Bill > HR4229

This bill amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to modify the authority of the Comptroller General (the head of the Government Accountability Office, who serves as a congressional watchdog) to pursue civil actions. Under the current law, the Comptroller General has direct authority to take legal action, but this bill would require the Comptroller General to first obtain explicit congressional approval through a concurrent resolution before initiating any civil lawsuit. Specifically, the bill changes the language describing the Comptroller General's powers from being "expressly empowered" to having the ability to act "subject to approval by the Congress" and adds a new provision that explicitly states the Comptroller General cannot bring a civil action unless Congress has previously passed a resolution specifically authorizing that particular legal action. This would add an additional layer of congressional oversight to the Comptroller General's legal enforcement capabilities, effectively giving Congress more direct control over when and how the Comptroller General can pursue litigation related to the Impoundment Control Act.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4229/all-info