Agency reports — Us Code Code § 720

Us Code Code § 720 — Agency reports. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 720. Agency reports

(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) When the Comptroller General makes a report that includes a recommendation to the head of an agency, the head of the agency shall submit a written statement on action taken or planned on the recommendation by the head of the agency. The statement shall be submitted to—

(1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the agency program or activity that is the subject of the recommendation, and the Government Accountability Office before the 181st day after the date of the report; and

(2) the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress in the first request for appropriations submitted more than 180 days after the date of the report.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 896; Pub. L. 115–3, §2(b), Jan. 31, 2017, 131 Stat. 7; Pub. L. 115–414, §3, Jan. 3, 2019, 132 Stat. 5431.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
720(a) 31:1157. Oct. 26, 1970, Pub. L. 91–510, §§207, 236, 84 Stat. 1168, 1171.
720(b) 31:1176.

In subsection (a), the words "As used . . . the term", "Federal", and "establishment" are omitted as surplus. The words in parentheses are included for consistency with section 101 of the revised title.

In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words "Comptroller General" are substituted for "General Accounting Office", and the words "head of the" are added, for consistency. The word "written" is omitted as surplus. In clause (1), the words "Governmental Affairs of the Senate" are substituted for "Government Operations of the . . . Senate" because of Rule 25.1(k) of the Standing Rules of the Senate (S. Doc. 96–1, 96th Cong., 1st Sess.). In clause (2), the words "both Houses of Congress" are substituted for "the House of Representatives and the Senate" for consistency. The words "connection with", "for that agency", and "to the Congress" are omitted as surplus.


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–414, §3(1), substituted "181st" for "61st".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–414, §3(2), substituted "180" for "60".

2017—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–3, §2(b)(1), inserted "or planned" after "action taken" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–3, §2(b)(2), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: "the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives before the 61st day after the date of the report; and".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.

About This Section

31 U.S.C. § 720 is part of Title 31 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 31 U.S.C. § 720. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

Verify the text

Statute text is transcribed from the official United States Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

Common questions

What is the source of United States Code § 720?

The text above is transcribed from the United States Code, the codified statutes of Us Code. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.

What subject does United States Code § 720 address?

It addresses "Agency reports". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

Is United States Code § 720 still in force?

Statutes are amended, repealed, and renumbered every session. Confirm the current version at the official Us Code source before relying on this text.

Can this page be used as legal advice?

No. This is a reference transcription for research. Applying Us Code law to your facts requires a licensed Us Code attorney who can review the specifics.