
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 31USC717]

 
                       TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE
 
                           SUBTITLE I--GENERAL
 
                  CHAPTER 7--GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
 
                SUBCHAPTER II--GENERAL DUTIES AND POWERS
 
Sec. 717. Evaluating programs and activities of the United 
        States Government
        
    (a) In this section, ``agency'' means a department, agency, or 
instrumentality of the United States Government (except a mixed-
ownership Government corporation) or the District of Columbia 
government.
    (b) The Comptroller General shall evaluate the results of a program 
or activity the Government carries out under existing law--
        (1) on the initiative of the Comptroller General;
        (2) when either House of Congress orders an evaluation; or
        (3) when a committee of Congress with jurisdiction over the 
    program or activity requests the evaluation.

    (c) The Comptroller General shall develop and recommend to Congress 
ways to evaluate a program or activity the Government carries out under 
existing law.
    (d)(1) On request of a committee of Congress, the Comptroller 
General shall help the committee to--
        (A) develop a statement of legislative goals and ways to assess 
    and report program performance related to the goals, including 
    recommended ways to assess performance, information to be reported, 
    responsibility for reporting, frequency of reports, and feasibility 
    of pilot testing; and
        (B) assess program evaluations prepared by and for an agency.

    (2) On request of a member of Congress, the Comptroller General 
shall give the member a copy of the material the Comptroller General 
compiles in carrying out this subsection that has been released by the 
committee for which the material was compiled.

(Pub. L. 97-258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 893.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised Section                   Source (U.S. Code)                
Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
717(a)...............................  31:1157.                        Oct. 26,
 1970, Pub. L. 91-510, Sec.  207,
                                                                        84 Stat
. 1168.
717(b)...............................  31:1154(a).                     Oct. 26,
 1970, Pub. L. 91-510, Sec.
                                                                        204(a)-
(c), 84 Stat. 1168; restated July
                                                                        12, 197
4, Pub. L. 93-344, Sec.  702(a),
                                                                        88 Stat
. 326.
717(c)...............................  31:1154(c).
717(d)...............................  31:1154(b).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    Subsection (a) restates the source provisions because of section 701 
of the revised title and for consistency with section 101 of the revised 
title.
    In subsection (b), before clause (1), the word ``evaluate'' is 
substituted for ``review and evaluate'' to eliminate unnecessary words. 
In clause (3), the words ``a committee of Congress'' are substituted for 
``any committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or any 
joint committee of the two Houses'' for consistency and to eliminate 
unnecessary words.
    In subsection (c), the word ``evaluate'' is substituted for ``review 
and evaluation'' to eliminate unnecessary words.
    In subsection (d)(1), before clause (A), the words ``committee of 
Congress'' are substituted for ``committee of either House or any joint 
committee of the two Houses'' for consistency and to eliminate 
unnecessary words. In clause (A), the words ``objectives and'', 
``actual'', and ``but are not limited to'' are omitted as surplus. In 
clause (B), the words ``analyzing and'' and ``or evaluation studies'' 
are omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (d)(2), the word ``Congress'' is substituted for 
``either House'' for clarity. The words ``statement or other'' are 
omitted as surplus.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 719, 731, 1113 of this 
title.
