Thank you for contacting me regarding the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2011 (H.R.459). I greatly appreciate you taking the time to express your views on this important matter. Your input is, and will always be, welcomed and appreciated.
Like you, I hold the basic belief that the federal government should serve with transparency and accountability. H.R. 459 would direct the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2012, an audit of the Board of Governors, the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress.
In the 111th Congress, I supported a provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111-203) that allows the Government Accountability Office to audit the Federal Reserve's monetary and lending activities for the first time. As a result of this provision, the first GAO audit of the Federal Reserve's emergency assistance policies was released on July 21, 2011.
H.R. 459 was introduced to the 112th Congress by Representative Ron Paul on January 26, 2011. It has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where no further action has been taken. While I do not serve on this committee, I will make sure to keep your views in mind should H.R. 459 come to the floor of the House for a vote.
I would like to thank you again for contacting me. I always enjoy hearing from constituents and hope that you take the time to contact me again soon. For more information, please feel free to visit my website,
http://www.peters.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Gary C. Peters
Member of Congress