WASHINGTON – Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, will hold a hearing titled "Assessing Grants Management Practices at Federal Agencies" on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. in room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

The subcommittee will examine the effectiveness of federal agencies in managing grants. Federal agencies allocate billions of dollars each year in grants to state and local governments, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and others. Effective management of federal grants ensures that the funds are spent correctly. One key issue is the timely closeout of expired grants once the deadline for a recipient to spend grant funds has passed, which was addressed in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released this spring. As the GAO found in its report, failure to properly close out expired grants and perform required audits of the account results in higher risks for waste, fraud and abuse. Federal agency witnesses at the hearing will also address best practices in grant management and recent oversight initiatives, as well as areas of needed improvement.

WHAT

U.S. Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security hearing, "Assessing Grants Management Practices at Federal Agencies"

WHEN

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

2:30 p.m.

WHERE

342 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C.

WITNESSES

(subject to change)

The Honorable Daniel I. Werfel
Controller
Office of Federal Financial Management
Office of Management and Budget

The Honorable Elizabeth M. Harman
Assistant Administration, Grants Program Directorate
Federal Emergency Management Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Nancy J. Gunderson
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Office of Grants and Acquisition Policy and Accountability
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Stanley J. Czerwinski
Director, Strategic Issues
U.S. Government Accountability Office