Title 31 — Money and Finance
Chapter 7 — Government Accountability Office
§ 720. Agency reports
Statutory text
In this section, “agency” means a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government (except a mixed-ownership Government corporation) or the District of Columbia government.
When the Comptroller General makes a report that includes a recommendation to the head of an agency, the head of the agency shall submit a written statement on action taken or planned on the recommendation by the head of the agency. The statement shall be submitted to—
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency program or activity that is the subject of the recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office before the 181st day after the date of the report; and
the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress in the first request for appropriations submitted more than 180 days after the date of the report.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 97–258 · 96 Stat. 896
Enacted · 31 U.S.C. § 720
Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 896
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 896GAO Access and Oversight Act of 2017
Pub. L. 115–3 § 2(b)(1) · 131 Stat. 7
Inserted · 31 U.S.C. § 720(b)
Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b)(1), inserted “or planned” after “action taken” in introductory provisions
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b)(1), inserted “or planned” after “action taken” in introductory provisions.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “or planned” after “action taken”; andGAO Access and Oversight Act of 2017
Pub. L. 115–3 § 2(b)(2) · 131 Stat. 7
Added · 31 U.S.C. § 720(b)(1)
Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b)(2), added par. (1)
Struck · 31 U.S.C. § 720(b)(1)
Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b)(2), struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives before the 61st day after the date of the report; and”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b)(2), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives before the 61st day after the date of the report; and”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: “(1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency program or activity that is the subject of the recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office before the 61st day after the date of the report; and” .Good Accounting Obligation in Government Act
Pub. L. 115–414 § 3(1) · 132 Stat. 5430
Substituted · 31 U.S.C. § 720(b)(1)
Pub. L. 115–414, § 3(1), substituted “181st” for “61st”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–414, § 3(1), substituted “181st” for “61st”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “61st” and inserting “181st”; andGood Accounting Obligation in Government Act
Pub. L. 115–414 § 3(2) · 132 Stat. 5430
Substituted · 31 U.S.C. § 720(b)(2)
Pub. L. 115–414, § 3(2), substituted “180” for “60”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–414, § 3(2), substituted “180” for “60”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking “60” and inserting “180”.
5 of 6 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Notes
historicalAndRevision
| Historical and Revision Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 720(a) | 31:1157. | Oct. 26, 1970, Pub. L. 91–510, §§ 207, 236, 84 Stat. 1168, 1171. |
| 720(b) | 31:1176. | |
In subsection (a), the words “As used . . . the term”, “Federal”, and “establishment” are omitted as surplus. The words in parentheses are included for consistency with section 101 of the revised title.
In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “Comptroller General” are substituted for “General Accounting Office”, and the words “head of the” are added, for consistency. The word “written” is omitted as surplus. In clause (1), the words “Governmental Affairs of the Senate” are substituted for “Government Operations of the . . . Senate” because of Rule 25.1(k) of the Standing Rules of the Senate (S. Doc. 96–1, 96th Cong., 1st Sess.). In clause (2), the words “both Houses of Congress” are substituted for “the House of Representatives and the Senate” for consistency. The words “connection with”, “for that agency”, and “to the Congress” are omitted as surplus.
Editorial Notes
Amendments2017–2019 · 2 rounds
2019
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–414, § 3(1), substituted “181st” for “61st”.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–414, § 3(2), substituted “180” for “60”.
2017
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b)(1), inserted “or planned” after “action taken” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b)(2), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives before the 61st day after the date of the report; and”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
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, . 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, .
Credits
1982–2019 · 3 acts
- 1982Pub. L. 97–258, , 96 Stat. 896
- 2017Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b), , 131 Stat. 7
- 2019Pub. L. 115–414, § 3, , 132 Stat. 5431.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 97–258, , 96 Stat. 896; Pub. L. 115–3, § 2(b), , 131 Stat. 7; Pub. L. 115–414, § 3, , 132 Stat. 5431.)