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GAO-05-1015R 1 (2005-09-14)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptarbs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



  SGAO

        Accountability * Integrity  Reliability
United States Government Accountability Office
Washington, DC 20548


          September 14, 2005

          Congressional Committees

          Subject: Treasury Continues to Maintain Its Formal Process to Promote U.S.
          Policies at the International Monetary Fund

          Over the years, Congress has shown extensive interest in legislating U.S. policies
          regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Currently, the administration is
          charged with responding to dozens of legislative mandates related to the IMF
          including advocacy for certain IMF policies, instructions for U.S. voting positions on
          IMF assistance to borrower countries, and requirements to report to Congress on
          various aspects of U.S. participation in the IMF.

          In 2003 and 2004, we reported that the United States had maintained nearly 70
          legislative mandates prescribing U.S. policy goals at the IMF. These mandates
          covered a wide range of policies, including policies regarding combating terrorism,
          human rights, international trade, and weapons proliferation. As an international
          organization, the IMF is generally exempt from U.S. law. However, Congress can
          seek to influence IMF policy by directing the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the
          U.S. Executive Director to pursue certain policy considerations or to vote in a
          particular way on IMF programs or on assistance to specific countries, as part of the
          Director's duties within the IMF's Executive Board.'

          In 2000, Congress directed us to assess the Department of the Treasury's (Treasury)
          efforts in advancing U.S. legislative mandates at the IMF. The Consolidated
          Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 20002 requires us to report annually on the extent
          to which IMF practices are consistent with U.S. policies as set forth in federal law. In
          January 2001, we reported that Treasury instituted a formal process in 1999 to
          systematically promote congressionally mandated policies at the IMF.3 We also found
          that, although Treasury had had some influence over IMF policies, it was difficult to


          1The Executive Board oversees the day-to-day business of the IMF. The board comprises 24 executive
          directors who are appointed or elected by member countries or by groups of member countries. The
          President appoints, with the advice and consent of the Senate, the U.S. Executive Director to represent
          the United States on the board.
          2Pub. L. No. 106-113, § 504 (e) (2004).

          3See GAO, International Monetary Fund: Efforts to Advance U.S. Policies at the Fund, GAO01-2_4
          (Washington, D.C.: Jan. 29, 2001).


GAO-05-1015R Treasury Continues to Maintain Its Formal Process to Promote U.S. Policies

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