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
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK – Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) joined Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01) to introduce the State Stockpile Readiness Act of 2020, bipartisan legislation that would mandate full funding of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), and authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states to expand or maintain a strategic stockpile of critical drugs, medical equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other essential products in the event of a public health emergency.
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK – Last night, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) hosted a telephone town hall to hear directly from families across Arizona’s First Congressional District about the ways in which the coronavirus pandemic has affected K-12 education in Arizona. He was joined by Joe Thomas, President of the Arizona Education Association, and over 2,100 Arizonans concerned about education.
WASHINGTON — The delays in tribes receiving Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act have caused some tribes to seek extensions to spend the money. As it stands now, funds received from the CARES Act must be spent by tribes by December 30, 2020.
The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020, allocating $8 billion for tribal governments under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Tribes across America did not receive any funds until May 5, 2020, well after the bill’s statutory deadline.
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) introduced bipartisan legislation that would extend the coverage of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to tribal governments from December 30, 2020 to December 30, 2022. The bill is cosponsored by Congressman Paul Cook (R-CA-08).
O’Halleran Introduces Bill to Extend Deadline for Tribes to Spend CARES Act Funding
Today, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) introduced bipartisan legislation that would extend the coverage of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to tribal governments from December 30, 2020 to December 30, 2022. The bill is cosponsored by Congressman Paul Cook (R-CA-08).
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) – Arizona’s five Democrats in the House of Representatives are calling on the federal government to help Arizona with a coronavirus testing blitz as coronavirus cases surge.
Rep. Ruben Gallego tweeted out a letter that he, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. Tom O’Halleran and Rep. Greg Stanton sent to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the state’s behalf. They say COVID-19 testing is "dangerously" limited and hasn't kept up with demand.
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK – Yesterday, Reps. Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), and Greg Stanton (AZ-09) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Peter Gaynor asking them to work together to facilitate a “massive testing blitz” in Arizona.
WASHINGTON—Tomorrow, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) will participate in an Energy and Commerce Full Committee Hearing on the needs of tribal communities during COVID-19 and beyond.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ-01) and Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-04) introduced the Flexible Financing for Rural America Act of 2020. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) Hoeven (R-ND), Boozman (R-AK), and Smith (D-MN), have introduced the companion bill in the Senate. The legislation allows certain rural utility service (RUS) borrowers to take advantage of current low- interest rates without hefty fines and penalties.
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) voted to pass H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, sweeping legislation to rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and improve our roads, bridges, transit systems, schools, housing, broadband programs, and water and sanitation systems.