§717 — Title 31 Money and Finance | U.S. Code

Summary

The Comptroller General must review how well federal programs and activities are working. The review can start on the Comptroller General’s own motion, when either the House or the Senate orders it, or when a congressional committee in charge of the program asks. The Comptroller General must also create and recommend ways for Congress to evaluate programs. On request from a congressional committee, the Comptroller General must help write goals and ways to measure and report program performance (including methods, what to report, who reports, how often, and whether to pilot test). The Comptroller General must also review evaluations agencies prepare. A member of Congress can get copies of committee-released materials the Comptroller General compiled. agency — a U.S. department, agency, or instrumentality (not a mixed-ownership Government corporation), or the District of Columbia government.

Title 31, §717

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(a)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.

(b)The Comptroller General shall evaluate the results of a program or activity the Government carries out under existing law—

(1)on the initiative of the Comptroller General;

(2)when either House of Congress orders an evaluation; or

(3)when a committee of Congress with jurisdiction over the program or activity requests the evaluation.

(c)The Comptroller General shall develop and recommend to Congress ways to evaluate a program or activity the Government carries out under existing law.

(d)(1)On request of a committee of Congress, the Comptroller General shall help the committee to—

(A)develop a statement of legislative goals and ways to assess and report program performance related to the goals, including recommended ways to assess performance, information to be reported, responsibility for reporting, frequency of reports, and feasibility of pilot testing; and

(B)assess program evaluations prepared by and for an agency.

(2)On request of a member of Congress, the Comptroller General shall give the member a copy of the material the Comptroller General compiles in carrying out this subsection that has been released by the committee for which the material was compiled.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 717(a)31:1157.Oct. 26, 1970, Pub. L. 91–510, § 207, 84 Stat. 1168. 717(b)31:1154(a).Oct. 26, 1970, Pub. L. 91–510, § 204(a)–(c), 84 Stat. 1168; restated July 12, 1974, Pub. L. 93–344, § 702(a), 88 Stat. 326. 717(c)31:1154(c). 717(d)31:1154(b). Subsection (a) restates the source provisions because of section 701 of the revised title and for consistency with section 101 of the revised title. In subsection (b), before clause (1), the word “evaluate” is substituted for “review and evaluate” to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (3), the words “a committee of Congress” are substituted for “any committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or any joint committee of the two Houses” for consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (c), the word “evaluate” is substituted for “review and evaluation” to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (d)(1), before clause (A), the words “committee of Congress” are substituted for “committee of either House or any joint committee of the two Houses” for consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (A), the words “objectives and”, “actual”, and “but are not limited to” are omitted as surplus. In clause (B), the words “analyzing and” and “or evaluation studies” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (d)(2), the word “Congress” is substituted for “either House” for clarity. The words “statement or other” are omitted as surplus.

§717 Evaluating Programs and Activities of the United States Government

Summary

Title 31, §717

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Citations & Metadata