WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), member of the House Homeland Security Committee, successful added an amendment to the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act [H.R. 3354] to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, to meet their budgetary request, so they may fully execute their mission of identifying fraud, waste, and abuse. The amendment reduced funding for DHS’s troubled effort to modernize its financial systems. DHS’s Financial Systems Modernization effort has experienced cost overruns and schedule delays and has no clear path forward to fully achieving its goals. Rep. Fitzpatrick’s amendment takes funding that was at high-risk to future waste and ensures it goes to making DHS a more efficient and effective organization.

“This amendment restores critical funding to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of DHS Operations. Without this amendment, the OIG would have to reduce its workforce, significantly impairing its ability to complete its mission that everyone on this floor can agree is vital to our national security,” said Fitzpatrick speaking on the House floor during debate. “With over 147 reports, 370 actions recommended, and 836 investigations [in 2016], DHS OIG has proven to not only be worth every penny, but also a place where dollars spent turn into dollars saved. I am proud to be surrounded by my colleagues of the House Homeland Security Committee who join me in supporting the mission of the OIG.”

Fitzpatrick’s amendment continues his ongoing efforts to fight waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars through government reform. Earlier this year, the House passed Fitzpatrick’s DHS Multiyear Acquisition Strategy Act [H.R. 1249] that streamlines the Department of Homeland Security’s acquisition process to promote strategic investment as well as cost-savings for taxpayers while enhancing our national security apparatus.

Also speaking in support for the amendment were Reps. Clay Higgins (LA-03), Dan Donovan (NY-11) and Ron Estes (NE-04).

The Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act combined the remaining eight spending bills reported by the Committee on Appropriations: Interior (H.R. 3354); Agriculture (H.R. 3268); Commerce, Justice, Science (H.R. 3267); Financial Services (H.R. 3280); Homeland Security (H.R. 3355); Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (H.R. 3358); State and Foreign Operations (H.R. 3362); Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (H.R. 3353). Passage of this legislation completes initial House action on all appropriations bills that must be enacted before the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2017.