Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

Transit Benefits: How Some Federal Employees Are Taking Uncle Sam For A Ride

Date: April 24, 2007
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Room 342, Dirksen Senate Office Building
Agenda:

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing entitled, “Transit Benefits: How Some Federal Employees Are Taking Uncle Sam For A Ride.”  In 2006, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, at Senator Coleman’s request, initiated an investigation into possible abuses of the Federal Transit Benefit Program. Under this program, the federal government provides qualified federal employees with benefits for use on public transportation systems in order to reduce air pollution and decrease traffic congestion. For instance, employees living in the Washington, D.C. area receive a paper card, called a Metrochek or Metro Smartrip, with a magnetically encoded value that can be used on Metrorail or exchanged for an equivalent value in train or bus tickets. The April 24th Subcommittee hearing examined whether transit benefits are being misused, program rules are being violated, and agency oversight requires strengthening.

Witnesses

Panel 1

MR. GREGORY D.

KUTZ

Managing Director, Forensic Audits and Special Investigations Unit

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Panel 1

MR. JOHN J.

RYAN

Assistant Director, Forensic Audits and Special Investigations Unit

U. S. Government Accountability Office

Panel 2

THE HONORABLE CALVIN L.

SCOVEL III

Inspector General

U.S. Department of Transportation

Panel 2

Mr. Thomas F.

Gimble

Acting Inspector General

U.S. Department of Defense

Panel 2

MS. LINDA J.

WASHINGTON

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Panel 2

MR. MICHAEL L.

RHODES

Deputy Director, Administration & Management

Director, Washington Headquarters Services

Related Links

Printed Hearing Record