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Ernst, Heitkamp Program Management Bill Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) released the following statements after their bipartisan legislation, the Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act, was signed into law by President Obama.

“I am thrilled that President Obama has signed our bipartisan Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act into law,” said Senator Ernst. “Iowans sent me to Washington with a mission to make the federal government less wasteful and more efficient, and the passage of this legislation is an important step in doing just that. The Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act reduces cost overruns and increases accountability to create a more productive government through better management procedures. I am pleased we were able to make meaningful progress in safeguarding our taxpayers’ hard-earned tax dollars, and remain committed to continuing to look for new ways to eliminate waste.”

“Our bipartisan bill becoming law is a win for accountability and transparency. The federal government will now do more to make sure federal programs are well managed – saving taxpayers money and reducing waste,” said Senator Heitkamp. “It’s an important step for North Dakota communities and businesses that rely on federal programs, whether in agriculture, energy, or beyond. Good management practices can make all the difference in guaranteeing efficient, effective federal programs and making sure they are well implemented locally.”

The signing of the Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act marks the fourth piece of Senator Ernst’s legislation signed into law, and the sixth to be sent to the President’s desk, this year.

Click here to read the bill text.

About Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act:

  • Establishes a leader within each agency that is focused on program management.
  • Creates an inter-agency Program Management Council to drive improvements through portfolio reviews of agency programs and encourages communications between agencies and program management professionals.
  • Requires the development of a specific job category with distinct qualification for project managers.
  • Requires the federal government to adopt widely-accepted program management best practices and standards.
  • Requires the Government Accountability Office to issue a report three years after the bill’s enactment on its overall effectiveness and impact on program management in the federal government.
  • Works directly with the Department of Defense to improve their current procedures while making sure to not duplicate existing efforts.

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