Availability of Required Reports to Congress
Each Federal Government agency should be required to post its unclassified or otherwise unrestricted reports to Congress on its website in a ...more »
Each Federal Government agency should be required to post its unclassified or otherwise unrestricted reports to Congress on its website in a section so named. Classified and sensitive but unclassified information reports should not be posted, particularly those from national security, intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security agencies. However, many unrestricted reports from those agencies will allow citizens to better understand national security, law enforcement and homeland security issues, and understand how well we are or are not being protected. A report to Congress may be annual or topic specific, but by the time it is thoroughly reviewed and cleared through the agency, its cabinet level Department and through OMB, it is the best, most accurate statement of facts, information and agency positions on the topics being considered that one can find. Many annual reports to Congress provide statistics in a format repeated year after year, allowing for comparison and analysis. Most reports are not budget documents that seek to justify spending proposals, but are related to specific topics, strategies, procedures and the substance of programs of interest to the American people. When combined with the excellent reports posted on various Inspector General websites, hearing transcripts on Congressional sites, and the reports posted by the Government Accountability Office, a citizen possesses a great deal of official information, discussion and analysis to review, analyze and judge Federal Government efforts. I strongly recommend requiring the posting of cleared agency reports to Congress on each agencies website.
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