Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and GPRA Modernization

Government Performance
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Government Performance
Many scholars have been raised questions on whether Congress has enough powers to control various government agencies. However, researchers have come up with different recommendations on how Congress can be empowered to have effective control over the government agencies. Congress represents the voice of the people, and at all times it should have direct control over the federal government. Alternatively, it acts as an independent watchdog meant to promote transparency in government that is responsive to the needs of the citizens.
To control over various agencies of the federal government, the number of committees in the Congress should be increased. More committees are important in that they increase Congress influence over the state agencies and also creating an information network among various arms of government. These committees also create the basis of intergovernmental consultation. Moreover, interest groups such as civil society can influence bureaucracies through lobbying relevant committees of the Congress (Jenkins, 2003). This means that a communication network will be created between government agencies, interest groups, and various Congress committees. Also, the US parliament can have a more direct control on budgetary allocation and implementation of government programs. Most importantly; committees in the Congress should play an active role in ensuring that money meant for various projects are rightfully used.

There should be an improvement with Congress representation. The law should be amended to increase the number of members who are elected to the Congress. More representation will give people a chance to have effective control over the government agencies. Also, codes of ethics in the Congress should be enforced; committees should be led by people of high integrity so as to set a good example to different governmental agencies.
The Congress should make the office of the Inspector General more independent. These can be done through clarifying inspector general authority to inspect government records. Additionally, Congress should provide Inspector General Office with the security of tenure. Thus IG can only be removed through abuse of office or neglect of duty (Evans &Aberbach, 1991). Most importantly, the Congress should require inspector general to investigate, make audit and finally submit investigative reports.
The United State Parliament should make laws to protect any disclosure done by a government worker or a supervisor from any form of harassment or prosecution. Moreover, whistleblowers should be rewarded a commission of the public money recovered through fraud. Rewarding them will be important to prevent loss of money in various government departments.
So as to promote transparency and openness, members of Congress should be given the right to access government information and documents. In addition, proper technology should be enhanced to store government information and also to make it available to members of the public. If such information is available to the members of the Congress, they will be able to question, seek clarification and make suggestions on how to promote transparency in work process (Ingraham, 2003)
The Congress should conduct proper vetting to people occupying important government offices such as Inspector General so as to ensure that they are competent and also have requisite skills to perform their functions. Recruitment process should also be thorough so as to come up with the best people to work for the government.
In conclusion, the above recommendations cannot be achieved if there is a lack of the proper will from the three arms of the government. The three arms of the government should work together, put aside their differences for the interest of the country.
References
Evans, D., & Aberbach, J. D. (1991). Keeping a Watchful Eye: The Politics of Congressional Oversight. The American Political Science Review, 85(2), 628. doi:10.2307/1963198
Ingraham, P. W. (2003). In the Web of Politics. Joel D. Aberbach and Bert A. Rockman. 2000. In the Web of Politics: Three Decades of the U.S. Federal Executive. Washington, D.C.: Brookings. 230 pp. Journal of Public Administration, Research, and Theory, 13(1), 103-105. doi:10.1093/jpart/mug002
Jenkins, J. A. (2003). Why Congressional Reforms Fail: Reelection and the House Committee Systemby E. Scott Adler. Political Science Quarterly, 118(3), 532-533. doi:10.1002/j.1538-165x.2003.tb01248.x