Press release: Rep. Frank Wolf Introduces Bill to Create Permanent MWAA IG, April 30, 2012

Update (May 4, 2012):  A link to the text of this bill has been added at the end of this post.  

WOLF INTRODUCES BILL TO CREATE

PERMANENT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR MWAA

 

Washington, D.C. (April 30, 2012) – Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10^th) today announced he has introduced legislation to create a permanent inspector general for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).

Wolf said he introduced the bill (H.R. 5322) in anticipation of the May 15 release of an interim report on the contracting, governance and transparency practices of MWAA being conducted by the inspector general at the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Wolf requested the review in February 2011 after MWAA rejected his December 2010 request to hire outside auditors.  He believes the interim report will show the need for a permanent inspector general.

Wolf said he has grown increasingly concerned by some of the board’s recent actions, citing the fierce battle over the location of the Metro station at the airport, which would have added significant cost to the project, the ongoing fight over a labor preference for Phase II and members continuing to serve after their terms have expired.        

Wolf’s bill amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 by creating a special post with the sole duty of providing long term oversight of MWAA.  Only the U.S. Secretary of Transportation can appoint and remove the IG and no additional action from any jurisdiction on the state or local level is required for this position to be established.  MWAA would be required to pay for the IG.

Wolf has repeatedly stated that the Dulles rail project is the most important transportation project in the Commonwealth and must be completed on time and at, or under budget. 

“The continued growth of the Dulles corridor demands that this project be successful,” Wolf said.     

Concerned sources are speculating that Rep. Wolf may have received a preview of the DOT Inspector General's audit of MWAA management practices and that the audit showed them seriously deficient.  The DOT IG report is scheduled for release on May 15, 2012.   

UPDATE (May 4, 2012):  Here is the text of Rep. Wolf's MWAA IG bill