H.R.326 - Border Wall Waste Accountability Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 326, the "Border Wall Waste Accountability Act," directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the total cost of unused construction materials obtained for the border wall along the United States-Mexico border from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025. The study is to be submitted to Congress within 90 days of the Act's enactment. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 9, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill, if enacted, would be the production of a report detailing the financial waste associated with unused border wall materials. This report could then inform future policy decisions regarding border security and resource allocation. It may also lead to increased scrutiny of past spending and contracting practices.
Potential Benefits
- Provides transparency regarding government spending on border wall construction materials.
- Could identify potential cost savings in future border security projects.
- May lead to improved accountability for government contracts and resource management.
- Could inform policy decisions related to border security based on data-driven analysis.
- Potentially reduces wasteful spending by highlighting inefficiencies.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- The study itself will incur costs, potentially diverting resources from other priorities.
- The 90-day deadline might be insufficient for a comprehensive and accurate study.
- The report may be used for political purposes rather than objective analysis.
- The study focuses solely on unused materials and does not address other potential inefficiencies in border wall construction.
- The findings might be limited in scope and not fully representative of the overall border security situation.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the constitutional principle of congressional oversight, as it mandates a study to inform legislative decisions. Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution states that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time." This bill supports that clause by seeking to account for expenditures.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).