Accountability
Transparency is not a partisan issue. The American people deserve accountability from their elected officials in Washington. I am committed to bringing transparency to my work by sharing information about each of my meetings on my website, introducing and supporting legislation to strengthen independent watchdog groups, and work to ensure that our government is accountable to the American people.
Introduced Legislation:
- Clean Legislating and Ethical Accountability Now (CLEAN) Act: makes the Office of Congressional Ethics a permanent body, protecting it from politically motivated changes, and giving it the tools it needs, including subpoena power, to investigate ethics violations.
- No Ongoing Perks Enrichment (NOPE) Act: prohibits first-class flights for members of Congress and staff, freezes Congressional pay, withholds pay unless a budget is passed, and increases the lobbying ban for members of Congress and staff from two years to five years.
- Government Shutdown Accountability and Economic Report Act of 2017: withholds Congressional pay during a government shutdown and requires daily reports on the impact and cost of the shutdown on the economy.
Cosponsored Legislation:
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Government By the People Act of 2017: reforms the financing of congressional elections by broadening participation by small dollar donors.
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Protecting Our Democracy Act: creates the National Commission on Foreign Interference in the 2016 Election to examine any attempts or activities by the Russian government or other governments, persons or entities to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or sow distrust in the 2016 elections.
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No Budget, No Pay Act: withholds Congressional pay after October 1 of any fiscal year in which Congress has not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget and passed the regular appropriations bills.
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Establishing a Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress: Establishes an ad hoc committee to study the organization, operations, functions, and relevant interactions of the Members of Congress and to make recommendations to make such operations and organization more effective and efficient; make Congress and its Members more accountable; improve the orderly, timely, and effective consideration and disposal of legislation
More on Accountability
Tuesdays with Tom
To stay in contact with you and your family and ensure you have access to up-to-date, Arizona-specific information and COVID-19 resources, I am hosting a virtual town hall on Zoom every Tuesday at 5:30 pm MST. Each week will focus on a new topic related to the coronavirus pandemic.
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging the inclusion of targeted funding to ensure that we can continue to build and implement a national testing and contact tracing strategy and expand laboratory capacity to decrease testing-turnaround time in the next coronavirus aid package.
WASHINGTON—Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 7092, the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation cosponsored by Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually and create the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which will provide funding to the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S.
WASHINGTON — Major environmental legislation sailed through Congress Wednesday while the nation’s political leaders were stuck in intense negotiations over the contours of a fifth coronavirus relief package.
The bill would provide $9.5 billion over five years to pay down the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog and provide permanent funding at $900 million per year for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports natural areas and recreation activities.
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): bipartisan legislation that fully funds our military operations at home and abroad, continues to address the coronavirus pandemic, and addresses harmful uranium mining operations near the Grand Canyon.
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK – Tomorrow, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), a member of the House Agriculture Committee will participate as in a Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Hearing on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.
O’Halleran bill to expand electricity in Indian Country passes out of committee
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK – Last week, during a full House Energy and Commerce Committee markup, members voted to pass H.R. 5541, the Tribal Power Act, out of Committee to the full House of Representatives for a vote. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Congressman Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-01) and co-sponsored by Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK-02).
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK—This morning, following news that civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis had passed away at the age of 80, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) issued the following statement:
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK—This week, during a full House Energy and Commerce Committee markup, members voted to pass H.R. 5541, the Tribal Power Act, out of Committee to the full House of Representatives for a vote. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Congressman Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-01) and cosponsored by Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK-02).
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK – Today, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) released his “2020 Telework Report”, highlighting his work for constituents and communities in Arizona’s First Congressional District since transitioning to telework to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Halleran and his team returned more than $134,000 to First District residents, resolved over 100 disputes with federal agencies and programs for Arizona families, and responded to 27,000 letters, calls, and emails from constituents.