H.R. 4229 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Jun 27, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRequires Congress approval for GAO fund lawsuits
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency that investigates how the federal government spends money. Right now, the GAO can file a lawsuit to force federal agencies to release appropriated funds—money Congress has approved to be spent—if an agency is wrongly withholding them. This bill would change that by requiring Congress to pass a concurrent resolution (a formal agreement from both the House and Senate) before the GAO could file such a lawsuit.
How it affects you
This change mostly affects how Congress and the GAO operate behind the scenes. If you're curious about whether your tax dollars are being spent as Congress intended, this bill adds an extra step: the GAO would need Congress's explicit permission before taking legal action to recover withheld funds, rather than being able to act on its own authority.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jun 27, 2025)
This bill prohibits the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from bringing a civil action under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA) to compel the release of appropriated funds unless Congress has enacted a concurrent resolution authorizing GAO to bring the action.
The ICA generally limits the authority of the President to impound (i.e., withhold from obligation or expenditure) funds that have been appropriated by Congress and establishes related procedures. Under current law, GAO is authorized to bring a civil action to compel a federal agency to release budget authority for obligation if the budget authority is required to be released under the ICA, and the agency has not released the funds. This bill prohibits GAO from bringing such an action without prior congressional approval.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 4229
A BILL
To amend the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require prior approval from Congress before the Comptroller General may pursue a civil action under such Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD-1) · Introduced Jun 27, 2025 · Economics and Public Finance · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 27, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.”