Statement of Charles A. Bowsher Comptroller General of The United States Before the Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
Abstract
I am here today to discuss our report of September 29, 1982, Improper Lobbying Activities by the Department of Defense, on the Proposed Procurement of the C-SB Aircraft (GAO/AFMD 82-123 and 124). This report was prepared in response to requests from Chairman Jack Brooks., House Committee on Government Operations and Senator William Proxmire, Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. You have asked a detailed analysis of the Department of Defense response to our report. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I would like to submit that analysis for the record as an attachment to my prepared statement. This morning, I would like to explain our findings and, I hope, set the record straight about the GAO role in this investigation. Our report concluded, first, that there was a cooperative effort on the part of the Air Force and Lockheed to influence House consideration of a bill which would authorize procurement of the C-5B aircraft. Secondly, we found that the Air Force's participation in this effort violated an appropriation act restriction against using appropriated funds "in this or any other Act" for "publicity and propaganda purposes designed to support or defeat legislation pending before Congress." This Government-wide restriction, in virtually identical form, has appeared in appropriations acts since the early fifties. We have frequently been asked to rule on whether specific actions by Government agencies ran afoul of that restriction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 30, 1982
- Accession Number
- AD1149947
Entities
People
- Charles Arthur Bowsher
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office