Today, Michael E. Horowitz, Chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), reaffirmed a commitment to transparency during Sunshine Week, the annual national awareness initiative to promote open government. The PRAC will participate in two events to remind the public that the committee — made up of 21 federal Inspectors General — is shining light on pandemic spending.
Tomorrow, PRAC staff will participate in a webinar hosted by the Levin Center at Wayne Law. The virtual event is open to the public and starts at 3 PM ET. PRAC staff will share information on state audit reports, available data on federal relief funds, and pandemic response issues across the country.
“An open and transparent government is also a responsive and accountable one," said Michael Horowitz, the PRAC's Chair. "Our website, PandemicOversight.gov, provides sunshine for pandemic spending so the public knows how its money is being spent. The PRAC will continue its efforts to make pandemic spending data even more available and accessible.”
On Thursday, March 17th at 10:15 AM ET, Mr. Horowitz will testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on "Pandemic Response and Accountability: Reducing Fraud and Expanding Access to COVID-19 Relief through Effective Oversight." The hearing will also cover the PRAC’s accomplishments during its first two years and its strategic direction as pandemic relief efforts continue. You can watch the hearing here.
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The PRAC was established by the CARES Act to promote transparency and support independent oversight of the funds provided by the CARES Act and other related emergency spending bills. In addition to its coordination and oversight responsibilities, the PRAC is tasked with supporting efforts to “prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement [and] mitigate major risks that cut across program and agency boundaries.”
If you have additional questions, please contact Lisa Reijula at lisa.reijula@cigie.gov