of the remedial actions needed to comply.
"(c)
"(1) compliance with the requirements of section 3(a) of this Act [803(a) of this title], including whether the financial statements of the Federal Government have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards; and
"(2) the adequacy of applicable accounting standards for the Federal Government.
"SEC. 805. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"SEC. 806. DEFINITIONS.
"For purposes of this title:
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(5)
"(A) collecting, processing, maintaining, transmitting, or reporting data about financial events;
"(B) supporting financial planning or budgeting activities;
"(C) accumulating and reporting costs information; or
"(D) supporting the preparation of financial statements.
"(6)
"SEC. 807. EFFECTIVE DATE.
"This title shall take effect for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997.
"SEC. 808. REVISION OF SHORT TITLES.
"(a) [Amended section 4001 of
"(b) [Amended section 5001 of
"(c) Any reference in any law, regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the Federal Acquisition Reform Act of 1996 or to the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 shall be considered to be a reference to the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 [see Short Title of 1996 Act note set out under
1 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
2 So in original. Probably should be followed by "of". See References in Text note below.
§3513. Financial reporting and accounting system
(a) The Secretary of the Treasury shall prepare reports that will inform the President, Congress, and the public on the financial operations of the United States Government. The reports shall include financial information the President requires. The head of each executive agency shall give the Secretary reports and information on the financial conditions and operations of the agency the Secretary requires to prepare the reports.
(b) The Secretary may—
(1) establish facilities necessary to prepare the reports; and
(2) reorganize the accounting functions and procedures and financial reports of the Department of the Treasury to develop an effective and coordinated system of accounting and financial reporting in the Department that will integrate the accounting results for the Department and be the operating center for consolidating accounting results of other executive agencies with accounting results of the Department.
(c) The Comptroller General shall—
(1) cooperate with the Secretary in developing and establishing the reporting and accounting system under this section; and
(2) approve the system when the Comptroller General considers it to be adequate and in conformity with the principles, standards, and requirements prescribed under
(
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 3513(a) | 31:66b(a). | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, §114(a), |
| 3513(b) | 31:66b(b). | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, §§112(b)(related to Treasury Department), 114(b), (c), |
| 3513(c) | 31:66(b)(related to Treasury Department). | |
| 31:66b(c). |
In subsection (a), the words "the results of" are omitted as surplus. The words "The report" are substituted for "Provided, That" for clarity. The word "information" is substituted for "data" for consistency. The word "President" is substituted for "Director of the Office of Management and Budget" because sections 101 and 102(a) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970 (eff. July 1, 1970,
In subsection (b)(2), the words "install, revise, or eliminate", "the several bureaus and offices of", "with such concentration of accounting and reporting as is necessary", and "the activities of" are omitted as surplus. The word "be" is substituted for "provide" for clarity. The text of 31:66b(b)(last sentence) is omitted as unnecessary because of
In subsection (c), before clause (1), the text of 31:66b(c) is omitted as unnecessary. The words "Comptroller General" are substituted for "General Accounting Office" for consistency. In clause (1), the word "Secretary" is substituted for "Treasury Department" in 31:66(b)(related to Treasury Department) for consistency. The word "central" is omitted as surplus. In clause (2), the word "considers" is substituted for "deemed" as being more precise. The words "under
§3514. Discontinuing certain accounts maintained by the Comptroller General
The Comptroller General may discontinue an agency appropriation, expenditure, limitation, receipt, or personal ledger account maintained by the Comptroller General when the Comptroller General believes that the accounting system and internal controls of the agency will allow the Comptroller General to carry out the functions related to the account.
(
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 3514 | 31:66d. | Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, §116, |
The words "Comptroller General" are substituted for "General Accounting Office" for consistency. The word "agency" is substituted for "executive, legislative, and judicial agencies" because of sections 101, 102, and 3501 of the revised title. The word "properly" is omitted as surplus.
§3515. Financial statements of agencies
(a)(1) 1 Except as provided in subsection (e), not later than March 1 of 2003 and each year thereafter, the head of each covered executive agency shall prepare and submit to the Congress and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget an audited financial statement for the preceding fiscal year, covering all accounts and associated activities of each office, bureau, and activity of the agency.
(b) Each audited financial statement of a covered executive agency under this section shall reflect—
(1) the overall financial position of the offices, bureaus, and activities covered by the statement, including assets and liabilities thereof; and
(2) results of operations of those offices, bureaus, and activities.
(c) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall identify components of covered executive agencies that shall be required to have audited financial statements meeting the requirements of subsection (b).
(d) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall prescribe the form and content of the financial statements of covered executive agencies under this section, consistent with applicable accounting and financial reporting principles, standards, and requirements.
(e)(1) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget may exempt a covered executive agency, except an agency described in section 901(b), from the requirements of this section with respect to a fiscal year if—
(A) the total amount of budget authority available to the agency for the fiscal year does not exceed $25,000,000; and
(B) the Director determines that requiring an annual audited financial statement for the agency with respect to the fiscal year is not warranted due to the absence of risks associated with the agency's operations, the agency's demonstrated performance, or other factors that the Director considers relevant.
(2) The Director shall annually notify the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate of each agency the Director has exempted under this subsection and the reasons for each exemption.
(f) The term "covered executive agency"—
(1) means an executive agency that is not required by another provision of Federal law to prepare and submit to the Congress and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget an audited financial statement for each fiscal year, covering all accounts and associated activities of each office, bureau, and activity of the agency; and
(2) does not include a corporation, agency, or instrumentality subject to
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsecs. (c), (d).
Subsecs. (e), (f).
2000—Subsec. (a).
Subsecs. (e) to (h).
"(e) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget may waive the application of all or part of subsection (a) for financial statements required for fiscal years 1996 and 1997.
"(f) Not later than March 1 of 1995 and 1996, the head of each executive agency identified in
"(g) Not later than March 31 of 1995 and 1996, for executive agencies not designated by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under subsection (f), the head of each executive agency identified in
"(1) each revolving fund and trust fund of the agency; and
"(2) to the extent practicable, the accounts of each office, bureau, and activity of the agency which performed substantial commercial functions during the preceding fiscal year.
"(h) For purposes of subsection (g), the term 'commercial functions' includes buying and leasing of real estate, providing insurance, making loans and loan guarantees, and other credit programs and any activity involving the provision of a service or thing for which a fee, royalty, rent, or other charge is imposed by an agency for services and things of value it provides."
1994—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Effective Date; Waiver of Requirement; Resolution Approving Designation of Agencies
Waiver Authority
"(1)
"(2)
Report on Substantial Commercial Functions
Pilot Project for Preparation and Audit of Financial Statements; Report to Congress
1 So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted
§3516. Reports consolidation
(a)(1) With the concurrence of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the head of an executive agency may adjust the frequency and due dates of, and consolidate into an annual report to the President, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Congress any statutorily required reports described in paragraph (2). Such a consolidated report shall be submitted to the President, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and to appropriate committees and subcommittees of Congress not later than 150 days after the end of the agency's fiscal year.
(2) The following reports may be consolidated into the report referred to in paragraph (1):
(A) Any report by an agency to Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, or the President under section 1116, this chapter, and chapters 9, 33, 37, 75, and 91.
(B) The following agency-specific reports:
(i) The biennial financial management improvement plan by the Secretary of Defense under section 2222 1 of title 10.
(ii) The annual report of the Attorney General under
(C) Any other statutorily required report pertaining to an agency's financial or performance management if the head of the agency—
(i) determines that inclusion of that report will enhance the usefulness of the reported information to decision makers; and
(ii) consults in advance of inclusion of that report with the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and any other committee of Congress having jurisdiction with respect to the report proposed for inclusion.
(b) A report under subsection (a) that incorporates the agency's program performance report under section 1116 shall be referred to as a performance and accountability report.
(c) A report under subsection (a) that does not incorporate the agency's program performance report under section 1116 shall contain a summary of the most significant portions of the agency's program performance report, including the agency's success in achieving key performance goals for the applicable year.
(d) A report under subsection (a) shall include a statement prepared by the agency's inspector general that summarizes what the inspector general considers to be the most serious management and performance challenges facing the agency and briefly assesses the agency's progress in addressing those challenges. The inspector general shall provide such statement to the agency head at least 30 days before the due date of the report under subsection (a). The agency head may comment on the inspector general's statement, but may not modify the statement.
(e) A report under subsection (a) shall include a transmittal letter from the agency head containing, in addition to any other content, an assessment by the agency head of the completeness and reliability of the performance and financial data used in the report. The assessment shall describe any material inadequacies in the completeness and reliability of the data, and the actions the agency can take and is taking to resolve such inadequacies.
(f) The Secretary of Homeland Security—
(1) shall for each fiscal year submit a performance and accountability report under subsection (a) that incorporates the program performance report under
(2) shall include in each performance and accountability report an audit opinion of the Department's internal controls over its financial reporting; and
(3) shall design and implement Department-wide management controls that—
(A) reflect the most recent homeland security strategy developed pursuant to section 874(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002; and
(B) permit assessment, by the Congress and by managers within the Department, of the Department's performance in executing such strategy.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 874(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, referred to in subsec. (f)(3)(A), is classified to
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9. 2004.
Department of Homeland Security Audit Requirement Target
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
"This Act may be cited as the 'DHS Audit Requirement Target Act of 2012' or the 'DART Act'.
"SEC. 2. IMPROVING FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND MANAGEMENT.
"(a)
"(1) the term 'Department' means the Department of Homeland Security;
"(2) the term 'financial management systems' has the meaning given that term under section 806 of the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 (
"(3) the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
"(4) the term 'unqualified opinion' mean an unqualified opinion within the meaning given that term under generally accepted auditing standards.
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) to obtain an unqualified opinion on the full set of financial statements, which shall discuss plans and resources needed to meet the deadlines under subsection (b);
"(2) that addresses how the Department will eliminate material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in internal controls over financial reporting and provides deadlines for the elimination of such weaknesses and deficiencies; and
"(3) to modernize the financial management systems of the Department, including timelines, goals, alternatives, and costs of the plan, which shall include consideration of alternative approaches, including modernizing the existing financial management systems and associated financial controls of the Department and establishing new financial management systems and associated financial controls."
Audit Opinion and Internal Controls by Secretary of Homeland Security
"(b)
"(c)
Findings and Purposes
"(a)
"(1) existing law imposes numerous financial and performance management reporting requirements on agencies;
"(2) these separate requirements can cause duplication of effort on the part of agencies and result in uncoordinated reports containing information in a form that is not completely useful to Congress; and
"(3) pilot projects conducted by agencies under the direction of the Office of Management and Budget demonstrate that single consolidated reports providing an analysis of verifiable financial and performance management information produce more useful reports with greater efficiency.
"(b)
"(1) to authorize and encourage the consolidation of financial and performance management reports;
"(2) to provide financial and performance management information in a more meaningful and useful format for Congress, the President, and the public;
"(3) to improve the quality of agency financial and performance management information; and
"(4) to enhance coordination and efficiency on the part of agencies in reporting financial and performance management information."