Government Accountability

SENATOR COLEMAN IS GETTING THINGS DONE TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

Through his role as former Chairman and current Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), Senator Coleman has demonstrated his commitment to government oversight, aggressively cracking down on government waste, fraud, and abuse, protecting consumers, and strengthening our homeland security. Senator Coleman is a leader in protecting and expanding the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq (SIGIR) to bring more accountability into how tax dollars are spent.

• Senator Coleman led the effort uncover sham tax shelters for the wealthy.
• Senator Coleman has concentrated on bolstering America\'s port security, including holding hearings investigating the deployment of radiation portal monitors at ports around the country and the threat of nuclear terrorism.
• Senator Coleman exposed the need for increased consumer protections, investigating credit card lending practices and profiteering in the credit industry.
• One of Senator Coleman’s most successful efforts has been to uncover and expose gross mismanagement and fraud at the United Nations.
• Just recently, the Government Accountability Office issued a report requested by Senator Coleman revealing that federal officials overspent on travel by more than $146 million.
• Senator Coleman has led efforts to protect and expand the Special Inspector General for Iraq (SIGIR). Most notably he worked with Senators Russ Feingold and Susan Collins on legislation to save SIGIR when it was set to be shut down last December.
• In October 2007, Senator Coleman successfully included an amendment in the Senate passed 2008 Defense Authorization bill that would expand and extend SIGIR’s oversight of U.S. efforts in Iraq. This legislation came as a direct result of meetings Senator Coleman held with the SIGIR staff during his most recent trip to Iraq.
• As a key tool in ensuring efficient and effective use of U.S. funds, SIGIR has initiated over 300 investigations, produced nearly 175 reports on Iraqi reconstruction, and succeeded in recouping over $15 million in court-ordered restitution.